Associated Press
11-21-06
Fire Chiefs Urge Sprinklers for Greek Chapters in Iowa
AMES, Iowa (AP)-- Fire officials in Ames and Cedar Falls are pushing fraternities
and sororities at Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa to
get started on plans to install sprinklers in their houses.
The safety equipment eventually will be required by city ordinances. Greek
chapters at Iowa State have up to ten years to get it done. At Northern Iowa, it's
by 2008.
In Iowa City, fire officials have dropped their efforts to force fraternities and
sororities at the University of Iowa to install sprinklers, but university officials are
encouraging the houses to get it done anyway.
The renewed push comes after a fatal fire last week at a fraternity house in
Lincoln, Nebraska.
Iowa law requires sprinklers to be in university dormitories built since the early
1990s. The law does not apply to older dorms or to fraternity and sorority houses,
which are privately owned.
Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.