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Sprinklers save lives in Wiltshire flat fire |
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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 February 24 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 0230, 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. CFO 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! Successful partnerships already include Wiltshire County Council agreeing to install sprinklers in the new flagship secondary school being built in Melksham, as well as Swindon Borough Council including sprinklers in seven new schools being built through its Private Finance Initiative, plus numerous schemes in residential homes and housing.” CFO Goves added: “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, said: “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.”
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