A supported living property based on the third floor of a flat complex in Epsom experienced an accidental kitchen fire in the early hours of the 29^th June. Luckily, thanks to a concealed fire sprinkler head in the open plan kitchen, the fire was extinguished within minutes.

According to the fire safety organisation, FireSafe, around seven thousand people a year are injured in kitchen fires, with nearly two thirds of domestic fires happening either during or following cooking. It’s unlikely that individuals will own a fire extinguisher in residential properties, which is why it is so important to have life-saving precautions – such as concealed fire sprinklers – installed.

The accidental kitchen fire occurred just after midnight at 00:04 whilst the resident was asleep in their bedroom. Whilst fires themselves are dangerous, the smoke can be even more deadly, especially when individuals are sleeping and unaware of the developing threat.

In cases like this, smoke detectors are effective in alerting residents to the fire, but do nothing for quelling the threat. Whilst smoke detectors are now installed in over 80% of all UK homes, their presence alone cannot guarantee absolute safety. Residential sprinklers are set off directly by heat and only those in the vicinity of the fire discharge, meaning that when a kitchen fire accident happens, the flames are quickly and effectively extinguished within minutes, with the absolute minimum risk of water damage.

Property developers are increasingly recognizing the benefits that residential fire sprinklers can have; the supported living flat that the accidental fire occurred in was fitted out with concealed sprinklers in line with the rest of the property. Not only do these provide peace of mind to residents and their loved ones, they also provide key relief to the already strained fire services.

Whilst the fire service did attend the third floor flat to confirm that the fire had been extinguished and that there was no further threat, fire sprinklers have proven to save the emergency services both time and money in water expenditure. Without having to dispense gallons of water to quell fires, both the expenses of the visit and the time on the scene are decreased. This means the fire service have more time and resources to attend other critical incidents.

Luckily, in this instance, there was minimal damage and no injury. However, not all cases turn out so well. Another accidental kitchen fire in the stately Cupola House of Bury St. Edmunds nearly destroyed the property in 2012. This dealt a shocking blow to the town as the Cupola House was a Grade 1 listed building.