Yuma, Arizona. – Around 4:00 PM on Monday, April 24th, 2023, the Yuma Fire Department responded to a commercial fire with water flowing from the sprinkler system at a battery facility in the 3700 block of South Arizona Avenue. First arriving fire personnel found a light haze of smoke coming from the building. Upon entry, firefighters found an active fire sprinkler flowing in a production area of the facility. The fire was held under control with the activation of this one sprinkler head, and ultimately extinguished by YFD personnel. This properly working fire sprinkler was able prevent any further damage to the building and its contents, and protect the lives of the workers inside. No injuries were reported, and business operations were only interrupted for a short time.
Fire sprinkler systems can keep fires from spreading and can also extinguish them. Fire spreads quickly and can double in size every minute. Even small fires can cause significant damage to property and endanger those nearby. Contrary to many Hollywood portrayals, only sprinkler heads directly exposed to the heat activate, not those in the rest of the room, building, or complex.