Sprinkler system limits fire damage to apartment garbage can (Bend, OR)

Tenants reported smoke and fire in the garage of a unit of the four-plex, Deputy Fire Marshal Dan Derlacki said. The building is equipped with a fire sprinkler system, and the garage fire was put out by a sprinkler head activation in the garage, Derlacki said. The fire was caused by a cigarette improperly discarded into a trash can that had paper in it, Derlacki said. The cigarette ignited the paper and spread to the shelf.

But thanks to the sprinkler, damage was limited to the garbage can and adjacent shelving unit, Derlacki said, estimating losses at just $500 to the building and $50 to contents. “Without the sprinkler system, this fire could have easily displaced the four families living in the building,” he said in a news release. Instead, he said, “All tenants of the building will be able to stay in their homes tonight.”