Davies describes Eriksen's advocacy of the sprinkler bylaw: "Neither the province nor the city made it mandatory for Single Room Occupancy (SRO) hotels to have sprinkler systems. Approximately 25 people died every year, 40 in 1973. DERA worked hard to have the bylaw changed. The struggle was ignored by the city and fought against by the landlords who threatened to close permanently if they were required to put sprinkler systems in. The fire deaths of five people in the Commercial Hotel on Cambie Street allowed Bruce Eriksen to corner the mayor at the site of the burning building in front of the media and demand he bring in sprinkler laws to stop the unnecessary deaths. This incident led to the passing of the (Vancouver) Fire Sprinkler Bylaw, responsible for the saving of many lives."