Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue officials are working to set the record straight on a technology they say is one of the most effective tools for saving lives and property: residential fire sprinklers.
Assistant Chief Mike Jackson and Fire Chief John Nohr spoke at length about the public’s misunderstandings, cost concerns and how home sprinklers work in practice — highlighting that a single sprinkler head is often enough to stop a fire in its tracks.
“People are most vulnerable and most at risk where they sleep, which is home,” Jackson said. “So, absolutely the best protection to survive a possible fire is fire sprinklers, hands down.”
Myths and misconceptions
One of the most common misconceptions about fire sprinklers is that if one goes off, they all do, flooding the entire house.
“Each individual sprinkler essentially works like a heat detector,” Jackson explained. “Until that one sprinkler gets to the temperature where it activates — usually around 165 degrees — they stay intact.”
This means only the sprinkler closest to the fire activates. The design keeps water use and damage to a minimum, contrary to what movies and TV might suggest.
Another major concern centers on cost. Jackson said the pushback comes mostly from homebuilders, who argue that adding sprinkler systems drives up prices and make homes less affordable. But, according to Jackson, the data tells a different story.
“We find the current cost to the builder is roughly $2 a square foot,” he said. “So a 2,500-square-foot house, it would be roughly $5,000 for the fire sprinkler installation.”
National estimates place the cost even lower. The Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition reports the average added cost during new construction is just $1.35 per square foot — and that amount can be rolled into a mortgage.
When compared to the cost of fire damage, the savings are stark. According to the National Fire Protection Association, the average fire loss in a home without sprinklers is more than $45,000. In homes with sprinklers, the average loss drops to just over $2,100.
Sprinklers already saving homes
Though not required in most of Clark County, fire sprinklers are mandated in certain areas, including locations within CCFR’s jurisdiction that pose higher fire risks such as flag lots, steep grades and roads with limited access. Camas, outside of CCFR’s jurisdiction, is the only city in Clark County that mandates fire sprinklers for newly constructed one or two-family homes.
Jackson estimates about half of the newly built homes in the district currently include sprinklers.
Sprinklers have already proven their value in local incidents. Jackson described a fire at a church living facility in Woodland, started by a candle, that was controlled by a single sprinkler. No one was injured, and the building remained habitable that same day.
Another case involved a candle left burning on the floor of a teenager’s bedroom. The sprinkler went off just as smoke began to spread, extinguishing the fire before it spread to adjacent units.
“We were able to successfully clean it up,” Jackson said. “Without that fire sprinkler, that fire may have grown to the point of flashover ... and we could have had up to three or four families displaced.”
Beyond fire safety, Jackson and Nohr emphasized the potential for broader cost savings and land use flexibility when sprinklers are adopted at scale.
“In fully sprinklered areas, there’s actually less water infrastructure required,” Jackson said. “We can increase the density with fire sprinklers, decrease the number of fire hydrants ... and that’s a cost saving to the builder, the developer, and the city.”
Nohr expanded on that point. In a fire, the flames and heat can escape through a broken window, threatening nearby homes. But when a sprinkler controls the fire before it breaks out, the risk of that “exposure fire” drops dramatically.
“When you have fire sprinklers in a structure, the fire is usually going to be controlled and held to that room of origin,” Nohr said. “That allows for jurisdictions that want to see housing density to allow more affordability (and) better use of the land.”
Safe, subtle and low-maintenance
Homeowners concerned about aesthetics or maintenance might be surprised to learn that modern residential sprinklers are mostly hidden and require no ongoing upkeep.
“Most of the residential sprinklers have a little cap over them — you don’t even know they’re there for the most part,” Jackson said. “Once they’re installed, there really is no additional cost or ongoing cost.”
Jackson noted that many insurers offer modest annual discounts for homes with sprinklers and that communities with ordinances requiring them often see improved overall insurance ratings.
To help dispel myths and build public understanding, CCFR plans to feature a live fire demonstration at the upcoming Woodland Planters Days. A “side-by-side burn trailer” will show the difference between a room with and without sprinklers during a controlled fire.
“It gives a good visual demonstration,” Jackson said. “Hollywood never portrays fire sprinklers accurately.”
For more information, Jackson recommends visiting the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition’s website at homefiresprinkler.org.
Reflecting on his years in the fire service, Nohr added he’s seen firsthand the shift from devastating house fires to homes that are still livable thanks to sprinklers.
“People are back in the home that day,” he said. “It’s been a great savior.”
