By JILL MCNEAL
6 News Anchor/Reporter
PIGEON FORGE (WATE) - A powerful demonstration in Pigeon Forge Wednesday showed the difference between a house with an indoor sprinkler system and one without.
The mock bedroom without was engulfed in flames in less than three minutes. In the other, the sprinkler was triggered after 39 seconds when the temperature in the room reached 155 degrees. The fire was quickly extinguished.
"You can see there wasn't a whole lot of damage in that one. The big thing is those folks are going to be back in their home very quickly after just replacing some dry wall," said Pigeon Forge Fire Chief Tony Watson.
But he said less than 2 percent of homes nationwide have indoor sprinklers.
"You're not left with anything. All those memories, everything is gone. And if there's anybody in there, they've died because of that fire and the smoke," Watson said.
He said Tennessee is number two in the nation for fire fatalities, which is why he advocates sprinklers for all new homes.
"My job is to protect life and property and this right here helps complete that mission," Watson said.
It's a mission shared by former Knox County Fire Marshal Wayne Waggoner, who's now with the National Fire Sprinkler Association.
"We've had people die in house fires next door to the fire station. We're saying if you have sprinklers in your home, before the fire department could ever know about it, the fire's going to be out," Waggoner said.
The main argument against indoor sprinklers is the cost. Waggoner said it's usually 1 to 1.5 percent of the total price of construction. That's about $2,000 for a $150,000 home.
"That's pretty reasonable for a brand new house," Waggoner said. "Save all your belongings, save your family. To me, it's a no-brainer."
A bill pending in the Tennessee legislature would prevent local governments from requiring sprinklers in new homes. The Tennessee Fire Chiefs Association is asking its members to show their opposition at the capitol Wednesday, Feb. 22, when the bill is scheduled for discussion in the House Commerce Subcommittee.
