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One-third of Manitoba hospitals have no sprinklers

March 12, 2014, Winnipeg – A media report says about a third of 75 hospital in Manitoba have no fire sprinkler systems.

The CBC says government information it's obtained shows that 26 facilities do not have the systems installed.

Another 25 have full systems, but the remaining 24 have only partial fire protection coverage.

The documents show that many with partial coverage are multi-building facilities where patients are only seen in specific areas.

The hospital in Morris, southwest of Winnipeg, does not have sprinklers.

Mayor Gavin van der Linde says without sprinklers, it's a disaster waiting to happen.

Hospital sprinkler systems are not mandatory in Manitoba, but the province says a task force is examining which ones should have the equipment installed.

Health Minister Erin Selby won't say if the government plans to retrofit all of the province's hospitals.