Sprinklers a viable solution in areas with no fire protection, says firefighter

A fire official on Newfoundland's west coast says in areas where there's no fire protection, installing an in-house sprinkler system may be a viable option for homeowners.

Last week, a $500,000 home burned to the ground in Pinchgut Lake. There was no fire department service in the area.

Shawn Leamon, deputy fire chief with the Steady Brook Volunteer Fire Department, said in regions without fire protection, installing a home sprinkler system could be a solution.

"It's basically having a firefighter with a hose in his hand 24/7 sitting in your home," said Leamon.

Home sprinkler systems aren't new, but they are uncommon on the west coast.

The system can be hooked up to a homeowner's municipal water system or a separate water tank. The systems are triggered by heat, not smoke, so wouldn't be set off simply by burning food while cooking.

According to Leamon, the cost of installation isn't overly expensive.

"It's about one per cent of your building cost on a new construction, so if you are building a $500,000 home, it's not a reach that you would spend $5,000 or $6,000 to protect that investment," said Leamon.

In an existing home, Leamon said installation is just a matter of running a few extra plumbing lines.

He said it's time to stop blaming firefighters or the City of Corner Brook for not responding to the fire at Pinchgut Lake, adding if the homeowner had a sprinkler system installed, the house could have been saved.

"Whether they were in the home or not, this thing would have activated in two minutes from the start of the fire," he said. "It would have knocked down the fire and put it out immediately."

Property owners outside municipalities take care of their own water, sewer, snow clearing and garbage collection and Leamon said they should also be responsible for their own fire protection.