Month: December 2016

The state fire marshal is offering guidelines for apartment fire safety in the wake of a warehouse fire where at least 36 people died in California.

The building was being used as a warehouse and also providing housing although it was not licensed to do so, according to the state fire marshal.

The state fire marshal said the tragedy should prompt building owners to consider whether they are providing the safest possible facilities for their residents.

Multi-family dwellings account for 19.4 percent of residential structure fires in Kansas, according to the state fire marshal’s office. Through inspections and enforcement, the state fire marshal works with building owners and landlords to ensure compliance with building codes aimed at protecting the lives and property of residents.

Doug Jorgensen, state fire marshal, said he wants to provide information for landlords and residents about safety.

“There are special areas of concern when it comes to fire safety in apartment buildings,” Jorgensen said. “Families in apartment buildings live close together, affecting each other’s risks associated with fire. Landlords and tenants alike have a role to play in maintaining a fire-safe place to live.”

Landlords are required to install a working smoke alarm in each of their rental units and repair or replace them when they are deficient, he said. Tenants have the responsibility to ensure that the smoke alarms in their homes are present, clean and operational, and may be responsible for changing batteries in smoke alarms, if applicable. Each rental unit should also be equipped with a fire extinguisher or automatic sprinkler system or both. Tenants should make sure they are aware of the protection available and understand its use and maintenance.

Landlords may face further responsibilities based on local jurisdiction and the rental agreement, he said. Both owners and tenants should understand the roles and responsibilities for testing and maintaining smoke alarms to avoid failures. To be absolutely sure and safe, residents should assume a degree of personal responsibility toward working smoke alarms, regardless of what the agreement or law may state.

Almost 40 percent of fires in multi-family dwellings occurred above the ground floor, he said. Residents, especially families with children, should establish and practice an escape plan with multiple exits.

Building owners need to comply with the Kansas Fire Prevention Code, which covers safety systems — sprinkler systems, fire alarms, emergency lighting, exit lights, and exiting of the building, he said. They should check with their local building code officials. Many local jurisdictions have more stringent codes than the state’s requirements.

Cooking is listed as a cause of more apartment home fires than occur in other residential buildings, he said.. One in two apartment fires are caused by cooking, while in other types of residences cooking accounts for one in four fires. Cooking fires in apartment buildings caused a reported loss of $1,656,086 in 2015.

Smoking is another cause of apartment fires. No matter the type of residence, balconies and porches are the top area of origin for smoking fires. Multi-family dwellings have a larger problem with 37 percent of smoking fires happening on the balcony or porch. Smoking-related fires on balconies and porches at houses account for just 14 percent of all smoking fires. Often, this is caused by smoking materials discarded into potted plants or mulch. Both are flammable and cause smoldering fires. Guests of non-smoking renters may dispose of cigarette butts in such material when an ash tray is not made available.

Fifty percent of Kansas water heater fires in residences occurred in multi-family dwellings, he said. Often there is a delayed detection of this type of fire, with water heaters in dedicated utility rooms without smoke alarms. Regular maintenance, inspection, and heat and smoke alarms could reduce the number of fires.

For more information on fire safety for apartments and other residential rental properties, visit FireMarshal.ks.gov/renters.