Fire Chief

On Sept. 21, the fire service did what it does best — help people. Residents’ and firefighters’ lives were saved at the International Code Council hearings on the International Residential Code. “The firefighters came up to me after the vote and said thank you for inspiring us to help you,” said Amy Acton, executive director of The Phoenix Society. These were firefighters speaking to a burn survivor.

The fire service accomplished a lot during these hearings on the building and fire codes. We made strides in honor of our fallen firefighters, especially those from Charleston, S.C., because the 2009 International Fire Code will require fire sprinklers in new and existing furniture stores. There will be no testimony in future code hearings from people like Karen Mann, who lost her daughter, Lauren, in a Ocean Isle, N.C., fire because all new homes after Jan. 1, 2011, will have fire sprinklers installed.

In an emotional meeting prior to the actual hearing, Mann said how Lauren‘s father was ashamed because he said he would “always protect” his daughter and yet he was not able to do that on Oct. 28, 2007. She went on to say that she could have installed fire sprinklers in the house where Lauren died for less than cost of the flowers at her funeral.

We made a difference through the codes process to save lives in the future.

Fire service professionals, building officials, fire survivors, and fire victims from across the country came together to speak against the ICC Residential Committee‘s action. Yes, it got a little confusing because the fire service had to overturn the committee’s action. This is sad because the committee could have used all the information to make an informed decision about the minimum code requirements but didn‘t. Therefore, we had to use emotion and a lot of passion to overcome the inability of the committee. It seems like this is common practice of ICC committees. Yet it may be the fire service‘s fault because not enough of its people got involved earlier.

But it also may be that the homebuilders’ influence was too great, and a few building officials don‘t realize who they work for or why we inspect houses anyway. There‘s something wrong when a building official gets up and says the residents should have a choice, the public isn‘t demanding fire sprinklers, and the like. What is really sad is when the building officials say this after Mann, other burn survivors, Acton and Dr. Bill Mohr testified on behalf of the people who didn‘t have a choice.

That was the part of the testimony that really angered me. They say residents should have a choice, after they just argued for safety glazing on glass. I didn‘t see any residents arguing for safety glass or what type of coating is used on plastic forms. There weren‘t any residents in Minneapolis arguing for changes in the plumbing code. The residents are our customers and we have to act in the best interest of them and our firefighters. We should not act in someone‘s best financial interest.

Despite this, many life-saving changes were made and many building officials and fire service officials worked together to make this happen. We will have to continue our partnership and find ways to enhance those relationships. It is time to step up our educational efforts to the residents. Our responsibility for life safety has never been greater. We can fulfill our obligation to our communities and work together to provide policy makers with factual information to adopt the latest versions of building and fire codes.

It will take us all working together to ensure that the latest versions of the codes are adopted in our states and local communities. We must work to build partnerships to create an understanding so our elected officials will adopt codes without amending any of these life safety features out of the code. Let us all remember our commitment to saving lives and property.

Progress has been made and the fire service made a difference. Get involved in the codes process with both the International Code Council and the National Fire Protection Association. Fire chiefs truly committed to saving lives and property will ensure that they and their departments are members of both organizations and allow their personnel to participate in the process. These codes are intended to enhance safety for residents and firefighters. Do your part. Make a difference.