[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 186 (Friday, December 11, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2976]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           THE DECEMBER 4TH FIRE IN THE CITY OF PERM, RUSSIA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES R. LANGEVIN

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 11, 2009

  Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my deep sorrow 
over the tragic fire that took the lives of one hundred forty-two 
people at a nightclub in the city of Perm, Russia, on December 4th.
  News of this fire hit close to home for me, and for many of my 
constituents, as it closely mirrors the devastating 2003 Station 
Nightclub fire in West Warwick, Rhode Island, which killed 100 people 
and injured over 200 more. According to early reports, the Perm fire 
started when performance pyrotechnics ignited the ceiling of the 
nightclub, sending patrons stampeding for one narrow exit. One hundred 
forty two people were killed and scores more were injured as patrons 
tried to escape the flames.
  In the United States, fires caused over $15.5 billion in damages last 
year, but their most horrific toll were the over 3,400 lives, including 
118 firefighters, who were lost as a result. Studies have shown that 
fire sprinklers can dramatically reduce property damage and, more 
importantly, save lives. In fact, the National Fire Protection 
Association has no record of a fire killing more than two people in a 
public assembly, or an educational, institutional or residential 
building, with a complete and fully operational automatic fire 
sprinkler system.
  This is why earlier this year I reintroduced the Fire Sprinkler 
Incentive Act of 2009 that provides tax incentives for property owners 
to retrofit buildings with automatic fire sprinkler systems. I hope 
that through this and other measures, we can raise awareness and 
improve fire safety--not only in this country, but around the world--
and ensure that tragedies like those in Russia and Rhode Island are 
never repeated.
  I want to once again extend my sympathy, and that of the people of 
Rhode Island, for the families of the victims of the Perm fire and to 
the Russian people. We know all too well the pain and loss you are 
feeling, and we send our thoughts and prayers to your community in this 
difficult time.

                          ____________________