Fire chief advocates for home fire sprinklers, initiates two sprinkler ordinances

By Fred Durso, Jr. In 2001, Bob Wilcox, then fire chief of the Matteson Fire Department in Illinois, was preparing to build a new home with fire sprinklers. “I wanted to protect my family,” he says. “[Sprinklers are] there 24/7 in case something happens. It’s like life insurance.” The installation, however, wasn’t just for his family; Wilcox was also laying the groundwork to upgrade the fire code in his rapidly growing suburban community. In March 2002, Wilcox opened his new home to the public, elected officials, building inspectors, and area fire departments to view the sprinklers before the drywall was installed. Outside the home,…

Source:: NFPA – Fire Sprinkler Initiative