Fire injury records
After a Fire: Save Sprinkler Records Safely
30-second answer
Get medical help first. Write down the building and room. Save messages about sprinkler checks or repairs. Ask the manager to keep records and have a qualified professional document removed heads. Do not touch the system or delay safety work.
Legal information from the Law Office of Arta Wildeboer · Updated
Do this now
- 1Write down the address, floor, room, fire date, and your route out. Separate what you saw from what you were told.
- 2Save original photos and messages you lawfully have. Take new photos only from a safe, permitted place.
- 3Notify the manager of the concern. Ask for a qualified fire-protection professional to check the heads against the current official notice.
- 4Ask for inspection reports, recall notices, work orders, and records of completed replacements. Keep your request and replies.
- 5Ask the record holders to save relevant records and components safely. Ask professionals to record where each removed head came from and who holds it.
Avoid this
- Do not climb, test, turn valves, remove heads, or take building equipment.
- Do not block emergency repairs or keep an unsafe system in service for evidence.
- Do not post medical records or witness details publicly. Keep originals and a private backup.
Save these
- Address, floor, room, fire date, and evacuation notes
- Original photos, videos, and messages
- Inspection reports and written warnings available to you
- Replacement records and contractor contact details
- Names of people holding removed components
- Fire and ambulance report numbers
- Medical records, bills, and work restrictions
Common questions
Is this a new free-replacement program?
No reopened free program is announced in the September 24, 2026 notice. The old recall closed in 2007. Ask management to arrange qualified inspection and replacement of recalled heads.
Can I tell from the brand name alone?
No. A qualified professional should check the specific head. Some model names continued after the seal design changed. Do not remove or test a head yourself.
What if replacement work starts now?
Do not stop needed safety work. Ask professionals to record the location and condition of removed heads and who receives them. Keep those records.
Does the warning prove my injury claim?
No. The actual equipment, control, reasonable care, and connection to the injury still matter. If nobody was hurt, report the safety concern rather than assume an injury claim exists.
Want more detail?
Read the full explanation
Recalled Fire Sprinklers: Records After a Fire InjuryOfficial resources
- CPSC: September 24, 2026 sprinkler warning (opens in a new window)
- Tyco Fire: current notice and identification resources (opens in a new window)
- Tyco: September 24 FAQ (opens in a new window)
- California Civil Code section 1714 (opens in a new window)
- Judicial Council: 2026 Civil Jury Instructions (opens in a new window)
- MedlinePlus: recognizing medical emergencies (opens in a new window)
Questions about your situation?
Talk with Arta Wildeboer
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