True or False: Water damage from sprinklers can be greater than damage from allowing a fire to burn out.

Sprinkler systems are designed to control and suppress fire before it can fully develop and spread, thereby minimizing the overall damage caused by a fire. While it's true that water damage can be significant, especially in sensitive areas such as data centers or historical buildings, the consequences of allowing a fire to burn can be much more severe. A fire can lead to complete destruction of property, loss of life, and releases harmful smoke and fumes that can affect air quality.

Allowing a fire to burn out can result in catastrophic losses that far outweigh the impact of water damage from sprinklers. The water used in sprinkler systems is typically aimed at quickly extinguishing the flames, preventing potential structural collapse and further complications related to smoke, heat, and toxic emissions.

Ultimately, the benefits of early fire suppression through sprinklers generally surpass the drawbacks associated with water damage.