SINCE DELAYS IN DISCOVERING, REPORTING, AND EXTINGUISHING FIRES INCREASE CHANCES OF DAMAGE AND DEATH FROM FIRE, USE OF FIRE DETECTION AND CONTROL SYSTEMS MEETING NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION STANDARDS AND LOCAL BUILDING CODES IS VERY IMPORTANT. DETECTION AND CONTROL SYSTEMS PERFORM VARIETIES OF FUNCTIONS. SOME ALERT A BUILDING'S TENANTS AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, SOME CLOSE DOORS TO ISOLATE THE FIRE, WHILE OTHERS SHUT OFF POWER OR CONTROL ELEVATORS. THERMAL DETECTORS ARE ACTIVATED WHEN THE SURROUNDING TEMPERATURE EXCEEDS THE ONE PREDETERMINED ON A THERMOMETER. FLAME DETECTORS RESPOND TO RADIANT ENERGY PRODUCED BY FLAMES. HOWEVER, SINCE SMOKE CAN BE DANGEROUS TO PERSONS EVEN BEFORE FLAMES ARE LARGE AND WIDESPREAD, SMOKE DETECTORS ARE IMPORTANT. SIGNALS FROM THESE VARIOUS DETECTORS ALSO CAN ALERT SPRINKLER SYSTEMS. WHILE SPRINKLERS HAVE LONG BEEN EMPLOYED TO PROTECT PROPERTY (STATISTICS SHOW THAT PROPERTY LOSS FROM FIRES IS SUBSTANTIALLY LESS IN SPRINKLERED BUILDINGS), THEY ALSO SAVE LIVES BY LIMITING THE SPREAD OF A FIRE. THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES, INCLUDING THOSE THAT MAINTAIN A CONSTANT FLOW OF WATER WITHIN THEIR PIPES, EMPLOY ANTIFREEZE IF A PROTECTED BUILDING CANNOT BE PROPERLY HEATED, DISCHARGE GREAT OR SMALL VOLUMES OF WATER DEPENDING ON THE NEED, OR COMPENSATE FOR POOR PUBLIC WATER PRESSURE. SPECIAL TYPES OF FIREFIGHTING SUBSTANCES SUCH AS CARBON DIOXIDE OR CHEMICAL FOAM MAY BE USED IF WATER OR SPRINKLER SYSTEMS WILL NOT DO THE JOB OR WILL CAUSE TOO MUCH DAMAGE TO EQUIPMENT FILLED WITH ALL KINDS OF FIREFIGHTING AGENTS. ILLUSTRATIONS OF SYSTEMS ARE INCLUDED. (PAP)