Sechelt Demonstration Burn

On Sunday, November 6, 1994 the Sechelt Volunteer Fire Department in British Columbia put on a spectacular residential sprinkler demonstration.

Under the direction of Fire Chief Bill Higgs, a side by side duplex, slated for demolition, was used as the test site. Each side of the duplex was identical in layout. Even the couch used to start the fires was split into two pieces. The only difference was that one unit was equipped with a residential sprinkler system. At 2:00 P.M., two fires were lit simultaneously in wastepaper baskets. The fire soon spread to first the curtains and then the couch. After approximately 40 seconds, the residential sprinker system activated and totally extinguished one fire. It is estimated that a total of 144 gallons of water was used to extinguish this fire.

After approximately two and a half minutes, the uncontrolled fire was into flash-over. Flames quickly took control of the entire unsprinklered floor area and then spread to the upper floor. With a response time of nine minutes, the fire department would normally arrive only to cool the flames and remove any dead occupants from the unsprinklered unit. Approximately 10,000 gallons of water would be used at this stage.

(Left side of the building is fully engulfed in flame, while the sprinklered side has been extinguished)

Spectators were totally amazed at how the sprinkler system extinguished the fire. It was interesting to note that the fire-wall between the units performed perfectly by not allowing the fire to spread into the adjoining unit.

(As the building became further engulfed.)

The cost to install a sprinkler system in the duplex would be approximately $6,400, or $3,200 per unit. Based on four people in the unit, it would have cost $800 per life saved.

Congratulations to the Sechelt Volunteer Fire Department, British Columbia for an excellent demonstration on how effective fire sprinklers are.