Sprinkler system stops fire from spreading at senior living apartment building

A fire sprinkler system quickly extinguished a fire that ignited in a couch early Saturday at the Canterbury House on Market Street. Charleston Fire Department/Provided

A sprinkler system quickly doused a fire at a senior living facility in downtown Charleston early Saturday and may well have saved lives, Charleston Fire Department officials said.

At 3:42 a.m., firefighters were dispatched to Canterbury House at 165 Market St. for an automatic fire alarm, according to a news release from the Fire Department.

When the first unit arrived, firefighters saw smoke in a fourth-floor hallway, the release said. The call was upgraded to a possible structure fire and additional units were summoned. More firefighters and apparatus from the city, St. Andrews and James Island fire departments responded, as well as Charleston County EMS and the Charleston Police Department.

Firefighters entered an apartment on the fourth floor, helped a resident get outside to a safe area and extinguished the remaining couch fire with a hand-held water fire extinguisher, the release said.

The couch fire had been safely and quickly contained by the activation of single sprinkler head in the living room, the release said.

"This is yet another example of the profound benefits of a fire sprinkler system," Fire Chief Karen Brack said. "Fire sprinkler systems consistently prove their value in improving the life safety of residents and emergency responders while limiting property damage."

"Without the fire sprinkler system we would have had a substantial event, damaged multiple apartments, and displaced numerous residents," said Fire Marshal Mike Julazadeh. "The fire sprinkler system, coupled with the fire alarm, was part of the life safety system of this building and provided early warning and fire control."

The department's Fire Marshal Division responded to investigate the fire, the cause of which is still under investigation.

Damage from the fire was limited to the sofa. Management is working to repair water damage and restore minimal smoke and fire damage. One occupant was relocated to another apartment and no injuries were reported.

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Sprinkler system stops fire from spreading at senior living apartment building