Triangle Fire recently reported to us a classic example of this type of incident, with a sprinkler activation in a 5th floor communal kitchen at a hall of residence in Essex. The fire was caused by a hot oil spillage from a chip pan in the six-storey tall building.
The fire was extinguished by the actuation of one concealed sprinkler head and contained to the room of origin with no injuries reported. Upon activation, the onsite security staff implemented the premises emergency plan in accordance with the premises fire strategy.
This is the seventh incident reported to www.sprinklersaves.co.uk putting the myth to bed that residential sprinklers as an extinguishing media should not be used on fires involving chip pans. On each occasion the fire was extinguished, controlled/contained.
BAFSA have released a comprehensive video that demonstrates the clear benefits of sprinklers involving chip pan fires. click here to watch
Fire statistical data collated from incidents attended by Fire & Rescue Services involving dwellings for the financial year 2019/20 confirmed that 1494 incidents took place involving chip pan fires.
The danger of student accommodation fires cannot be underestimated as this was clearly demonstrated following the fire in Bolton involving the premises known as the ‘Cube’ November 2019.
The speed with which the fire took hold and the devastating impact it had on the building was shocking. The Greater Manchester Fire Rescue Service (GMFRS) press release states that due to the full and immediate evacuation of the premises many lives were saved. Full details on the incident are contained in the GMFRS Cube Incident Report, it should be noted sprinklers were not fitted.