“These tragic events are preventable," explains Common Voices advocate and Houston resident Justina Page, who lost her 22-month-old son in a fire in 1999. "Even if a fire starts, technology exists and current codes should be in place to make sure people don’t die and that they aren’t physically and emotionally scarred for life. Why do we have to have tragedy after tragedy when we know what can solve our fire problem? Fire sprinklers are needed today.”

“Too many people are dying in Texas because of fire, but HB 3089 can help reverse that course and save lives,” adds Page. “I thank Representative Galindo for his goal to save lives from fire.”

Flashover, the point where everything in a room ignites in flames, can occur in three minutes or less. Fire sprinklers stop a fire while it is small, preventing flashover and keeping a fire from spreading.

“To say that we are grateful to Representative Galindo is an understatement" says Vickie Pritchett, facilitator of Common Voices. "We need more policymakers to understand the important role that codes play in keeping citizens safe. Our hope is that this legislation will pass, and communities where these high-rise buildings exist will become safer as fire sprinklers are installed. We owe this to those who live in unprotected residential high-rise buildings. We can prevent additional headlines like Wedgwood.”

About Common Voices: Common Voices (www.fireadvocates.org) is an advocates’ coalition of members who all have been directly affected by fire. By bringing their voices together, they hope to educate others regarding fire and its devastating impact.