By JOSH AULT
6 News Reporter
PIGEON FORGE (WATE) - Some Tennessee firefighters and home builders are at odds over sprinkler systems.
A proposal in the state Legislature would prevent communities from requiring sprinklers in new homes and duplexes.
Firefighters feel city and county officials shouldn't make that decision, or lives could be in danger.
"Our number one job is to protect lives," said Pigeon Forge Fire Chief Tony Watson. "Tennessee is in the top five in the nation in fire deaths. We believe, and we know, by studies if we had residential sprinklers in there that would be less."
Watson is against the proposed bill, saying it would take away the right of local officials to mandate fire sprinklers.
One of the lawmakers sponsoring the bill is state Sen. Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville). "I had several phone calls from constituents and other folks across the state concerned about the mandate," Tracy said.
Sen. Tracy says the extra cost of adding a sprinkler system was a factor in introducing the bill.
Watson says fire sprinklers are not that expensive. "I've been told it will go from a low of 60 cents a square foot. So you're talking about a 2,000-square-foot house, that's $2,000," said Watson. "That's less then putting yard sprinklers in or buying a TV."
"It can be more than that," said Sen. Tracy. "I had a meeting this morning with some folks. It's based on the sprinkler system and it ranges all over the map in different areas."
Another concern is what kind of damage a sprinkler system could do if it went off accidentally. Many people think if they burn something on the stove, the smoke would cause the sprinklers to activate.
"Smoke only activates your smoke alarms," explained Pigeon Forge fire inspector Roger Price. "It doesn't affect the fire sprinklers."
Pigeon Forge fire officials feel their community still needs the right to mandate sprinklers. "We believe local people know what works for their community," Chief Watson said. "We think people at the local level know what works for them, and that right shouldn't be taken away."
"My concern is the mandate," said Sen. Tracy. "I'm all for sprinkler systems in particular areas, if the people request them."
This bill is still at its early stages, and Sen. Tracy says he's still meeting with both sides. The bill has several weeks before it goes to committee in both the House and the Senate.
There are only a few places in the state that have a fire sprinkler mandate. One is Cheatham County, just outside Nashville.
Pigeon Forge does not have a mandate for residential fire sprinklers, but it's something the fire chief is working on.
"We are in the educational mode," said Watson. "We are out there. We have done some live sprinkler demonstrations in our community. We realize it's something that's going to be in the future."
The Pigeon Forge Fire Department will hold a workshop called Fire Team USA on February 21 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The workshop is open to the public. Officials will talk about the importance of fire sprinklers.
For more information on the workshop, call the fire department at 865-429-7381.
