Apartment Building, Residential Yakima, WA – Sprinklers credited with saving lives and property from fire at apartment building May 13, 2015 viking210 The Yakima Fire Department says a small fire at an apartment unit Tuesday night has displaced about 20 people. The fire started after someone in a third floor apartment unit on the 800 block of East D Street left a pan of oil unattended on the stove around 6 p.m. Firefighters also say although the water damage was significant, the fire sprinkler system was instrumental in saving lives and further property damage from an extensive fire. Having the sprinklers activate saved the building from severe structural damage from the fire. Water is usually easier and quicker to clean than rebuilding from fire damage. Also water is less hazardous to the occupants than smoke and fire. Without the activation of the fire sprinkler system, the lives of the people in all 18 units could have been affected.
