Fire sprinklers for all
Posted Apr 27, 2010 04:35:38 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Waterloo Fire Department is launching an initiative to promote sprinkler systems, in the wake of the devastating fire at the Campus Court Plaza.
The blaze destroyed several businesses and the damage is now pegged in the $3 million range.
Acting Fire Chief Larry Brassard tells 570 News, the plan is to encourage sprinkler systems in all new buildings, even though many don’t require them under the Ontario Building Code. He says sprinklers are one of the best ways to protect property and lives from fire. In the case of Campus Court Plaza, Brassard says a sprinkler system would likely have controlled the fire in its early stages, meaning six businesses would still be open and their staff would still have a livelihood.
Brassard says he’d like to see sprinklers in all buildings, adding that fire departments across North America are advocating for them whenever possible. He says Ontario lags behind other Canadian and U.S. jurisdictions in mandating sprinkler systems.
