'Side-by-Side Burn' Demonstration at Bullock State History Museum
On July 3, 2010, the need for escape planning and smoke alarms, as well as the effectiveness of fire sprinkler systems in limiting damage to homes, were dramatically demonstrated with a live “Side-by-Side Burn” at the Bullock State History Museum in Austin.
In the Governor’s Mansion fire of 2008, one of the State’s crown jewels came within minutes of being destroyed when it was struck by an arsonist. Unlike many public buildings, the Mansion’s prime function is residential. Fortunately, the Mansion was uninhabited at the time and most furnishings had been removed, due to remodeling. The damage would have been less extensive if the complete, functioning fire sprinkler system provided for in the remodeling plans had already been in place.
Residences are where people are at greatest risk from fire, with 8 out of 10 fire deaths taking place where we tend to feel safest. Every year, more than 3,000 people are killed nationally in home fires. This is why every household needs working smoke alarms and a well rehearsed fire escape plan for basic fire safety. While smoke alarms and escape plans are currently the primary means of fire safety, residential fire sprinklers provide the best fire protection. Fire sprinklers provide active fire protection within a home, limiting the spread of smoke and fire allowing additional time for safe escape.
The side-by-side burn demonstration involved two identical, separate, free standing “rooms,” with typical residential furnishings. One room was equipped with fire suppression sprinklers; the other was not. The demonstration illustrated how quickly fire spreads and showed the effectiveness of residential sprinklers in extinguishing fires.
The demonstration illustrated how quickly fire spreads, illustrated flashover, and showed the significant damage fire causes.
Firefighters from Austin Fire Department were on hand to extinguish the fire in the un-sprinkled unit. The average time it takes a fire department to respond to a fire is 7 minutes after the fire has been reported, and the average time of sprinkler activation is less than 2 minutes after the fire starts. Nothing in the sprinkler-protected room was destroyed and since the fire was extinguished with only a few gallons of water, water "damage" consisted of the time it took for the contents to dry out.
You can watch a video of the burn at the "Have An Exit Strategy" Facebook page; click on "Video."
Staff from the State Fire Marshal’s Office provided information on fire prevention and protection and answered questions following the demonstration.
The “Side-by-Side Burn” was held in conjunction with the Bullock Museum’s special exhibit, “Texas Treasure: Inside Our Governor's Mansion” (June 5 - August 1, 2010), that explains the mansion’s history and importance to Texas. Part of the exhibit focuses on the act of arson and the inclusion of residential sprinklers in the Mansion reconstruction.
The “Texas Treasure” exhibit and the “Side-by-Side Burn” demonstration were supplemented with a special, one-day, fire-safety exhibit on the Bullock Museum’s third floor. Activities included clowns, face painting, and K-9 demonstrations, and also emphasized important fire safety practices such as “Having an EXIT Strategy,” “Stop, Drop, and Roll,” and the importance of smoke alarms.
Chief Rhoda Mae Kerr of the Austin Fire Department, a few days later, wrote the following letter, published in the Austin American Statesman:
"On July 3, the state fire marshal conducted a side-by-side burn demonstration. This was designed to compare the effects of fire in a sprinkled room vs. nonsprinklered room. The results were astounding.
"In a little more than eight seconds, the nonsprinklered room was fully engulfed in fire. In the sprinklered room, the fire burned for just 43 seconds before being extinguished by the sprinklers. I overheard a woman in the audience say, 'I never would have believed it if I hadn't seen it.'
"I sincerely hope when Legislature is back in session in January, it will consider giving municipalities the power to decide whether requiring sprinklers in new construction of single-family homes is appropriate.
"The Austin Fire Department is grateful to the fire marshal's office for conducting this most important demonstration and letting residents see for themselves just how valuable sprinklers in their homes could be."
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Last updated: 08/22/2011
