It's a powerful demonstration of the effectiveness of fire sprinkler systems. The Wisconsin Fire Sprinkler Coalition on Thursday, April 19 featured a live fire demonstration of fire sprinklers.
"Fire sprinklers buy time and save lives," said Michael Wos, Executive Director of the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin Charitable Foundation.
The two rooms are nearly identical -- but attached to the ceiling in the room on the left is a lifesaving tool. "We are gonna set both off at the same time," said Martin King, National Fire Sprinklers Association.
Firefighters set a small fire in the garbage can in each room. Smoke alarms went off 15 seconds later. At 30 seconds, the sprinkler kicks in, knocking out the fire in the room on the left. While the fire next door grows.
"If this was in a house, the thick black smoke would be down to the floor," said King.