Fire in underground car park is quelled by sprinkler system
A SPRINKLER and smoke extraction system prevented a car fire in an underground car park in Town yesterday spreading to other vehicles or the offices above.
The Guernsey Fire & Rescue Service and Guernsey Police were called to the incident in the car park at Royal Terrace at about 10am.
Station officer Gary Van der Linden said there was initially a concern that the blaze could have spread to other vehicles nearby.
As a result, two water tenders and nine personnel were despatched, but despite the vehicle being well alight by the time they arrived, the fire was being controlled by the car park’s sprinkler system, while an extraction fan had removed most of the smoke.
Mr Van der Linden said that even though the car park was below offices, like all modern buildings there was a one-hour fire separation between that area and the occupied part of the building so there was no need for anyone to be evacuated.
‘Everything operated in the car park as it should,’ he said.
n On Friday the Fire & Rescue Service will be hosting two sessions outlining the benefits of sprinkler systems being installed in buildings and Mr Van der Linden said some ‘Hollywood myths’ about their operation will be dispelled.
