THE ARTICLE “Firefighters push home sprinklers: But developers say added costs too high’’ (Metro, Dec. 14) reports opponents as saying that sprinklers have not been proven to be more effective in saving lives than smoke detectors. That is simply not true.
One of the most important arguments for fire sprinklers is simple: They save lives. There is no doubt that smoke alarms have played an important role in saving lives from fire. However, smoke alarms may not provide enough protection for the three groups at highest risk of dying in a fire — young children, older adults, and people with disabilities, all of whom may not be able to get out even when a smoke alarm sounds.
