Residential Sprinklers saved the holidays for the residents of 13 of the San Artes Apartments residents when a kitchen fire started in one of the units on Thanksgiving.

Scottsdale Fire crews responded to a “check fire out” call at the apartment building that morning, according to a press release from the Scottsdale Police Department.
Upon arrival, units found that a fire sprinkler had activated in a second-floor apartment, with light smoke visible inside the residence.

Crews conducted a rapid assessment and confirmed there was no active fire and no fire extension to adjacent units. The fire was contained to the stove cook top and the area directly above it. The building’s sprinkler system effectively controlled the fire prior to fire department arrival, preventing further spread, according to a release.

Fire personnel assisted the resident, who sustained burns to the hands and leg, out of the apartment. The individual was transported to a local burn center, the release said.

No firefighter injuries were reported.

The sprinkler system was secured by fire crews, and damage was limited to the originating unit. Water and fire damage did not impact the other 12 apartments, all of which were cleared for re-occupancy once the scene was deemed safe. The affected unit was turned over to the building’s lead supervisor and a restoration services company, according to the release.

“This is another example of the importance and effectiveness of residential sprinklers,” Scottsdale Fire Chief Tom Shannon said in the release. “This one sprinkler activation prevented the loss of a $3 million building and allowed the other residents in the building to spend the holiday at home.”

To learn more about these protection systems, visit ScottsdaleAZ.gov and search “Residential Sprinklers.” To learn about safety in apartments and condos, search “Multi-family Housing Safety.”