Chapel Hill's Kensington Trace apartments lacked sprinklers, raising ?re safety questions

Those involved in an Aug. 6 fire that killed a 7-year-old girl and damaged five apartments say rescuers did their best to quell the flames, but the building lacked emergency sprinklers — a fact that increased its risk for deadly fire.

Sprinkler systems were not required when the structure was built, but are mandated in new multifamily complexes today.

Installing a sprinkler system reduces the chance of occupant death from fire by about 83 percent, Deputy Fire Chief Matt Lawrence said.

“We know that sprinklers provide the absolute best protection that you can provide to anyone inside of a structure from fire,” Lawrence said. “They are well worth the investment.”

Thirty-one emergency responders from Chapel Hill and others from Carrboro, Durham, New Hope and Parkwood responded to the fire at Kensington Trace at 217 Schultz St. The fire was caused by a freezer on a back deck which malfunctioned, starting an electrical fire.

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“It was utter shock, especially when it was revealed that a little girl was dead,” Kensington Trace Property Manager Doug Lally said. “There was never any panic, we had good organization that day.”

Kensington Trace did have a working fire alarm, but did not have a sprinkler system, according to the press release.

“It equates to the cost of upgrading countertops or carpet,” Lawrence said.

It will take 9 months to a year to rebuild the five affected apartments. The new apartments will have sprinkler systems but there are currently no plans to place sprinklers in the existing structures because it is prohibitively expensive, Lally said.

He said many unknowns remain for those affected, but the community is trying to help.

The American Red Cross provided food, clothing, shelter and counseling to the 16 people affected, Red Cross Disaster Action Team Captain Scott Madry said.

“It’s a free gift from the people who support the American Red Cross to the people in need,” he said.

Aid included providing hotel rooms to people who could not immediately find temporary housing, giving small toys to children and giving toiletries to all affected.

Residents were also given a voucher debit card to use on food and clothing.

“Everyone did a fantastic job that day. Everyone responded heroically,” Lally said.

The fact that Chapel Hill is a college town doesn’t necessarily make it more susceptible to fires, Lawrence said. But people living in rental homes are less likely to have adequate fire protection systems and are therefore more susceptible to fatalities, he said.

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