from Potter County Fire News – Click Here for More.
Hey,
Looks like some areas of the USA are very well headed for a PEFRECT (fire) STORM. All it takes is a pencil and paper to sit down and figure out this equation:
Fire department budgets cut in nearly all FD’s +
+Career Firefighter layoff’s, brownouts and station closures.
+Active responding Volunteer Firefighter numbers dropping due to availability.
+Homebuilders greasing politicians to avoid residential sprinklers.
= DO THE MATH.
Next thing you know, some “suit” will claim there is a fire problem in the United States.
How ’bout that.
Specifically related to the fire sprinkler issue, we are all seeing numerous states get slammed by various homebuilder associations, successfully and sadly stopping required residential sprinklers. So in light of this “perfect storm” here is an editorial from Pennsylvania that “gets” it. Fires are not rare in Pennsylvania. Yesterday 7 little kids were killed in a rural house fire. Last week a couple and their child were killed in Philly. This is from the Intelligencer in Doylestown where they stated:
MONEY SPOKE LOUDER than safety this week in Harrisburg, where House lawmakers voted 154-39 to repeal a law requiring sprinkler systems in all new residential construction. The bill now moves to the Senate.
The battle lines on this issue are clearly drawn: On one side are firefighters and fire safety officials, who know from personal experience that home sprinklers save lives and property; on the other side are Realtors and home builders, who say that the additional cost of putting sprinklers in new homes is a detriment to sales, particularly in a continuing weak housing market.