9 months ago
GRAY (NEWS CENTER) -- After a serious fire demolished a house on the Gray-Windham line Monday night, Deputy Chief John Westcott stressed the importance of residential sprinkler systems. The fire, caused by a generator, brought the sprinkler system issue to the forefront.
In rural areas of Maine, such as Windham, crews responding to fires have a difficult time getting access and water to the sites. Too few hydrants and too many narrow roads are cause for concern.
Firefighters believe there may be one way to relieve the problem, and that is residential sprinkler systems.
According to Westcott, "If that fire had been held in check with a residential sprinkler system, certainly we could have saved that building, in fact the owner could have stayed there that night."
Attempts to pass legislation requiring sprinkler systems in new homes has been defeated multiple times throughout Maine. However, Westcott hopes that momentum on the issue will pick up, to save property and lives in the future.
NEWS CENTER
