Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com:
In honor of National Home Fire Sprinkler Week, leaders from the Illinois fire service gathered to recognize seven communities who adopted codes within the last year that require fire sprinklers in all new single-family homes. The towns include Lake Forest, Crestwood, Elk Grove Village, Rock Island, Carol Stream, Wauconda, and Palatine.
Representatives from more than 100 other communities who have adopted the model codes also received a recognition plaque.
The event, hosted by Alsip Fire Department and Fire Sprinkler Fitters Local 281, was one of 50 held across the U.S. and Canada. The National Fire Protection Association and the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition initiated this campaign to raise awareness of the growing dangers of home fires and the lifesaving benefits of home fire sprinklers.
For a complete list of communities that require home fire sprinklers, photos, facts and other resources, visit the Illinois Fire Sprinkler Coalition’s media page.
A highlight of the event was a fire and sprinkler side-by-side demonstration set up like the front of a home with two rooms and identical furniture. One was protected with a fire sprinkler. First, a fire was set in the unsprinklered room. In less than 90 seconds, flashover occurred where the entire room was engulfed in flames. Firefighters used a hose line to extinguish the fire.
Then, fire was set in the room protected with a sprinkler. In less than 30 seconds, heat from the fire activated the sprinkler which kept the fire from becoming deadly. Firefighters used only a pump can to make sure the fire was out. There was a dramatic difference between the two rooms after the fires. Everything was destroyed in the unsprinklered room, but there was very little damage in the sprinklered room.
