Over the past two weeks, there has been much media coverage regarding the tragic dwelling fire that occurred on the morning of Jan. 19, 2015 on Childs Point Road in Annapolis ("Fire department releases 911 calls for Annapolis mansion fire," Jan. 29).
Additionally, there has been an outpouring of mostly compassionate, supportive and yet skeptical and critical posts along with associated comments on social media. Many are pointing fingers.
As an active member of the fire service community for the past 47 years — and I state this with a heavy heart — if there is any finger pointing, it should be at us, the fire service.
We failed the Pyle and Boone families along with many others who have been devastated by cruel and deadly dwelling fires. Don Pyle, a very successful software CEO, was unfortunately like millions, unaware of what an unchecked and unleashed fire can do. We failed to make him aware of this fact.
If Mr. Pyle had been convinced when he filed for a building permit to for his new dream home back in 2005 that a fire with the potential to kill him, his wife and their adorable grandchildren was even remotely possible, there is no doubt that he would have chosen to have a fire protection sprinkler system installed in his home. He was an intelligent man.
However, we in the fire service community failed to provide him — and the public generally — with the necessary awareness, fire statistics and information on the effectiveness of fire sprinkler technology. We failed, and for the sake of families everywhere, we cannot afford to fail again.
Information on fire protection detection and suppression systems needs to be better explained to the public, whether these systems are required by law or not. As remarked at the recent Anne Arundel County Fire Department news conference regarding the tragic fire, sprinklers would have most likely made the difference.
Prayers to the Pyle and Boone families and everyone else who have been devastated by fire.
Joseph B. Ross Jr., Linthicum
The writer is a retired Anne Arundel County Fire Department division chief and former fire program specialist for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.