May 18, 2008

Sprinklers are for everyone - except the area fire chief

By The Phantom

SPRINKLER SERMONIZING: Menlo Park Fire Protection District Chief Harold Schapelhouman is well-known for being a stickler when it comes to fire sprinklers. He's urged city governments in the district to pass ordinances requiring sprinklers in homes and businesses, and continues to be irritated that Menlo Park is the lone holdout.

Menlo Park and Schapelhouman, however, aren't that different: There are no sprinklers in the fire chief's home.

At an intense residential fire Thursday in Menlo Park, Schapelhouman said his house was built in the 1920s and would require a lot of renovations in order to install sprinklers.

But the fire chief said he has taken other safety measures, such as installing several extinguishers, to safeguard his home.

"We also have a (fire) drill," said Schapelhouman as smoke billowed from Thursday's fire. "My wife knows it, my kid knows it. We've taken extra precautions."



RETRO REVIVAL: Enrollment continues to climb at the Palo Alto Adult School, where 72 percent of the students are women. One of the most popular classes is the school's "home economics" class, which the director noted "seems like a throwback." Also on the rise are early parenting classes and Asian participants in senior programs.



Leave a message for The Phantom at phantom@dailynewsgroup.com.