They Never Made It Out: Fire Alarm Fails Artwork

Sparky Life

On Your Construction Network the Sparky Life Podcast with Lia Lamela, every Thursday has remarkable stories and points of view from journeyman and woman who build the things that make our lives work! These lessons learned are not only valuable for those engaged in the skilled trades but frankly for all of us whether we use tools literally or figuratively in our daily lives. I share with you my electrical journey, experiences and insight through engaging banter with those I have met along the way. If you are interested in trade tales, an industry frought with excitement and risk subscribe and be notified every Thursday when trade tales continue. We build the world we want to live in. Let’s band together to create the sparks in our lives!

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Sparky Life

They Never Made It Out: Fire Alarm Fails

June 05, 2025 • Lia Lamela • Season 2 • Episode 125

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🎧 In this episode: Welcome back to Sparky Life, where we dive into the systems that protect lives — until they fail. Today’s episode is a wake-up call about fire alarms, real-world disasters, and the life-saving tech driving modern fire protection.

What happens when fire alarms don’t work? People die.

From London’s Grenfell Tower fire to Rhode Island’s Station Nightclub tragedy, Lia breaks down the harrowing events, the technology behind them, and the fire safety codes born from catastrophe.

💥 Inside this episode:

What actually caused the Grenfell Tower blaze to explode up 24 stories
The outdated fire alarm failures that cost 72 lives
Why “Stay Put” policies can turn deadly
How a nightclub pyrotechnics show turned into a Final Destination-style nightmare
The fire codes and building safety laws that emerged from these events
How AI, smart sensors, and VESDA tech are reshaping the future of fire alarms
Why Lia swears by Siemens and other top-tier systems in the field
How nuisance alarms lead to complacency — and why accuracy matters

This one is technical, personal, and full of moments that will make you rethink every fire alarm you’ve ever ignored. If you care about life safety, building tech, or just a wild true story — you need to hear this.

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⏱ TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – Welcome to Sparky Life

02:40 – Intro to Fire Alarm Disasters

04:38 – Grenfell Tower Fire Breakdown

07:58 – Fire Alarm Failures and Policy Gaps

09:28 – Smoke Inhalation: The Real Killer

13:30 – Lia’s Personal Fire Story

16:20 – The Aftermath: UK Building Safety Act

18:35 – The Station Nightclub Fire: What Went Wrong

22:40 – Fire Code Updates Post-Tragedy

24:18 – AI & Smart Detection Tech Explained