Fire officials say a sprinkler system saved a local church from burning down this morning.
Chattanooga firefighters, responding to an alarm around 4:30 a.m. at Silverdale Baptist Academy at 7236 Bonny Oaks Drive, found a small fire in a utility room, Lt. Joe Ervin said in a news release.
The sprinkler system activated and extinguished the fire, saving the church, which is valued at $4 million, according to the news release. Water from the sprinkler heads was still flowing until firefighters were able to shut it off, leaving some significant water damage.
No injuries were reported.
Firefighters said the fire might have originated around a melted mop bucket in the utility room. The cause of the fire is under investigation.