80% of all fire fatalities occur in single family homes. There has never been a fire in the history of the US that has claimed more than one life in single family homes with working sprinkler systems combined with working smoke detectors. 2,895 people died in fires in 2007.

Workplaces are required by law to have sprinkler systems. But not homes. And that’s where the majority of deaths occur.

Why? Home builders oppose it.

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photo: Joel Sternfeld