It demands action. An urgent horn and flashing lights in a school, hotel or office building. The loud chirping of a home smoke detector. Nothing grabs attention and demands immediate action like a fire alarm. And immediate action is critical for saving lives and minimizing property damage.With more than a century of improvements and refinements, fire systems today provide the utmost protection by combining high-tech smoke detection and alarms with sprinklers or suppression equipment.The danger is quickly detected.Building occupants are warned to intercede or evacuate.And, in many commercial structures, the fire is suppressed or extinguished automatically.Learn more about the history, technology and value of smoke detection systems here, courtesy of Siemens. What you learn just might save your life.