Another Southampton Sprinkler Save

The decision by Southampton City Council to fit sprinklers in all its high-rise residential blocks proves right with yet another fire quickly extinguished.  

importance of sprinklers

Firefighters from the newly combined Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service were called to a fire in a flat on the 21st floor of a tower block in Southampton this week.

The first crew was on the scene within three minutes and found that a cooker fire in the kitchen was already out on arrival thanks to the sprinkler system installed.

minimum damage

We were able to isolate the sprinklers and enter the flat to ensure the fire was fully extinguished"

Group Manager, Ben Allen said, “The sprinklers in Millbrook Towers did exactly what these systems are designed to do. By confining the fire to one room, the potential for this being a much more significant incident was averted."

He adds, “No-one had to be evacuated from the building and we were able to isolate the sprinklers and enter the flat to ensure the fire was fully extinguished and water damage was kept to a minimum.”

install fire safety measures

Firefighters had previously attended a flat fire in another Southampton tower block, Copenhagen Tower, on 12 April where sprinklers had also activated and suppressed the fire.

Southampton City Councillors agreed on funding to install fire safety measures in its tower blocks in response to the Grenfell Tower fire.

sprinkler systems

In 2018, on the first anniversary of the tragic fire, Southampton City Council said that it was working closely with Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service to install new sprinkler systems in high-rise blocks across the city.

Other works included upgrading and replacing communal fire doors, flat front doors, and fire stopping.

fire risk assessments

Councillor Payne, Cabinet member for Housing and Social Care said at the time of the sprinkler installation, “Ensuring that our tenants are safe and secure is our top priority. All our tower blocks have up-to-date fire risk assessments and Southampton City Council has been working closely with Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service and our specialist installation contractors on a timetable for installing sprinkler systems and undertaking other fire safety works in tower blocks to make them even safer.”