Chicago Fire Report Blazes
Staff -- Consulting-Specifying Engineer, 10/1/2004
A report issued this month by emergency management consulting firm James Lee Witt Assocs., "Independent Review of the Cook County Administration Fire," blames last year's Chicago high-rise fire on mistakes and miscommunications between officials at the city, county and state levels.
Six people died from smoke inhalation in the fire, which occurred on Oct. 17, 2003 at the Cook County Administration Building. The report confirmed that an automatic fire sprinkler system would have prevented the deaths.
Following the fire last year, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley introduced an ordinance requiring all commercial buildings be retrofitted with sprinkers, but did not include residential buildings and designated landmarks. Buildings would have until 2016 to comply. A city council member, Alderman Edward Burke (14th District) also introduced a sprinkler ordinance, requiring that all high-rise buildings in the city be retrofitted with sprinklers by 2008. To date, no sprinkler ordinance has been adopted.
