County to Study Cost of Sprinklers in Its High-Rises

Responding to a high-rise fire that devastated Los Angeles County’s health department headquarters, the Board of Supervisors Tuesday ordered a study of the cost of installing sprinklers in all tall county buildings.

Firefighters said sprinklers would have limited the damage from Saturday’s fire at the downtown Department of Health Services administration building. “We must heed this disastrous warning,” Supervisor Kenneth Hahn said.

Supervisors unanimously ordered the survey, which could lead to a bond measure on the June 2 ballot that would fund the sprinkler installation.

Since 1974, fire sprinklers have been required in all high-rise buildings constructed in Los Angeles. But in the aftermath of the 1988 fire at the 62-story First Interstate Bank building, a law was passed requiring installation of sprinklers in tall buildings built before 1974--except for residential, state, county and federal buildings. The 14-story health department headquarters was built in 1971.

County health officials said the fire caused at least $3 million in damage, but Richard B. Dixon, the county’s chief administrative officer, said the county expects to recover a large part of the loss from insurance.

Portions of the health administration building could be closed up to a year because of asbestos contamination, county officials say.

Supervisors also authorized the county health director to “compensate county employees for the loss of their personal property due to the fire.”