October 2, 2003

To the Editor SENT VIA FAX: (312) 321-3084

Chicago Sun-Times

Another deadly fire in an unsprinklered high-rise building has claimed two more lives in the City of Chicago. The fire started on the fifth floor and the dead were found on the 6^th and 23^rd floors. They were elderly, and died of smoke inhalation. The fires cause . . . an unattended candle. It didn’t make headlines as a fire on the Gold Coast would, it happened on the 6700 block of South Oglesby. October 6^th begins National Fire Prevention Week. People shouldn’t have to die from fire where they live. Fire sprinklers could have prevented these unnecessary deaths. The Chicago High-Rise Commission needs to recommend full sprinkler protection in all existing residential high-rises in the City of Chicago. They need to do this today before another fire tragedy occurs tomorrow.

John A. Viniello

President, National Fire Sprinkler Association, Inc.