To the Editor:
A Union City apartment fire forced more than 40 people out of their homes and into the cold late last Wednesday night, injuring 13 people – including several firefighters. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. However, this terrible tragedy could have been prevented.
New Jersey has seen an increase in the number of house and apartment fires recently resulting in tragic fatalities and catastrophic property lose, which could have been prevented. In many cases, properly installed and maintained fire sprinklers control and typically extinguish a fire before the fire department even arrives on the scene. More importantly, the presence of fire sprinklers mitigates the risk to individuals affected by the blaze, including firefighters who battle the fire.
Fire sprinklers are the only proactive form of fire protection, providing firefighters the time they need to do their jobs effectively and as safely as possible, and helping to avoid potential tragedies.
DAVID KURASZ
Executive Director
New Jersey Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board