The Departments of Health and Mental Health have given Governor Blunt ten recommendations growing out of last month’s fire at the Anderson Guest House. Eleven people were killed November 27th in a fire that apparently started in the wiring in the attic of the long-term living facility. The building had no sprinklers because it was built before a state law was passed requiring sprinkler systems in such homes. A survey by the two departments sshows about 365 facilities in Missouri do not have complete sprinkler systems. The report recommends they get them. Governor Blunt says improved sprinkler requirements were his top priority when he asked for the study. It is the top recommendation in the report. He calls the recommendation “critical.” The departments are concerned the costs of installing the systems will require cutbacks in services some homes can offer. The study recommends phasing in the requirement. It also recommends statewide standards be developed for the people who service sprinkler systems. The report also recommends mandatory fire alarm systems, improved wiring standards, more fire drills, better evacuation procedures, limits on resident smoking, and requiring somebody be awake at all hours. The governor wants some time to study the recommendations before deciding what’s next.The full report is available at the website of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services: http://www.dhss.mo.gov/SeniorServices/FireSafetyReport/ConsolidatedReport12-29.pdf