FD Fire Design Services

This breaking news story was all over the Arizona news stations this morning (Monday, 2/9/09), and it has us asking a few questions. 

The residence is located in North Scottsdale, and is a fairly new home, most likely built no earlier than 2004.  By those two factors alone, it should have had fire sprinklers installed based on Scottsdale's Fire Code.  If this home did have fire sprinklers installed, why didn't they go off?  If it didn't have any sort of system installed, or if the sprinklers were defunct how did it pass inspection and retain permits?  They are reporting that the fire started in the fireplace, and that the living room was allegedly filled with smoke when they evacuated the house.  Since this fire consumed and ruined this 6,000 sq ft home, it makes us wonder if there were any sprinklers throughout the house at all.  If that's the case, then this unfortunate fire is an obvious example of why newer homes should require fire sprinkler systems, and shouldn't be taken lightly.  

If you have any information on the Ancala gated community where this house was located, or anything else pertaining to this story, be sure to leave a comment!