In 2023, 25-year-old Melanie Diaz died after a fire erupted at a high-rise apartment building in Silver Spring. Today, her loved ones are working tirelessly to strengthen fire safety standards for Maryland residents.
“We try to advocate and make a difference because she was a person who made a difference,” said Zuleika Madera, her mother.
Montgomery County fire leaders gathered Saturday to talk about the advances the county has made to improve and save lives, including the current high-rise tools like mobile smoke curtains and below floor firefighting nozzles.
“Try to bring all these buildings, sprinklers and also save lives, and in the meantime we can improve you know safety and other equipment,” said Cesar Diaz, Melanie Diaz’s father.
“We try to find creative new ways to keep our community safe,” said Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Chief Corey Smedley.
In 2024, The Maryland General Assembly passed the Melanie Diaz Sprinklers Save Lives Act to create new sprinkler standards for high-rises. The act requires smoke alarms in each sleeping area, including visual alarms for deaf residents, fire safety training for residents and supplies tax credits for high-rises that make safety upgrades.
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