Public safety: Investigator credits sprinkler system for saving lives as fire breaks out at retirement home
By Ben Fletcher - Idaho Press-Tribune
NAMPA -- An overnight fire erupted at a Nampa retirement home, forcing about 165 residents to evacuate into the chilly weather outdoors.
But fire investigators said a senior who went out of her way to warn others and a modern sprinkler system saved lives.
A 95-year-old woman pounded on several nearby doors at SunBridge Retirement and Rehabilitation in Nampa after a piece of cloth covering a nightstand in the woman's room caught fire just before midnight Friday.
Nampa Deputy Fire Chief Doug Strosnider said the blaze started quickly. But the woman, who had just settled into bed to read a book, was able to flee from the room before a large portion of the bed was engulfed by flames.
The smell of smoke coming from the nightstand next to her bed provided her first warning.
"All of a sudden, she saw a burst of flames," Strosnider said. "She got up, grabbed her walker and pushed herself out."
As the fire spread in her room, about 165 residents, mostly senior citizens, were evacuated from the retirement home. But by the time Nampa Fire Department crews arrived on the scene, the fire had already been extinguished by the building's sprinkler system.
"She was definitely a little shook-up and upset," Strosnider said. "Ninety-five years old -- man, she was firecracker. I was extremely glad to see her get out."
Investigators traced the cause of the fire to an older lamp and some electrical wiring that was visible through a worn cord. Strosnider said a 200-watt bulb also was being used in the bedside lamp, which posed an additional hazard.
"Lots of lamps aren't designed for 200-watt bulbs," the veteran firefighter said.
Nampa crews arrived at the fire in minutes, but Strosnider credited the fire sprinklers for keeping a dangerous situation from becoming even worse.
In addition, the fire investigator applauded Nampa city officials for adopting a fire code that calls for sprinkler systems in structures like SunBridge. Recently, officials included three- and four-plex residences in that same sprinkler requirement.
All of the residents were able to return to their rooms during the course of the night, including the woman whose room caught on fire. She stayed in another room.
"When you're 95 years old, you just don't jump out of bed," Strosnider said. "Today, we don't have any injuries -- and no deaths."
