Fire officials say Lunenburg condo fire proves residential sprinklers save lives

By Colin A. Young, Globe Correspondent

Authorities today pointed to a fire at a Lunenburg condo as proof that residential sprinkler systems can save lives by quickly putting out fires before they grow into infernos.

In a joint statement, State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan and Lunenburg Fire Chief Scott Glenny said a single sprinkler head at in a unit at 69 Royal Fern Dr. doused the fire almost before Lunenburg firefighters had left the firehouse.

“This demonstrates the reason why sprinklers are such a valuable tool for life safety and protection [of] people’s homes,” Coan said.

Authorities said the fire began in a couch and triggered one of the four sprinkler heads in the living room. A Christmas tree, which authorities speculated was extremely dry, did not ignite despite its proximity to the flames. None of the residents was home at the time of the blaze, though firefighters did rescue a dog trapped inside.

“It is absolutely amazing that the Christmas tree was never involved in this fire and that everyone got out safely,” Glenny said in the statement. “This fire demonstrates the need for residential fire sprinklers in every new home.”

Last month, a group of firefighters argued in favor of an amendment to the state building code that would allow a requirement for sprinklers in all newly constructed homes. Fire officials said sprinkler systems, which can cost thousands of dollars to install, would save lives and limit property damage.

In a Dec. 21 letter to the Globe, James Shannon, president of the National Fire Protection Association, said the risk of dying decreases by about 80 percent when a home has sprinklers.

Two days before Christmas, Peabody firefighter James M. Rice died while battling a blaze that fire officials said started in the electrical wiring of a second-floor apartment. The building did not have fire sprinklers because they were not require when it was built.

Officials estimated damage from today’s Lunenburg fire at $25,000 and said none of the residents was displaced.

“As fast as we were able to get there, the fire sprinkler was faster and had the fire under control frankly before we even left the station,” Glenny said.