A sprinkler system has contained what may have been a major fire at a factory in Staffordshire.
Around 50 staff were evacuated from IMI Norgren in Lichfield after an industrial press caught fire in the early hours of Wednesday 27 October. Some 40 firefighters were called to deal with the incident, but the activation of the sprinklers meant that they were not all needed.
The damage was limited to the machinery and some slight heat damage to the roof directly above. Once the fire was out, crews used hose reel jets to cool the machinery and then ventilated the factory. Sprinklers are fitted throughout the manufacturing and storage areas of the site.
Speaking later that morning, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service station manager Mick Jahn said: "The activation of the sprinklers meant we were able to quickly bring the fire under control and allow some of the appliances to leave the incident, so they were available for other emergencies. We would probably still be there dealing the fire now had the sprinklers not been in use.
"We’d urge all businesses to fit sprinkler systems. As this incident has highlighted they do prevent the spread of fires, and so minimise the economic cost of a fire - which is even more important during these difficult financial times."
Around 50 staff were evacuated from IMI Norgren in Lichfield after an industrial press caught fire in the early hours of Wednesday 27 October. Some 40 firefighters were called to deal with the incident, but the activation of the sprinklers meant that they were not all needed.
The damage was limited to the machinery and some slight heat damage to the roof directly above. Once the fire was out, crews used hose reel jets to cool the machinery and then ventilated the factory. Sprinklers are fitted throughout the manufacturing and storage areas of the site.
Speaking later that morning, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service station manager Mick Jahn said: "The activation of the sprinklers meant we were able to quickly bring the fire under control and allow some of the appliances to leave the incident, so they were available for other emergencies. We would probably still be there dealing the fire now had the sprinklers not been in use.
"We’d urge all businesses to fit sprinkler systems. As this incident has highlighted they do prevent the spread of fires, and so minimise the economic cost of a fire - which is even more important during these difficult financial times."
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