June 24, 2008 Lawmakers take closer look at sprinkler legislation Play video

(Leslie Gaydos, NECN: Boston, Mass.) - NECN's latest documentary, "The Forgotten Fire," focuses on a deadly fire at 200 Boylston Street in Newton, Massachusetts. In February of 2000, five people who were awake and alert at work, died at noon time on a sunny afternoon. Sprinkler legislation filed in the aftermath of the tragedy has never passed. But after seeing, "The Forgotten Fire," lawmakers are taking a closer look.

Script:

Every year, the State Fire Marshal and members of the Fire Chiefs Association come to Beacon Hill to support legislation requiring the installation of automatic sprinkler systems in some commercial buildings, legislation that has failed to pass for almost a decade.

"It has been a huge disappointment - it has been our number one priority for a number of years."

Stephen Coan: I'm always struck by a statistic...other than a catastrophic explosion or act of terrorism, there has never been a multiple loss of life, defined as more than two, in any fully sprinklered building in the United States. That is a very critical and telltale statistic that demonstrates the effectiveness and importance of sprinklers."

The Sprinkler Bill, was filed by Newton Representative Ruth Balser in 2001, after five people died in a horrific fire at 200 Boylston Street in Newton.

NECN's documentary "The Forgotten Fire," details problems at 200 Boylston Street that contributed to the tragedy, including a blocked fire exit, numerous code violations,

"Your documentary shows how many mistakes were made. How negligent so many different people were. But the bottom line is, if there was a sprinkler system there, the water comes down, the fire goes out, the people live."

Finally, the sprinkler legislation is about to clear a major hurdle. Thanks to the documentary, the House Ways and Means Committee Chairman, Representative Robert Deleo now says he will support the bill.

"After giving it a whole lot of thought, especially after the facts that were revealed in the documentary and reading the facts more closely, it is a bill that I am going to support. There are some people who may have some issues with it, some problems with it, we'll hear them out as well. But bottom line, I can tell you that, there will be a piece of legislation that will be reported out by the House Committee on Ways and Means.

While the Sprinkler Bill moves here on Beacon Hill, the State Fire Marshal is hoping the renewed interest in the fire at 200 Boylston Street will generate new information.

For part one of "The Forgotten Fire" click here: http://www.necn.com/Boston/New-England/NECN-The-Forgotten-Fire-Part-1/1214242799.html.