DRENCHED MOVIE CHARACTERS DAMPEN
ENTHUSIASM FOR HOME FIRE SPRINKLERS

Quincy, MA – True or false: When fire sprinklers are present in a house that catches fire, only the sprinkler closest to the flames will spray water. If you said false, you’ve been had by Hollywood. And you’re not alone.

According to the nonprofit Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC), the widely generated myth that all sprinklers go off at once is the most common misconception about home fire sprinklers. The truth is, only the sprinkler closest to the flames will open to release water, controlling or extinguishing the fire while it is still small. In a recent study, 90% of fires that occurred in sprinklered homes were quickly controlled with a single sprinkler.*

Despite these facts, Hollywood is at it again with two new hit movies that include preposterous scenes where every sprinkler in an entire system sprays water all at once (“The Incredibles” and “Sponge Bob Square Pants”). That just doesn’t happen in real life, yet scenes like these are becoming a Hollywood comedy staple, requiring the Coalition to work double-time to refute the fiction.

The sprinkler gags are intended to be humorous, of course, and the scenes do draw laughs. But HFSC Chair Gary Keith says there is nothing funny about turning off homeowners who would otherwise choose to install fire sprinklers to protect themselves and their families from fire.

“If even one homeowner walks away from a theater with second thoughts about installing sprinklers in their home, the movies have done a real disservice to public safety,” he says.

Similar scenes are depicted in other films such as “Changing Lanes” with Ben Affleck, “The Matrix” with Keanu Reeves, “Die Hard” with Bruce Willis, “Hocus Pocus” by Disney and even in commercials such as the Doritos commercial with model Ali Landry aired during the Super Bowl.

Reality television might be an answer to the problem. Two popular network shows are helping to counter fire sprinkler myths. “FOX TV’s “Renovate My Family” and ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” have both recently included the installation of home fire sprinklers in broadcast remodeling projects. “Extreme Makeover” producers are currently working on another sprinkler installation for an upcoming episode and are so impressed with the technology they are considering installing sprinklers in future makeover projects.

HFSC hopes the reality TV market can help the entertainment industry trend away from taking poetic license that damages the good reputation of a proven, life-saving technology. But it’s not just about image, says Keith. “Getting the facts about fire safety wrong can have serious consequences.”

Every year, more than 3,000 people are killed in home fires. Of all structures, homes are where people are at greatest risk; in fact, eight out of 10 fire deaths occur at home. Smoke alarms are essential to provide early warning; fire sprinklers provide early control of the fire, which can save lives and property.

Sprinklers, which are installed throughout a home along piping typically hidden behind walls and ceilings, work independently. When the temperature from a fire reaches approximately 130-150 degrees, the sprinkler closest to the flames automatically opens and sprays water over the area, providing plenty of time for a family to escape from fire unharmed. Fire sprinklers are widely viewed as the ultimate fire protection technology.

America Burning, the defining federal report on the nation’s fire problem, called for increased fire sprinkler protection in homes decades ago; yet today only two to four percent of residential properties are protected by sprinklers. HFSC blames this sluggish progress in part on the stubborn sprinkler myths that safety advocates have yet to overcome.

“I can appreciate the entertainment value of both these new films,” Keith says. “But as a parent who installed sprinklers in my own home in order to protect my family from fire, I am very concerned that the drenched characters in these scenes will have a negative impact on sprinklers.”

“Residential fire sprinklers are the best way to significantly lower fire injuries and deaths, and we should be increasing home installations at a much faster pace in order to save more lives,” he continues. “When millions of families see movies that undermine the technology, fire sprinklers take an unjustified hit, and that can ultimately cost lives.”

To learn more about home fire sprinkler systems, visit HFSC’s Web site: www.homefiresprinkler.org.

*Automatic Sprinklers: A 10-Year Study, Scottsdale, AZ