JULY 31, 2013
THE FIRE last week in Somerville (“Fire damages 6 Somerville buildings,” Metro, July 26) highlights the importance of a nationwide debate as to the cost-effectiveness of states adopting the current International Code Council building requirement of installing residential fire sprinkler systems in all newly constructed homes.
Fortunately, only property was lost in this fire. The heroic efforts of the brave firefighters who responded to the scene and were able to control and eventually extinguish the flames ensured that people affected by the blaze did not lose their lives.
Too often this is not the case.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, in 2011 in the United States, residential fires were responsible for 85 percent of the total 3,005 civilian fire-related deaths.
There were an additional 15,635 civilian injuries and a total of $11.7 billion nationally in property loss in structure fires.
It is this cost with which we concern ourselves, and not the average of $1.61 per square foot that sprinkler systems cost builders to install.
Further, it is with the human cost in mind that we ask people to check the batteries in their smoke alarms, educate themselves on the current fire protection requirements in their own city and state, and learn how to protect themselves, their loved ones, and their community from the ravages of fire.
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