Sprinkler system saves lives, apartment complex in Roanoke County

A sprinkler system, in an apartment complex, likely saved the lives of the residents who lived there after a fire broke out Sunday night.

Roanoke County Fire and Rescue was dispatched to the 7300 block of Barrens Road around 9 p.m. on Sunday for a reported structure fire. When firefighters arrived at the ground floor apartment of a 12-unit building, they found an already extinguished grease fire on the stove. The building’s sprinkler system had activated and doused the fire causing only minimal damage to the hood over the stove, along with water damage to the carpeting.

The teenage resident of the apartment was warming grease in a pan to fry food, when a grease fire occurred. She was able to call 9-1-1 and then escape without injury. Other residents of the building reported seeing smoke in their apartments and called 9-1-1 as well.

The mother and daughter, who lived in the apartment where the fire occurred, are temporarily displaced while the damaged areas are repaired. Residents of the other 11 units in the building were originally evacuated, but able to return to their apartments within about an hour.

The damage is estimated at just $3,500.

“This could have been a tragic fire, but the sprinkler system did its job and likely saved some lives and property,” believes Gary Huffman, Roanoke County Fire Marshal.