Here is an email from Doug Alexander, one of many key players in State of Maryland Fire Marshal, Bill Barnard’s and State of Maryland’s Fire Associations efforts to increase sprinkler protection in homes. Doug is a retired Captain and Fire Investigator from Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service and a long time Fire Chief of Mount Airy VFD in Maryland. Congratulations to everyone involved in this effort. I also want to emphasize as Doug mentioned in his email that this and the many other achievements in fire and life safety in Maryland have been as a result of all the fire groups working together. This coalition stuff really works. Maryland’s fire safe cigarette requirement implemented in July 2008 included a completely cohesive effort from all fire colleagues. Thanks to Matt Kelleher with sharing Doug’s email with me. Doug , I hoping you didn’t mind if I shared your passion with fire and life safety professionals around the U.S.
Mike Love
From: Douglas Alexander [mailto:XXX]
Sent: Mon 1/5/2009 10:12 PM
Subject: Anne Arundel County Adopts residential Sprinkler Ordinance
This is the kind of e-mail I live for. At the Anne Arundel County Council meeting this evening, by a vote of 6 -1, the council adopted requirements for residential sprinklers in all new one and two family homes. CONGRATULATIONS to the Anne Arundel County Fire Service for a tremendous effort!!! This effort began over a year and a half ago and took several educational programs, introduction of ordinances, amending of the proposals, public hearings and so forth. However, the outcome was well worth the effort. Our committee and our partners were able to support the Anne Arundel County folks on many fronts. Dennis Gentzel did a particularly great job in working with the Public Works folks in getting the proper information on the backflow preventer needs, or the lack of need for them I should say. Then the large number of people that attended the public hearing to testify in favor of the ordinance was indeed indicative of the united effort put forth by the fire service in general.
The addition of Anne Arundel County brings our total to 9 of 23 counties with requirements in place. This is a large urban/suburban county that has been added to our number. THE ADDITION OF ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY IS HUGE toward our effort. What a satisfying “win”.
Again, I want to CONGRATULATE the Anne Arundel County Fire service, Volunteer, Career, Union, and Auxiliaries for their united effort to get this job done!
Doug
Tags: Anne Arundel County, Anne Arundel County Fire Service, back flow preventers, Coalitions, Maryland, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, Mount Airy VFD, Residential Fire Sprinklers, Sprinkler Ordinance, State Fire Marshal Bill Barnard
