Wisconsin Republicans Reject Sprinkler Requirements After Milwaukee Fire

Following a deadly fire in a 1968 Milwaukee apartment building that killed five people and displaced about 100, Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos indicated lawmakers are unlikely to mandate fire sprinklers in older buildings. Vos emphasized concerns that retrofitting such buildings could increase housing costs and rents, potentially exacerbating homelessness and worsening the housing crisis. The state law requires sprinklers only in buildings taller than 60 feet built after 1974, leaving many older high-rises without such safety systems; Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski noted that over two-thirds of Milwaukee's high-rise buildings lack sprinklers and stressed that sprinklers save lives. Democratic Sen. LaTonya Johnson acknowledged rent affordability concerns but argued that saving lives should take priority over cost concerns. Fire officials and some policymakers warn against overcorrection but highlight the life-saving importance of sprinkler systems, while local officials point to the high costs of retrofitting potentially raising rents in an already strained market. The debate reflects ongoing tensions between fire safety advocacy and housing affordability considerations in Wisconsin's legislative response to the tragedy.