June 22, 2021
PARK FOREST, IL – One fire sprinkler extinguished a cooking fire at Victory Centre of Park Forest, a senior housing apartment community. According to Captain Phillip Myers, Park Forest Fire Department, the resident was cooking, left the kitchen and fell asleep. The fire started on the stove and traveled up the cabinets. The sprinkler closest to the fire activated.
While the fire department responded, building maintenance accessed the apartment, found the occupant asleep in the bedroom and assisted the occupant out of the apartment. Fire crews arrived to find light smoke and the fire extinguished.
“The sprinkler stopped the fire and saved a life. If this building was not protected, the outcome could have been much different,” Myers said.
The occupant was checked by EMS and did not need further care. The fire sprinkler system was back in service the same day. There was no damage to the other 94 apartments and no injuries were reported.
Source: Fire Sprinkler Save Report submitted by Phillip Myers, Captain, Park Forest Fire Department