Sprinklers Could Have Saved UK Fire Station

The absence of a sprinkler system is being blamed for the destruction of an English fire station in Downham Market in the county of Norfolk. Also, while the fire station was equipped with an alarm, this was apparently not connected to an alarm receiving centre.

According to local news reports, deputy chief fire officer, Roy Harold, is on record as saying that the brigade should have followed its own advice and installed sprinklers. He is quoted as saying that had there been such a system, the flames would have been put out very quickly and automatically. As a result of this incident, the brigade will now ask all building developments to seriously consider installing sprinklers, to prevent fire damage.

Eight firefighting appliances were called from across Norfolk and the neighbouring county of Cambridgeshire after flames were seen coming from a window. The blaze is believed to have started in a bay where the station’s fire engine was housed. Nobody was injured and an investigation has been launched into the cause of the fire.