More fire protection sought for Las Vegas group care homes
Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2004 | 9:44 a.m.
CARSON CITY -- The Las Vegas City Council will be asked by its fire prevention division to require all adult group care homes in the city to have sprinkler systems, fire alarms and smoke detectors.
Jeffery R. Donahue, deputy fire marshal for the city, told the state Board of Examiners Tuesday that there are 84 group care homes that care for the elderly that don't have these fire protection systems.
Installation will cost anywhere from 64 cents a square foot to $400 a square foot. He estimated the average cost as "just under $10,000."
Donahue was before the state board to get its clearance so the marshal's office can approach the city council for its approval. A 1981 law enacted after two hotel fires in Las Vegas required these fire safety devices in new adult care facilities or when they are sold. But it did not require older homes to have these systems.
"Elderly people are not as mobile and some of them have dementia," said Donahue. "We want to have safe facilities."
What prompted this, he said, was a fire in March of this year in which two elderly residents of a group home in Las Vegas were killed. That home was installing a sprinkler system at the time of the blaze, said Donahue.
A survey of these type of homes in the city showed there were some technicalities in the change of ownership that allowed the new owners of a home to not install a system.
For instance, Donahue said, a group care home may be sold but the former owner may retain 1 percent and continue on the city license. So technically, the home would not be required to have the sprinkler system, because the former owner was still on the license.
He told the board that if the city council approves the plan, these homes would have 12 months to install the systems.
Gov. Kenny Guinn questioned if this was a serious problem just in Las Vegas or if it is also a problem in North Las Vegas or in Clark County.
Donahue said if Las Vegas was successful than he hoped other local governments might follow suit.
Senior Deputy Attorney General Jim Spencer said this was the first time a local government has asked the state board for authority to go forward and approve a stiffer fire protection system.
Donahue said officials in Henderson are considering similar action.
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Two second-graders involved in shooting at bus stop
- Trainers scuffle at Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto weigh-in
- Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs among stars in Las Vegas for Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto fight
- Hooters reports loss, says Chapter 11 possible
- Gaming Control Board recommends licensing of CityCenter
- Live Blog: Pacquiao wins by TKO in round twelve
- Clubs want to be ‘good citizen,’ so stripper-mobile ends its run
- Nuclear plant in Ely could complicate radioactive waste, water issues
- Las Vegas club agrees to halt promotion featuring live dancers on truck
- Police seek man who stole $2,000 worth of clothing
Blogs
The Kats Report
New face of Monte Carlo includes all the faces of Caliendo
The Greene Room
Predicting this weekend's Mountain West football slate (1 Comment)
Top Chef: Las Vegas
Top Chef Episode 11: Child's play
Miech Again
UNLV prez Smatresk is ready for some basketball (9 Comments)
Politics: The Early Line
Harry Reid's fourth TV ad begins running today
The Greene Room
Chad Ochocinco vs. Anderson Silva? That would be a sight ... (5 Comments)
Top Chef: Las Vegas
The Jet Stream: The three stages of chefdom
Calendar »
- 15 Sun
- 16 Mon
- 17 Tue
- 18 Wed
- 19 Thu
-
Actor's Expo at Rave Motion Pictures
Rave Motion Pictures Town Square 18 | 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
-
Lily Tomlin at the Hollywood Theatre
Hollywood Theatre at MGM Grand
-
Neil Sedaka at the Orleans
Orleans Hotel-Casino
-
Supernatural Santana – A Trip Through the Hits at The Joint
The Joint
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati





