Text of
Letter to China Fire Protection Association
I
have read the news and watched the television accounts of the tragic fire that
occurred in Luoyang on Christmas that resulted in the loss of more than 300
lives and want to take this occasion to extend my deepest personal sympathies
to those affected by this horrible event.
While our
thoughts must initially focus on sorrow for the families and friends of the
victims, we cannot avoid recognizing that such tragedies can and should be
prevented. The fire sprinkler industry is proud of its record of never having a
multiple loss of life in a fire where there was a properly operating fire
sprinkler system.
The
Chinese government has seen too many such incidents where innocent lives have
been lost in terrible fires.It was only this past March that 74 people died in
Jiaozuo in a movie hall and, in 1994, 385 died in a theater fire only weeks
after a dance hall fire claimed 233 lives. The continued risk of further fires
of this nature must be brought to an end by immediate and decisive action by
the Chinese government to protect the lives of its citizens.
We urge
you to extend and support every effort to bring about legislation that will
require the installation of automatic fire sprinkler systems in all places of
public assembly such as hotels, nightclubs, theaters, nursing and hospital
facilities and commercial business establishments. This legislation should not
only mandate fire sprinklers in future construction but should provide for
orderly and speedy renovation of existing buildings to install such systems
within a reasonable timeframe.
Unfortunately,
we must also recognize that tragedies such as the people of China have
experienced in these fires might be viewed by unscrupulous opportunists as a
chance to market inferior products or install sub-standard systems. Any action
by the government should insure that fire sprinkler systems are installed by
competent, experienced contractors adhering to the highest standards of quality
and safety.
The National
Fire Sprinkler Association, the International Fire Sprinkler Association and
their member companies are prepared to offer you and the Chinese government any
and all technical assistance which they may need or desire in accomplishing a
goal of implementing the type of protection from fire for lives and property
that its citizens deserve.