At a press conference this morning at 9 AM, Baltimore (MD) Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake will sign a new fire sprinkler law for our city. The law requires fire sprinklers in all new one and two family residential structures built here in Baltimore after July 1, 2010. On that date, we believe Baltimore becomes the largest city in the United States to require residential sprinkler systems in newly constructed one and two family homes. Experience from around the country where residential sprinklers are required tells us that this important public safety legislation will save many lives in the years ahead.
“Much of the credit for the new law goes to our Fire Marshal, Raymond O’Brocki and our Maryland State Fire Marshal, Mr. William Barnard,” wrote James S. Clack, chief of the Baltimore City (MD) Fire Department. “Both are true professionals. I know it takes a lot of courage to stand up to the lobbyists for the construction industry, but our elected officials decided this life safety effort was critical to achieving our goal of zero rire deaths. I am extremely proud to serve with each and every one of them.”
