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P.E.I. fire chief praises fire suppression device

Feb. 4, 2013, Hampshire, P.E.I. – A Prince Edward Island fire chief is praising a small firefighting device that was tossed through a window to suppress flames in a house fire burning west of Charlottetown.

North River Fire Chief Kirby Wakelin says a device called a dry sprinkler poweder aerosol, or DSPA, helped put out the fire in the Hampshire residence.

The device is used in places that are difficult to access, as was the case when firefighters responded to a 6:45 p.m. call.

Wakelin says the one-level, single dwelling house had flames and heavy smoke shooting out the front window when firefighters arrived.

The red, round metallic device was thrown into the house and emitted a cloud of potassium compounds that quickly snuffed out the blaze.

Wakelin says this is the second time his fire department has used the device to successfully put out a fire.

The device is used in a variety of fire scenarios to knock down flames and lower the temperature drastically, allowing firefighters the ability to enter, fight the fire effectively and limit the danger to themselves and reduce property damage.

P.E.I. Fire Marshall Dave Rossiter says the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Wakelin estimates about 25 firefighters and six trucks attended the fire. Firefighters were on the scene for about three hours.