Gov. Patrick: Lowell Fire Could Prompt Call For Better Fire Safety Laws

BOSTON (AP) — Gov. Deval Patrick says the fire that killed seven people in Lowell could prompt a discussion about current fire safety laws, such as whether older buildings should be retrofitted with sprinkler systems.

Patrick also said Friday that he had spoken with the city's mayor and the state's fire marshal to get an early assessment of whether "appropriate warning systems" were in place at the apartment building. He declined to provide any details.

Some witnesses reported that no fire alarms sounded in the building after the blaze erupted early Thursday morning. Fire officials said the building did not have a sprinkler system but wasn't required to by law.

Patrick, speaking at the Statehouse, offered his condolences to family members of the fire victims, which included five members of a single family.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

MORE LOCAL NEWS FROM CBS BOSTON