Thankfully, no one was killed or injured in this fire, mainly due to the quick response of volunteer fire departments in the area. There is a proposal before the New York State Building Construction Code Council requiring all newly constructed homes be protected with fire sprinklers.
One would think such a proposal would be adopted as a matter of common sense. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case. Opposition from home builders, a powerful Lobby in all states, is blocking the Council from taking needed action to save untold Lives in the future, and place fewer burdens on volunteer fire departments.
Citing an increase in costs, their main objection is without merit. In new construction, the cost of installing these systems is Less than $2 a square foot With new Lightweight
construction the norm, in most newly built homes the escape time of residents in a house fire is drastically reduced, in some cases, Less than three minutes.