Downtown buildings to take caution

With the recent fire at the Boardwalk Apartments, questions have been raised about other older buildings without sprinklers in Lawrence.

Downtown Lawrence is unique because of the history that lies within, acting as a living, breathing, time capsule. But those characteristics can also be a warning sign. What if a major fire were to strike a downtown building? The age and proximity of the buildings could spell disaster for downtown buildings.

"Probably 10 percent have sprinklers present," Mark Bradford, Deputy Fire Chief, said.

In February 1997, Sunflower Outdoor and Bike, 804 Massachusetts St., learned what could happen when a huge fire destroyed both its buildings and damaged several others. The fire, which started because of combustible material near a water heater in the basement, gutted one of the buildings and heavily damaged the other.

When it reopened a year later, it included sprinklers as part of the rebuilding process to make sure that a disaster such as that never happened again.

"We've got smoke detectors in the building that are monitored 24 hours a day and we're within sight of Fire Station number one," Dan Hughes, Sunflower Outdoor and Bike owner, said. "How bad could it be?"

Businesses are reluctant to sprinkle their buildings because of the high cost of retrofitting an old building. Many would rather take the risk of possible destruction.

"It will probably happen again; its just the matter of when," Bradford said.

More in Leo Center provides relief for fire victims.