Letters to the Editor
Endorses Sprinklers
Pleasant Hill, Calif.
The headlines which dominate fire service publications and newspapers, unfortunately, are those of fire disasters which claim many lives. Fire prevention campaigns are, for the most part, viewed with apathy; the private sector whimpers “cost factor” when required to install automatic sprinklers, unaware of their success rate.
One skilled nursing facility in our jurisdiction, however, was made aware of the benefits of its sprinkler system twice within one month. Sprinklers controlled two fires in the Mt. Diablo Nursing Home in Martinez on December 1,1980 and again on January 4, 1981, limiting damage to one injury and $12,000.
The first fire broke out in an unattended clothes dryer in the laundry room at 1:00 a.m. A staff member discovered the fire and retrieved a fire extinguisher. The room was too hot and smokey to use it; however, as she backed out, the sprinkler system activated, confined the fire, sounded the alarm and closed all smoke-stop partitions. Although the door to the laundry room was closed, there was still enough smoke in the corridor to necessitate the evacuation of six rooms (20 people).
The second incident was caused by smoker’s materials. A patient who is paralyzed on the her left side fell asleep and dropped a cigarette in the bed. A nurse discovered the fire and pulled the patient from the room. A sprinkler activated, confining the fire to the bed and nightstand. Due to her paralysis, the patient received third degree burns on 10 percent of her left extremities.
Incidents such as these will never make good news stories. They only save lives and endorse the fire service’s firm commitment to fire sprinklers.
William F. Maxfield
Chief, Contra Costa County Fire District
