Sprinkler system snuffs recliner fire

WASILLA — A sprinkler system turned what could have been a catastrophe at a senior living home last week into no more than a burnt recliner and a soggy carpet.

Firefighters were called to the senior independent living facility at 1200 S. Century Circle at 1:10 p.m. June 15, according to a Mat-Su Borough report. The cause of the fire, Central Mat-Su Fire Chief James Steele said, appears to be unattended smoking material.

Steele said that by the time his crews arrived, the fire was pretty much out. They mostly had to hose down a burning recliner in the affected apartment.

“The maintenance guy was already shampooing the carpet” by the time fire crews left, Steele said.

He said sprinklers went off in just one apartment. The damage to the building was estimated at less than $1,000 and damage to its contents was confined mostly to the charred recliner and a nearby children’s rocking horse that began to melt, Steele said.

“The rest of the damage is just going to be repainting the room,” Steele said.

Considering what could have happened had the sprinklers not started spraying, Steele said that’s a pretty good outcome.

“The building itself was valued at like $1.4 million,” Steele said. “The sprinklers, they made a good save for us.”

Aside from the risk to the property, there was also the risk to the lives of those living in the complex’s 32 apartments, Steele said. Even if no one was hurt, if residents were left homeless it would have been a tall order to find them temporary shelter.

“These were folks that have some special needs, too, so it wouldn’t have been easy,” Steele said.

The fire illustrates the value of sprinkler systems, he said. While this particular complex was required to have sprinklers installed, he said he hopes homeowners might look at the possibility of installing residential systems in their homes.

“Hopefully we can influence some behavior or decisions with folks looking at fire suppression alternatives like that,” Steele said.

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.