The following is a collection of press releases and other material received this week at Fire-Professionals.com:
Sprinkler Group Collaborates with Radio Network
The National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA), the longest-tenured fire sprinkler advocacy organization in the U.S., announces it has partnered with Sky Radio and Video Network, the largest producer of in-flight entertainment in the country, to bring the fire sprinkler message and concept to millions of air-traveling consumers.
An interview with NFSA President John Viniello will be broadcast on American Airlines’ “Business and Technology Report” In-Flight Radio Channel focusing on fire sprinkler facts and the growing trend of sprinkler installations in single-family homes.
“This is an extraordinary opportunity for NFSA to bring the fire sprinkler message to a captive audience of millions who include executive business travelers, key decision makers and early adopters with high household income,” said NFSA’s Chairman of the Board, Gregg Huennekens. “While President Viniello’s interview brings the fire sprinkler message into focus for the consumer, the NFSA video being seen by millions will help to solidify the Association’s leadership position as the voice of the fire sprinkler industry.”
The interview will be played on 29,000 audio-equipped American Airlines worldwide flights reaching approximately 4.2 million travelers and will be rebroadcast on USAir flights through the months of November and December reaching an additional 500,000 travelers throughout the holiday season.
In addition to bringing an audio fire sprinkler message to millions of air-traveling listeners, NFSA’s program with Sky Radio includes an exciting partnership with CNN Airport Network. To be included in a “Best of Breed: Associations at Work” segment during November, is a video featuring NFSA that will be aired on the CNN Airport Network. The video will be played at 44 of the busiest airports at more than 2,000 gates in the United States, during the CNN broadcasts that reach nearly 16 million viewers through the month of November.
To learn more please visit www.nfsa.org.
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Sprinklers Causing Flooding at Thrift Shop
The ARIZONA DAILY STAR is reporting that “Flooding at the Salvation Army’s Family Thrift Store Wednesday caused approximately $35,000 in damage, an official said Friday.
The incident occurred at one of the newer stores, which has been open for less than six months, at 5757 N. Oracle Road.
Clothing, art and electronics were destroyed and the flooding will likely result in more than a $10,000 loss in potential sales while the store is closed, according to a news release.
A parking lot sale will be held until the story is re-opened, which will hopefully happen next week, according to Tamara McElwee, a Salvation Army spokeswoman.
The flooding occurred late Wednesday when a fire broke out in a business adjoining the thrift store, the release said. The water sprinklers were triggered and while the fire was contained to that business, the sprinklers flooded the thrift store.
“This is such a tragedy,” McElwee said. “So much work has gone into trying to build a successful new store and now this. It’s a definite setback in already trying times for The Salvation Army Thrift Stores.”
Repairs are expected to exceed $25,000, she said.”
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On Guard for Fire Hazards
According to the GREENBURG DAILY NEWS, “While crews from the Greensburg Fire Department managed the small blaze in a breakroom at the Delta Faucet factory, a call came in over the radio and forced some of the firefighters to leave the scene and respond to a new emergency.
“A fire had broken out at the home of Shirley Bidwell on West Hendricks Street near the factory, and the fire department arrived in time to see smoke pouring out of the roof. Bidwell was shaken by the incident but unharmed.
Firefighters rushed in to quell the flames and rescue the animals that were still inside, while neighbors and friends watched from the street. It was a stroke of luck that the firefighters were ready, suited up and nearby at the Delta Faucet plant, Greensburg Fire Chief Scott Chasteen explained.
When the engine and its crew arrived at the scene, no flames were visible from the damaged roof but fire could be seen through the front window.
He noted that the fire was easily taken care of via water suppression and that it had clearly originated in the kitchen area. He attributed the conflagration to either a malfunction of the kitchen stove, a burner that had been left on or an accidental switching on of the stove top.
“That was consistent with how the fire was burning,” Chasteen said.
Though Bidwell made it out of the home unscathed, there was still worry about her pets, including two dogs penned outside against the back of the home and a cat still unaccounted for when the department arrived. Fortunately, all of Bidwell’s animals escaped the fire without injury.
The firefighters performed their duties well, but Chasteen was especially proud that Bidwell’s three children, all of whom were at school at the time of the incident, had been notified via School Resource Officer Bruce Copple. Counselors, school administration and Copple worked to get the kids transported to the scene so they would not arrive home on the school bus and see their house swarmed by the emergency crews.
Duke Energy, the Greensburg Water Department and the Red Cross showed up at the residence to offer their aid in battling the blaze and helping the victims. Chasteen added that Bidwell’s insurance company was working with her, and the Red Cross had helped to put the family up in a nearby hotel.
Chasteen noted that with the weather getting colder, now is the time to be safe about warming up homes.
“This is the season for having servicemen checking up on your home,” he said.
He encouraged keeping a vigilant eye on potential fire hazards and always making sure that smoke detectors are working before the first cold snap hits.
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Sprinklers Face an ‘Uphill Battle’
The SUNNEWS.COM is reporting that “Although a group that sets international building codes has passed a requirement for sprinklers in new residential homes, fire officials in the Carolinas fear adoption of the code won’t be that simple.
“I still feel it’s kind of going to be an uphill battle,” said Eddie Watson, president of the S.C. Fire Marshal’s Association.
“I feel it is something that has to be presented properly and correctly to the general public, which will probably take at least a year to get the word out properly.”
The International Code Council approved a sprinkler code for new residential homes in September. It is now up to each state to approve it in full, partially or not at all.
The N.C. Building Code Council writes the rules that govern building construction in the state, using international and national standards and making amendments as it sees fit.
It works the same way in South Carolina, where state law doesn’t require single-family homes, including vacation cottages, to contain sprinklers, according to the state fire marshal’s office.
The N.C. Building Code Council rejected forming an ad-hoc committee in December that would have looked at whether sprinkler systems should be mandated in new large or multistory homes.
The council decided to send the petition by several state firefighter groups to the council’s residential committee.
The proposal would have covered large residences where slowing a fire could significantly increase the chances of survival. It proposed requiring sprinklers in new homes of more than 3,600 square feet or structures three or more stories off the ground, which would have included the house in Ocean Isle Beach where seven college students died in October 2007.
Dave Smith, chairman of the residential committee for the N.C. Building Code Council, said they have not taken a stance yet. He anticipates the residential committee to briefly discuss the ICC change at its November meeting, but it would likely come up at the Building Code Council’s quarterly meeting in December.
“What I’m encouraging, from my end, is getting the public to ask the builders for sprinklers in their new homes and have builders ask their customers if they want sprinklers,” Smith said.
Currently, the N.C. fire code applies only to commercial buildings and to multifamily housing of three units or more, where hazards such as grills on wooden decks and obstructions to common hallways are prohibited.
“I don’t think it will ever take place as quickly here in North Carolina as it did for the code council,” said Frank Blackley, assistant chief for the Wilmington Fire Department and president of the N.C. Fire Marshal’s Association.
Locally, Ocean Isle Beach town officials aren’t taking a public stance on the sprinkler issue.
Robert Yoho, chief of the Ocean Isle Beach Fire Department, said home sprinklers are important, but the department has not lobbied for legislation. He declined an interview.
Ocean Isle Beach Mayor Debbie Sloane-Smith, a Realtor, also declined to talk about sprinkler legislation and said the town has stayed neutral.
The N.C. Building Code’s Smith said the Ocean Isle Beach fire brought more attention to residential sprinklers, and he would want sprinklers in his home if he built one.
But, he said, there’s a difference in what he would want to do personally and what he’d require everyone else in the state to do.
“Once you mandate it, you better be able to back it up by keeping in mind maintenance costs and whether insurance companies will help homeowners and to what extent, or else you have yourself a bad law,” Smith said.
“Now, to tell people they have to install sprinklers, that’s another thing there.”
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