As part of the Action Wards programme and a wider range of ongoing safety initiatives Cumbria County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service will be staging a full-scale domestic fire demonstration in Lyon Street, Barrow on Friday 14th October at 09.45am.
The demonstration will highlight the potential impacts of domestic fires and the benefits of domestic sprinkler systems. It will also raise awareness of the importance of the Fire and Rescue Service’s home safety visits and community safety work in creating safer, stronger communities.
The Fire and Rescue Service demonstration will use two adjacent houses (13 and 15 Lyon Street) within a terrace block that is derelict and in the process of demolition. The two properties are identical and will be furnished with typical domestic furniture.
The furniture will be ignited in the first house, 13 Lyon Street, and a fire will be allowed to develop within the front living room. Observers can then appreciate in real time the development and impact of a domestic fire. Fire Service personnel will be on hand to provide a narrative to enhance visual observation. Crews standing by will then extinguish the fire at a predetermined point.
When safe to do so, the fire will then be restaged in 15 Lyon Street, which has been fitted with an accredited domestic sprinkler system designed and fitted by Vipond Fire Protection Ltd. The demonstration will underline the benefits of such a system and it’s potential value in saving lives and property.
From the viewing area, the audience can see the room being set alight, and how quickly the fire spreads. The flames, heat and smoke will activate the sprinkler system and the dramatic effect can be seen immediately.
In one particular study where sprinkler systems have been fitted in new houses for the last 15 years, there have been no deaths, in fact at least 13 lives have been saved. There was also an 80% reduction in injuries and property damage.
Sprinklers are fited in houses as standard practice in many countries. Cumbria County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service and their partners are campaigning to extend this level of protection for local communities.
County Councillor Geoff Hodgson spokesman for the Fire and Rescue Service says:
"Cumbria County Council is committed to improving the safety of people lives. This demonstration will provide an excellent representation of what can occur during a genuine domestic fire and will highlight how effective measures like domestic sprinkler systems can be.
It will also bring home the importance of the Fire and Rescue Service’s existing community safety work and ongoing home safety visits."
William Wyllie, Group Manager for Fire Safety says:
"Safety has always been our top priority, reducing deaths and injuries from fires our main aim. Sprinkler systems are proven to work and our objective here is to see the fitting of sprinklers in the homes of the most vulnerable members of our society.
We are working closely with our key partners to reduce the number of fire related incidents and I hope this demonstration will encourage local people to get involved and work with us to help create a safer, stronger community."