Maryland State Fire Marshal
News Release Martin O’Malley Governor
William E. Barnard State Fire Marshal
FIRE SPRINKLER ACTIVATION SAVES TOWNHOUSE CECIL COUNTY, MD (June 19, 2012) – The Office of the State Fire Marshal was informed by Singerly Volunteer Fire Department officials of a kitchen fire that was controlled by a fire sprinkler system at 241 Douglas Street in Elkton at approximately 4:15 p.m. on Monday, June 18, 2012. The male occupant was preparing a meal on the stove when his child experienced an insect sting outside the home. As he attended to the needs of his child, the items on the stove burst into flames. During the time it took to make notification to 911, the fire sprinkler system activated and extinguished the flames prior to the arrival of the fire department. First arriving firefighters determined the sprinklers completely extinguished the fire and kept it from extending beyond the area of the stove and kitchen cabinets. Damages to the centrally located townhouse were estimated at $5,000. “This is yet another example of the effectiveness of these life saving devices”, stated State Fire Marshal William E. Barnard. “The benefits of fire sprinkler systems include the reduction of structural and content loss as well.”
The Office of the State Fire Marshal is an agency of the Department of State Police dedicated to helping protect citizens from fire and explosion through a comprehensive program of education, inspection, investigation and fire protection engineering. For more information on fire safety call 1-800-525-3124, log onto our website at: www.mdsp.org/firemarshal and/or follow us on Facebook under “Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal”.
Media contact: Bruce D. Bouch, Deputy State Fire Marshal; 443-324-6876
1201 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville, MD 21208