Maryland State Fire Marshal

News Release
Martin OMalley Governor William E. Barnard State Fire Marshal

RESIDENTIAL FIRE SPRINKLERS EXTINGUISH KITCHEN FIRE

CHARLES COUNTY, MD (November 20, 2012) Firefighters from Bryans Road Volunteer Fire Department responded to a kitchen fire at 2700 Hammock Court in Bryans Road this morning. The 2:37 a.m. fire was quickly extinguished by a fire sprinkler head located in the kitchen of the townhouse and limited the fire damage to the cabinet and vent hood above the stove with mild smoke and soot damage contained to the kitchen. The occupant, Yvonne Wheatly received 1st and 2nd degree burns to both hands when trying to remove the smoldering pot from the stove surface. Wheatly felt very lucky to have the protections of the fire sprinkler system to ensure the fire did not cause more damage to the townhome. The State Fire Marshal William E. Barnard stated, This is yet another example of the effectiveness of automatic fire sprinklers in residential occupancies. Residential fire sprinklers save lives and property. The presence of fire sprinklers undoubtedly prevented a more tragic outcome.

### Media contact: Bruce D. Bouch, Deputy State Fire Marshal; 443-324-6876
The Office of the State Fire Marshal is an agency of the Department of State Police dedicated to helping protect citizens from fire and explosion through a comprehensive program of education, inspection, investigation and fire protection engineering. For more information on fire safety call 1-800-525-3124, log onto our website at: www.mdsp.org/firemarshal and/or http://facebook.com/MarylandStateFireMarshal.

1201 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville, MD 21208