Residential, Townhouse / Condominium Kitchen fire extinguished thanks to fire sprinkler (Charles County, MD) November 20, 2012 viking210 A fire that erupted overnight in a townhouse kitchen was quickly doused by the home’s fire sprinkler system. Maryland State Fire Marshal William E. Barnard said, “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.”