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Health & Fitness

Fatal Fires Can Be Avoided With Properly Installed Fire Sprinklers

Tragedy struck in Middletown, NJ, when a fire claimed the life of a resident who was trapped inside the Jersey Avenue home. This could have been prevented with properly installed fire sprinklers.

To the Editor,

Tragedy struck in Middletown, NJ in the early morning hours of Tuesday, September 4, 2012, when a fire claimed the life of a resident who was trapped inside the Jersey Avenue home. Police and approximately 45 firefighters from four towns quickly arrived to the scene at around 1:30 a.m. to find the house fully engulfed in flames. The quick and courageous actions of first responders prevented the fire from spreading to adjacent homes, but despite heroic efforts, a life was lost in the blaze.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.

New Jersey has seen an increase in the number of house and apartment fires recently. The results are tragic fatalities and catastrophic property loss, like this fire. However, these tragedies can be prevented. Properly installed and maintained fire sprinklers control and typically extinguish a fire before the fire department even arrives on the scene. More importantly, the presence of fire sprinklers mitigates the risk to individuals affected by the blaze, including both occupants of the home and the firefighters who respond to battle the fire.

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Fire doesn’t discriminate and can strike at any time and in any type of home, including one- and two- family homes, condominiums, townhomes and apartments. Currently, there is pending legislation in New Jersey, bill A1570 in the Assembly, which would make it mandatory for all newly constructed one- and two-family homes as well as condominiums and townhomes to be equipped with fire sprinklers.  If passed, this legislation would help to reduce the devastating effects of fires and help protect New Jersey residents in the places where they should feel safest -- their homes. 

Fire sprinklers are the only proactive form of fire protection, providing firefighters the time they need to do their jobs as safely and effectively as possible, while helping to avoid potential injuries and devastating tragedies like this one.

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Best Regards,

David Kurasz, Executive Director

New Jersey Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board

2 King Arthur Ct., Suite 1

North Brunswick, N.J. 08902

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