Government intrusion sprinkles into NM homes

What do Scottsdale, Ariz., and Chapel Hill, N.C., have in common?

If you said, “rich people,” you get partial credit.

But the answer we’re looking for today is: Both require that homes in their communities be built with fire sprinklers in their ceilings.

Fire sprinklers. Like the one’s Bruce Willis used to save the giant building in the first “Die Hard” movie.

The do-dahs countless kids, one suspects, have tried to turn on with a lighter.  

Or perhaps that’s an urban myth.

Myth or no, last week New Mexico’s Construction Industry Commission floated the idea as a proposed code change for future homes. The CIC defines how buildings are to be, um, built.  

The residential fire sprinkler idea was publicly endorsed by Jason Marks, a member of the state’s powerful Public Regulation Commission. Newspaper accounts reported that Marks testified before the CIC and said the PRC has supported in-home sprinklers in the past.

Sounds like a good idea, yes? Fire starts in a furnace room, say, sprinklers kick on, douse the fire, end of story. Doesn’t even bring out a TV news crew.

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