Sprinkler System Saves 2nd High-Rise Building This Week

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Firefighters said a sprinkler system saved a second high rise building in St. Paul in just a week.

Crews were called to an eight-story apartment building at 401 Sibley St. Monday around 1:10 a.m.

An upholstered chair had been on fire in the lobby of the sixth floor. A sprinkler was activated and put the fire out.

No one was injured or displaced.

Firefighters just had to ventilate the steam and smoke and remove the water. Overall damage from the fire, smoke and water was estimated to be around $10,000. Fire officials are still investigating the cause.

Another fire happened on May 13 in a kitchen at a high-rise apartment at 20 Exchange St. East. That fire was put out by one sprinkler also and damage was around $1,000.

"Fire sprinklers are extremely effective in confining or completely extinguishing fires as happened here," said St. Paul Fire Marshal Steve Zaccard in a press release. "They're especially effective in homes and apartments where the most fires occur and the most people die."

Tim Butler, the St. Paul Fire Chief, said that sprinklers can cost as little as $1.60 per square foot and can even be installed in residential homes.