Fire sprinklers installed in 42 high-rise buildings 5 years after deadly fire
Federal and Minneapolis city leaders on Monday highlighted the installation of fire sprinklers in all 42 of the city’s high-rise public housing buildings.
Over $20 million in both federal and city funding helped make this a reality.
RELATED: Frey, city leaders urge lawmakers to approve funding for public housing I Rep. Omar celebrates federal funding for Minnesota Public Housing fire sprinkler systems I $2M allotted for sprinklers in Minneapolis high-rise buildings I Federal funding will help Minneapolis public housing add sprinklers to high rise buildings
The day before Thanksgiving in 2019, a fire broke out on the 14th floor of Cedar-Riverside High Rise, killing five people.
The 25-story, 200-unit apartment building was built in 1970 and wasn’t required to have a sprinkler system or retrofit the building to meet current fire standards.
RELATED: House passes bill requiring sprinklers in high-rises by 2033
Last year, the Minnesota Public Housing Authority (MPHA) was ordered to pay $1.5 million after the victims’ families filed a lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed after the Minnesota State Fire Marshal in a report said that sprinklers would have saved the victims’ lives.
RELATED: Momentum builds for fire sprinkler retrofits in Minnesota high-rises I State Fire Marshal report: Sprinklers could’ve saved 5 people killed in 2019 Minneapolis high-rise fire I ‘Still Unprotected’: 1 year after deadly fire, public housing high-rises are without fire sprinklers