The latest twist in the condo fire-sprinkler debate (“Mayor cites safety in condo bill veto,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 21) highlights the basic conflict: the clear need for greater fire protection in older residential high-rise condos versus the realities of affordability.

Perhaps it’s time for an alternate approach. Considering that most fires originate in kitchens, why not make that the focus for at least the near term? Kitchens in high-rises generally are aligned vertically along plumbing stacks, so equipping just the kitchen with sprinklers would be significantly less expensive than outfitting the entire building.

This could be an affordable solution providing substantial fire-risk reduction. Also, if properly designed, such systems could accommodate further expansion to the remainder of the living areas as funds become available.

Admittedly, kitchen-only systems would not be as effective as whole-building systems, but if it can be built now (rather than waiting for the seemingly endless debate to be resolved), then lives could be saved while we await the resources to appear for the “perfect” solution.

Frank Sansone

St. Louis Heights

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