Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service Media release

Sprinklers save lives in Trowbridge flat fire

A pioneering fire safety scheme in Trowbridge has proved its worth yet again.

The Studley Green estate was the first housing development in Europe to be fitted with domestic sprinklers, following its rebuild in 1999. On Sunday 24 February, a couple living in a ground floor flat at Aldeburgh Place escaped a potentially fatal blaze after the sprinkler system was activated.

The fire, which happened at 2.30am, was concentrated in the living room and is believed to have been started by discarded smoking materials. Although the flat had smoke detectors fitted, they were not working.

Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service actively lobbies for the inclusion of sprinkler systems in domestic and commercial properties. Chief Fire Officer Andy Goves said: “This is the second time that the sprinklers at Studley Green have done their job, with two people surviving a fire in their home that could have had fatal consequences otherwise. This incident shows yet again how effective sprinkler systems are - the equivalent of having a fire engine already at your house ready to go!

“Sprinklers save lives and protect property, and we will continue to lobby local authorities, housing associations and developers to include these safety measures in their properties. Modern sprinkler designs are unobtrusive and, contrary to what you might see on TV or films, cause negligible water damage in controlling fires and preventing property from otherwise burning down.”

Successful partnerships already include Wiltshire County Council agreeing to install sprinklers in the new flagship secondary school being built in Melksham, Swindon Borough Council including sprinklers in seven new schools being built through its Private Finance Initiative, plus numerous schemes in residential homes and housing association properties.

Mr Goves said: “Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service is a key campaigner for the National Fire Sprinkler Network, which is lobbying to have sprinkler systems installed in schools, care homes, houses of multiple occupation, multi-storey residential premises and commercial premises. In Wiltshire we have had a number of local successes, but this latest fire shows that no-one can afford to be complacent. I hope this classic example will encourage others to redouble their efforts and help all of us increase the number of sprinkler installations to make a safer community.”

Barry Hughes, Chief Executive of West Wiltshire Housing Society, which owns and manages the Studley Green estate, added: “Although it is always distressing to be involved in a fire, thankfully the sprinklers really reduced the damage.

“We installed the sprinklers at Studley Green as part of a European Pilot. This is the second fire where the sprinklers saved lives and homes. I would like to call on the Government to make sprinklers in homes compulsory in building regulations."

ENDS

For further information, please contact:
Louise Knox
Media and communications manager

Tel. 01380 731126 / 07841 951111

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