These before and after pictures show how little fire damage occurred in this mock room as fire was quickly controlled by a residential sprinkler head during a side by side on Thursday in Augusta.

These before and after pictures show how little fire damage occurred in this mock room as fire was quickly controlled by a residential sprinkler head during a side by side on Thursday in Augusta.

Flames exploded during a side-by-side room burn sprinkler demonstration on Thursday outside the Augusta Civic Center in Augusta.

The Office of the State Fire Marshal, in collaboration with the State Farm insurance company, put on the demonstration during the Maine Municipal Association’s annual convention to show the importance of residential sprinklers for fire safety during National Fire Prevention Week.

Two similar rooms were set on fire. The first room was completely engulfed in flames after in two minutes and 45 seconds.

But the sprinkler system knocked down the fire in the second room in just over a minute, leaving little damage in the room.

Augusta firefighters assisted in the demonstrations and were on hand to extinguish the fires.


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