After taxpayers became subjected to at least $14,000,000.00 in new debt by relocating from Downtown Salisbury, now they want the property owners to install sprinkler systems in their buildings, according to a task force.
The task force wants annual fire and building inspections along with checks every time a new tenant moves into a building. Does the task force have any clue just how busy the Salisbury Fire Department is right now? They don't have the manpower to fulfill such a request.
More bureaucracy and larger government once again in the City of Salisbury. While I agree with inspections, forcing property owners to install sprinklers, (especially in older buildings) is not only extremely expensive, in these economic times I'd say it would be just about impossible for most.
I can understand "new construction" as being a part of code but someone has to draw the line as to just how far these suggestions can go. I know, let's put sprinkler systems in the Zoo too, so we can make sure everyone is safe in their perfect world.
If Firefighters are so afraid of fighting fires, why did the City spend another $5,000,000.00 in new equipment to fight fires? Chief See tried passing this several years ago for residential properties and it was slapped down instantly. It was sad to see because I firmly believe residential sprinklers are essential in new home construction and is mandated in most Counties. The former Mayor Barrie Tilghman wanted nothing to do with it, so it died instantly.
Quit wasting every one's time and start with new construction. Reopen the old Fire Station Downtown and save the property owners millions of dollars. Taxes go up in double digits, you remove our Fire Station/protection from Downtown, if you want more fire protection simply open up the old Station again.
By the way Mr. Ireton, we didn't like having Health Care shoved down our throats, what makes you think we're going to accept bigger government shoving expensive sprinkler systems down our throats as well. We don't live in a "prefect world" so stop trying to play God because you conveniently think it's your duty as a Democrat.
By the way, we have Insurance, God Forbid something horrible like a fire breaks out.
14 comments:
I know of a guy who can build a deck on top of that ladder truck. We can get some lazy boy recliners and put them on top of the two million dollar truck, get paid and watch the sprinklers do our jobs. I'm all about being a lifeguard rather then a firefighter.
Joe,
Once again you are uninformed on a topic using only you're opinion. Retrofitting sprinklers I don't agree with however, I do agree with inspections of all types when property changes hands. If you only saw some of the building changes that have been made over the years you would see the light. Many building have become very unsafe creating a hazard for everyone.
anonymous 10:37, I said I agreed with the inspections.
I think the idea of requiring sprinklers is an excellant idea. Look at the jobs this would create.
The water department would have to increase the size of the water line to the property. Plumbers would install a new water service to the building.
Then sprinkler contractor would install the sprinkler system.
Next would come a construction company to patch any walls etc. that were damaged. Then painters to paint the areas involved.
This sounds like a win win situation for many people.
Im sure the illegals will like the work.
Fire prevention is the first line of defense when you talk about fire protection. Fire prevention begins with having a good through building code that addresses fire protection and prevention issues. The building code must intact or work with a community’s fire prevention and life safety codes, many issues of all these codes address similar aspects from various perspectives.
No code is effective unless it is enforced by means of an effective code enforcement program, regular comprehensive inspections. (i.e. The CO2 detector requirements in place for the City of Ocean City.)
This is similar with most all the aspects of the life safety code, from access of exits, size and number of exits and so on, so you see how all the codes must be interactive.
To completed comprehensive annual code enforcement requires an extensive well trained professional staff. This begins with having new and remodeling plans reviewed by Fire Protection Engineer, who advises and works with professional inspectors to ensure compliance during construction.
Once the building is occupied inspectors need to ensure that occupants are adhering to proper use standards for the building. They also need to test and check protection systems within the building to ensure that they will perform if necessary.
Most people believe that sprinklers are placed in buildings to reduce the chances of a building burning down, THIS IS NOT TRUE. Codes require the use of sprinklers to provide occupants with adequate time to escape a building that is on fire. *There is no record of a fatality in a fully sprinklered building outside the point of fire origin.
It is true that most accidental fires in sprinklered building are controlled with the activation of 3 heads or less. *Property loss from fires in a fully sprinklered building averages $2,300 dollars as compared to fire losses in sprinklered buildings at $10,300 . ( * NFPA Data)
We have had and do continue to have a fire inspection office in Wicomico County which covers all of the City of Salisbury. Is this whole issue being brought forward to have the City open a fire inspection office of it’s own? The bottom line comes down as to what does the public want, what can the public afford, how much risk is acceptable to the community.
One issue that has not been talked about in this forum is that most fire deaths across the country occur in residential fires. This is true because there is not and never has been a way to do code enforcement in single family occupancies. I for one don’t want or see the need for such activity by government, but I do believe that laws requiring sprinklers in all new residential properties will reduce fire deaths in the future.
Ed Werkheiser
Once again whether its federal or local government you have to deal with waste and the idiots who administer these programs lets spend another 14,000,000.00
Betterway show up.
Lets start a topic on people using fire lanes as parking spots. We know the police departments are over worked and wont ticket these people. Should we have an ordinance allowing the fire officers to ticket the people doing so. The revenue from the tickets could go back to the fd (not for fishing trips). By allowing it to go back to the fd you are taking the burden off the tax payer. The city should have a fire / building inspector within the fire department as a dedicated position.
Ed Werkheiser
Excellent comment. Thank you.
Anonymous said...
Ed Werkheiser
Excellent comment. Thank you.
6:11 PM
Thank you Eddie "Better Way" Werkehiser for patting yourself on the back for your own rambling on.
Oh, BTW does Rick Pollitt know you are blogging while on the County Dime?
Jeezz Anonymous 6:34pm. Have you got something stuck somewhere? A guy makes a credible comment during lunch time (12:39) and then you have to slam him and not sign your name?!?
6:34 yeah, right, like Ricky boy is really going to do something about it even if your insinuation is true. The landfill crooks got off scott free and are STILL on the county payroll because Ricky doesn't have the ba--s to do anything about it for fear of a mighty lawsuit. Stop worrying about B.S. things that no one else cares about - especially our esteemed county executive.
anonymous 9:33, Pollitt has NOTHING to do with this Post. This is in the City. Try reading the article the whole way through next time.
Ed Werkheiser,
I still say excellent comment. If you made the comment on company time, well then, what can I say? The comment itself is still excellent!
Thanks
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