MOULTRIE —
A sprinkler system that activated early Tuesday morning put out a blaze at The Moultrie Observer.
Publisher Dwain Walden said he got a call from Georgia-Florida Alarm Co. at about 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, reporting that the fire alarm had gone off at The Observer. The alarm company had notified the Moultrie Fire Department who were quick to the scene to find that the sprinkler system had put out a fire that had ignited on the back dock.
Walden said when he arrived, firemen had shut off the sprinkler system and were checking the building for any other flames.
“It did what it was supposed to do,” one of the firemen told Walden, in reference to the sprinkler system.
The fire ignited in a plywood bin on the dock in which old newspapers were stored. Walden said it appeared that the fire was intentionally set because of the location where it started and the fact that no one was at the business at that time. He said there is no kind of electrical wiring in or around the bin where the fire started. He urged anyone who might have knowledge of the incident to please contact authorities. Firemen said once the flames reached the outside top of the bin, the heat was enough to activate the sprinkler system.
Walden said the fire damage was minimal but there was water and smoke damage. He applauded the Moultrie Fire Department for its quick response and immediate action to secure the building from any further damage. Walden said a couple of newspaper routes were affected because those papers were soaked by the sprinklers.
“We appreciate our customers’ understanding of this issue,” said Walden
Ted Taylor, a fire sprinkler systems contractor, said it’s important that the public knows that smoke alarms and sprinklers work...that they can save lives and property.
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Fire at Observer doused, minor damage
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