The Lives Saved
M.H. Jim Estepp: After 40 Years, Prince George’s County Honors The Man Who Sparked Residential Sprinkler System Nationwide
By Raoul Dennis
Photography By Amir Stoudamire (For More Photos click here)
“Our first goal was just to help save lives,” says former Prince George’s County Fire Chief M.H. Jim Estepp. “We were looking for a better way to prevent fires from taking lives.”
That was 40 years ago.
In 1981, Estepp, who later also served as the county’s first safety commissioner, decided to look into a new idea for protecting homes and families from raging fires. It was an indoor sprinkler system and after a rewarding look at the new technology at a field testing in San Francisco, Estepp came back to the county determined to make it a part of county life.
Fast forward through more study and introducing the concept to then Prince George’s County Executive Parris Glendenning. At the time, the County Executive was considering a run for state governor. Typically, it’s not a time to attempt the use of new technology on potential voters. But Glendenning saw the value and immediately gave it a green light. Next, Estepp led a walk thru demonstration with the county council viewing the sprinkler system vs. smoke detectors in action. The demonstration - depicting a system that helped to put out the fire beyond a simple warning - led to the majority approval of County Council Bill 145-1987.
In November 1987, new law established that all new homes in Prince George’s must be equipped with indoor sprinkler systems. It was the first county in the nation to do so. Since then, it’s believed that no home so equipped has had fire related fatalities in four decades.
“It’s tough to get a majority vote on good legislation,” said Prince George’s County Council Chair Jolene Ivey. “Getting this done was truly remarkable.”
“We thank Jim Estepp and honor him today for his service and this groundbreaking contribution,” said Prince George’s County Fire Chief Tiffany Green.
“For me as the 13th fire chief of our department it’s honor to be able to recognize the third fire chief of our department because he had such an impact on who we are today,” Green said after the ceremony.
“Our greatest ambitions are to make a difference,” said Glendenning of having an impact of merit whether it be in the lives of our children or the community as a whole. On November 18, 1987, when the bill passed as the first in the nation, it became the model [for the nation].”
“This is among the most inspiring and satisfying work of my life,” Estepp wrote in an earlier National Fire Sprinkler Magazine article about the process (September/October 2024).
Estepp didn’t accept the acknowledgement alone. The ceremony included recognition of all the staffers, legislation writers, fire, administrative and safety leaders who played specific roles in moving an information campaign forward for a concept that had never been done on such a scale before.
Full story to come in the next edition of Prince George’s Suite magazine.
