Sub Zero Temps Snap Fire Sprinkler Lines in Orland Park Businesses

An Orland Park firefighter pushes water out of Famous Dave’s in Orland Park after pipes froze snapping fire sprinkler lines inside the restaurant. | Photos by Todd Sherman.

The Orland Park Fire Protection District answered water flow alarms after sub-zero temperatures snapped fire sprinkler lines in the middle of the night at Orland Park businesses.

Firefighters were pushing out gushing water at Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que, 15657 S. Harlem Ave., Orland Park, when pipes froze causing fire sprinklers to burst around 1:10 a.m.

Battalion Chief Nick Cinquepalmi, of the Orland Park Fire Protection District, said crew responded to burst sprinkler systems in three or four commercial buildings early Monday morning.

“The rapid decline in temperatures are snapping a lot of the sprinkler lines in commercial buildings,” Cinquepalmi said. “Some of the buildings can have significant damage if not caught in time. Usually by the we get here when lines are tripped there is moderate damage.”

The fire sprinkler systems are monitored. As soon as a pipe or sprinkler head is tripped, the water flow activates an alarm, which notifies the Orland Park Fire Protection District, Cinquepalmi said.

No firefighters were injured falling on the ice.