A sprinkler system helped prevent the spread of a fire at a high-rise senior living community in Pittsburgh this weekend, according to city officials.
A fire that broke out Saturday at the Ebenezer Towers was contained to two units, said Pittsburgh Fire Chief Darryl Jones. He added that the building was partially sprinklered, which helped minimize the fire’s danger and damage.
The Pittsburgh high-rise primarily houses seniors in about 100 units across 10 floors. About two dozen residents on lower floors were displaced by smoke and water damage, Jones said.
As more cities enact sprinkler requirements, fires are becoming less severe. But they do persist. Fire departments respond to about 14,500 high-rise fires each year, according to a study by the National Fire Protections Association.
