Honorable Members of the Kansas House of Representatives March 18, 2010
I am writing to you concerning Kansas House Bill 2472, this bill would prohibit a municipality from requiring the installation of residential fire sprinkler systems in a residential structure. I earnestly hope you will see this proposed house bill for what it really is, first an infringement of basic home rule and secondly, if passed, this will without any doubt become a major factor in the deaths of civilians and firefighters, please don't allow this to happen. Here are a few important facts from the latest Fire in the United States, which is a statistical overview of the fires in the United States: * The fire problem varies from region to region and State to State because of variations in climate, socioeconomic status, education, demographics, and other factors. Five States (Alaska, Mississippi, Kansas, Tennessee, and West Virginia) and the District of Columbia have fire death rates that exceed 25 deaths per million population; this rate is one of the worst among the world's Nations. * By far, the largest percentage of deaths, 76 percent in 2007, occurs on residential properties, with the majority of these in one- and two-family properties. Groups at increased risk of fire-related injuries and deaths include: * Children 4 and under * Older Adults ages 65 and older * African Americans and Native Americans * The poorest Americans * Persons living in rural areas * Persons living in manufactured homes or substandard housing As reported by the National Fire Protection Association, in 2008 there were 103 firefighters killed in the line of duty, please don't allow a vested interest to use the Kansas Legislature to add to this number by allowing this misinformed, unwarranted and pointless bill to pass. If someone tells you it's too expensive to install a residential sprinkler system, that's false. The average cost is $1.60 per square foot for new construction. (Less than the cost for in-ground lawn sprinkler system!) The State of Pennsylvania has made residential fire sprinklers a requirement, I am sure you would agree that the lives of the people of Kansas are just as valuable as those in Pennsylvania. If I can offer my expertise as a firefighter / paramedic with over 26 years of experience and as someone who has seen the horrible results of burn injuries, the life long, painful and disfiguring injuries I would be glad to testify before any committee or help you in any way to ensure that the citizens of Kansas are protected. Yours truly, Frank J. Herrick Firefighter/Paramedic FRANK J. HERRICK CITY OF LEAWOOD FIRE DEPARTMENT OFFICE OF THE FIRE MARSHAL 14801 MISSION ROAD LEAWOOD, KS. 66224-9560 OFFICE: 913.681.6788 x 26 FAX: 913.681.2399 FRANK J. HERRICK CITY OF LEAWOOD FIRE DEPARTMENT OFFICE OF THE FIRE MARSHAL 14801 MISSION ROAD LEAWOOD, KS. 66224-9560 OFFICE: 913.681.6788 x 26 FAX: 913.681.2399 _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum For Technical Assistance, send an email to: [email protected] To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[email protected] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field)
