June 9, 2000

 

 

Governor George H. Ryan

State Capitol

Springfield, IL 62706

 

Dear Governor Ryan:

 

Attached is my letter of February 1st, 2000 asking that you form a Student Housing Fire Safety Coalition to evaluate the safety of Student Housing in colleges and universities throughout your state.

 

The fire at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois, which has resulted in several injuries and loss of life underscores the need for immediate action on your part.

 

The young people in your state deserve a fire safety environment in institutions of higher learning.

 

Please act today before another fire tragedy occurs tomorrow.

 

Cordially yours,

 

 

 

John A. Viniello

President

 

JAV/ml

 

CC:    NFSA Illinois Members

         Dan Gengler, Regional Manager

         Tom Lia, Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board of Northern Illinois

         Dan O’Connell, O’Connell Communications

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 1, 2000

 

 

Governor George H. Ryan

State Capitol

Springfield, IL 62706

 

Re:              Proactive Sprinkler Legislation

 

Dear Governor Ryan:

 

Their names have long been forgotten by the media and the tragic events that took their lives are becoming a distant memory. Unfortunately for the family and friends the circumstances surrounding their deaths will forever scar their consciousness.

 

On Sunday (Mother’s Day) May 12, 1996 the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity House at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill experienced a fire which claimed the lives of 5 young students. On the morning of January 20, 2000 at Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey a deadly dormitory fire claimed the lives of 3 students. The media, both printed and electronic, provided widespread coverage of both of these tragedies for several days following each of the tragic blazes

 

Fire sprinklers could have prevented these deaths. Building codes did not require that these structures be protected with a proven life-safety device whose record is impeccable. There has never been multiple loss of life in a fully sprinklered building with a properly installed and maintained system and this record has stood the test of time for more than 100 years. Parents who send their children off to institutions of higher learning have the expectation that they will be safe from the ravages of unfriendly fire. Unfortunately history is replete with evidence that this is not the case. I am asking you and your 49 colleagues to develop a public and private partnership composed of the institutions of higher learning, alumni, the sprinkler industry, and the state and federal government, to establish THE STUDENT HOUSING FIRE SAFETY COALITION to examine the status of fire safety for Student Housing in your state in preparatory schools, fraternities and sororities, colleges and universities.

 

Several months after the Chapel Hill fire the City enacted sprinkler legislation primarily due to the efforts of an aggressive Fire Chief, Dan Jones. The value of sprinklers is never questioned. Opposition surfaces because of costs associated with the perception that retrofitting existing structures is financially prohibitive. This is not the case. Creative financing, low interest rate loans, insurance savings, and tax incentives can be leveraged to assist with the expense involved in these installations. The National Fire Sprinkler Association has strong support throughout the 50 states and we stand ready, willing, and able to assist you and any member of your staff in examining cost/benefit issues associated with fire sprinklers.

 

I have looked into the eyes of the parents who suffered the loss of a child in the Chapel Hill fire. I can assure you that their pain will not fade with the passage of time. Let’s not wait for another fire tragedy to occur. What is needed is proactive legislation and not reactive legislation. At the very least, a Task Force commissioned by your office to examine the issues would be a very necessary first step. Someone needs to step forward, and perhaps these young people will not have died in vain. The Weaver’s, Strickland’s, Smith’s, Howell’s, Woodruff’s, Caltabilota’s, Giunta’s and Karol’s will applaud your efforts. Please have your chief of staff contact me personally so we can get started today before another fire tragedy occurs tomorrow.

 

Cordially yours,

 

 

 

John A. Viniello

 

CC:     Representative Carolyn Maloney, U.S. Congress

         George Miller, President NFPA

         NFSA Board of Directors