Safety first

Thank you for the great job by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and reporter Patrick Marley of drawing attention to the Walker administration’s attempt to roll back fire sprinkler requirements for three- to 20-unit apartment buildings (“Agency drops fire sprinkler proposal,” Feb. 9).

Wisely, this dangerous proposal was withdrawn when it became public.

Thank you also for the column by Ernst-Ulrich Franzen explaining what roll-backs are further proposed, the opposition of the governor’s advisory board to these rollbacks, and, also, who would benefit from the weakened standards (“Rolling back a bad idea,” Opinions, Feb. 13).

The board of Wisconsin fire chiefs, builders and other experts overwhelmingly recommended that new homes have additional safety devices that automatically shut off electricity when it is causing harm. Their concerns were dismissed because it would cost about $500 per house.

Coincidentally, Feb. 5-11 was National Burn Awareness Week, bringing attention to the mission of the National Fire Protection Association to prevent fires and burn injuries. According to the NFPA’s data, “Electrical failures or malfunctions were factors in an estimated 47,000 home structure fires reported to U.S. fire departments in 2014. These fires caused 520 deaths, 1,250 injuries and $1.4 billion in direct property damage.”

We are fortunate that there are ways to prevent this terrible loss of life and property. Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters and Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters are proven life-saving technology. Smoke alarms safeguard lives and property during a fire, but these devices actually prevent fires from occurring in the first place.

Why would Wisconsin, of all states, not be eager to adopt this technology?

Kathleen Slamka Oak Creek