October 19, 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

On Saturday October 15, 2022 at 10:16 pm, the Park Ridge Fire Department responded to the 700 block of Devon Ave for an activated sprinkler head in an unoccupied commercial occupancy. Upon arrival, crews investigated and determined one sprinkler head had activated as a result of a small fire that had been extinguished prior to our arrival. The sprinkler system in this commercial occupancy has been in place for over fifteen years.  By properly maintaining the system and testing on an annual basis, as designed, the system operated properly, extinguishing the fire and potentially saving several adjoining occupancies from catching fire.  The City of Park Ridge adopted its fire sprinkler ordinance over twenty years ago and many homes and businesses have been saved since then due to these fire sprinklers.  This particular incident reflects how important fire sprinkler systems are and how even just one activated sprinkler head can prevent a fire from rapidly spreading.  Park Ridge fire investigators were on the scene and classified the fire as accidental in nature with estimated damages of $1,000.00.

Contact:
Jeff Sorensen
Fire Chief
jsorensen@parkridgefd.org