Sprinkler in Garage Saves Marin Co. Home From Fire

MARIN COUNTY, CA – A fire sprinkler extinguished a fire sometime Thursday or early Friday that would have destroyed a Novato home worth more than a million dollars, fire officials said.

The fire occurred between the time construction workers left the home in the 100 block of San Domingo Way Thursday and Friday morning when the general contractor stopped by.

Firefighters went to the three-story home at about 6:45 a.m. Friday to check whether any fire was left in the walls or other concealed places. Firefighters used thermal cameras and found the fire was indeed
extinguished.

"The home would have been a complete loss" if not for the sprinkler, Battalion Chief Bill Tyler said in a statement.

Fire officials believe the fire started when rags used to do some staining in the home Thursday spontaneously ignited in a bucket in the garage.

The home is under renovations and no one was in the home when the fire occurred. The sprinkler system had been connected to a water supply three days before the fire, according to fire officials.

The sheet rock in the home was damaged by smoke, but the structural part of the home was not damaged, fire officials said.

According to Tyler, when the fire sprinkler contractor came to replace the sprinkler head that had activated the general contractor gave the sprinkler contractor a bear hug and said, "Thank you! Your sprinklers saved
the house."

• ALSO SEE: Stolen Pug 'Buddy' Returned Anonymously to Elderly Owners in Livermore

FOR YOUR WEEKEND: Bunnyville & Egg Hunts; Cherry Blossom Festival; Spring Plant Sales: NorCal Weekend

--Bay City News/Image via Novato Fire Protection District