CUMBERLAND — In full dress uniform, Cumberland Fire Chief William Herbaugh stood before the Allegany County Board of Commissioners on Thursday and said he supported the proposed legislation that would require residential sprinklers in newly constructed one- and two-family homes.
So did the overwhelming majority of visitors to the public hearing on the matter that took place at the County Office Complex. But Steven MacGray, vice president of the Home Builders Association of Western Maryland, asked the three commissioners to opt out of the International Code Council guideline that, if adopted, would go into effect Jan. 1, 2011.
MacGray, of LaVale, said it’s not “in our community’s best interest” to adopt what industry representatives have criticized as a costly mandate being considered at a time when a struggling housing market is trying to turn the corner.
Instead of an obligation, “it should be a consumer’s choice,” MacGray said.
Despite the persuasive efforts of MacGray and association president Eric Paugh, 12 of the 14 people who spoke Thursday during the hour-long hearing focused on the safety of county residents and volunteer firefighters alike and downplayed the cost increase of new homes.
Maryland State Fire Marshal William E. Barnard said the construction of new homes consists of stronger, longer-lasting material than their predecessors “as long as they’re never assaulted by fire.”
“It would be nice to live under the mistaken impression that such homes are fireproof,” Barnard said. “Unfortunately, homes will continue to burn and people will continue to die in them.”
Allegany County could join 10 other counties in Maryland and 83 of the state’s 157 municipalities covered by residential sprinkler laws.
Herbaugh, who said he was not speaking for the city of Cumberland, has “witnessed the devastation and tragedy caused by fires” in his 41 years of service. Herbaugh said there is “solidarity” among firefighters, both career and volunteer, that the requirement is good government.
Dennis Gentzel, of the State Fire Marshal’s Office, said insurance firms have shown a savings of up to 13 percent for homeowners who have residential sprinklers. Gentzel said a key concern among potential home buyers is of sprinkler “leakage,” damage from which could be costly. But Gentzel said any such damage is covered by insurance.
Barnard cited a 15-year study in Prince George’s County, which established a residential sprinkler requirement in apartment complexes and condominiums first in 1988 and, in 1992, mandated sprinklers in all newly constructed homes. From 1992 to 2007, 89 percent of fire deaths in Prince George’s County occurred in residential dwellings.
There were 101 deaths in single-family homes and townhouses, none of which had sprinklers during that time. Another 328 fire injuries were reported. Barnard noted there were zero deaths in homes with sprinkler systems.
The commissioners said the record for comment will remain open until June 14. Commissioner Jim Stakem said he didn’t think the issue would come to a vote until next month.
Kevin Spradlin can be reached at kspradlin@times-news.com.
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