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Support for sprinklers

The Toronto Star yesterday carried a story and editorial on the issue, backing the chiefs in their plea for the Ontario government to amend the building code.

And, after two fatal fires at Toronto Community Housing developments, a city councillor has taken up the cause and is calling for action and asking council to support a motion calling for all future city projects to include sprinkler systems.

A woman and two of her four children died on Dec. 22 when their townhouse burned and on Jan. 7, a 75-year-old man died in a fire that displaced numerous families in a nearby community housing development.

OAFC president Richard Boyes said in a statement after the Dec. 22 fire that  “people are dying by code,” and urged the province to change the building code.

Just like campaigns for smoke detectors in homes, this issue requires a sea change in attitude. Having the a determined city councillor and the country's biggest newspaper on side will surely help.