Fire board passes sprinkler ordinance Fire board passes sprinkler ordinance (June 09, 2004)

Starting in the middle of June, new buildings over 1,000 square feet in Atherton and East Palo Alto will have to be built with automatic fire sprinklers. Sprinklers will also be required in new buildings with basements over 250 square feet, and for major additions or renovations.

The Menlo Park Fire Protection District board on May 18 adopted a revised sprinkler ordinance reflecting changes approved by city councils in both cities.

Menlo Park and unincorporated San Mateo County areas within the district are not covered until the City Council and Board of Supervisors adopt their own ordinances.

The Menlo Park council has been pushing for less stringent requirements.

Fire board member Peter Carpenter and board president Ollie Brown split on how strict the district should be with Menlo Park.

Mr. Carpenter accused the council of playing games with the district. "We can wait until they have a couple of residential fires," he said.

Mr. Brown favored a compromise. "We're better off with a compromise than nothing," he said.

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