Park Ridge Home and Homeowners Saved by Fire Sprinkler System

ORLAND PARK, Ill., Feb. 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- On the morning of February 21, two fire sprinklers quickly extinguished a flash fire at a single-family home in Park Ridge. According to Park Ridge Fire Marshal Kevin Plach, the home's fire sprinkler system prevented an estimated $80,000 in property damage.

"There were 105 residential fire deaths in Illinois in 2014, and there already have been 14 residential fire deaths this year. Fortunately, this fire will not add to that list thanks to the quick response of home fire sprinklers," says Tom Lia, executive director of the nonprofit Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board. "The successful activation of the fire sprinkler system is a perfect example of why all communities in Illinois need to consider fire sprinkler protection in homes."

Park Ridge is one of nearly 100 communities in Illinois to have fire sprinkler requirements in all new construction single-family homes. The city enacted its requirements for home fire sprinklers in 2001, a progressive move as it was only the seventh Illinois community to do so at the time.

Jeff Sorensen, who recently became the fire chief, has overseen the progress of the home fire sprinkler requirement. The city now has over 765 homes protected with fire sprinklers. Also, new construction townhomes are required be protected with fire sprinklers, which brings the current total number of fire sprinkler-protected residences in Park Ridge to over 1,000.

About the Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board (NIFSAB)
NIFSAB is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting progressive legislation, raising public awareness, and educating code officials and governmental policy makers by demonstrating the proven performance of fire sprinklers in saving both lives and property. For more info, visit www.firesprinklerassoc.org.

SOURCE Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board

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http://www.firesprinklerassoc.org