Abstract: A fire protection system of the type having a plurality of electrically activatable, parallel coupled fire suppressant units each having a bridge wire type initiating element, produces significantly improved reliability by providing each of the units with an electrically active portion for continuously monitoring the electrical continuity of the associated bridge wire and a discrete capacitive portion for storing an independent, electrical supply of the actuating power therefor, thereby eliminating the dependency of the units on a single, central electrical power supply source while also allowing continuity monitoring of each bridge wire, even though the latter are continuously coupled in parallel relationship with each other.