One of the requirements of our foster license was to maintain a permit with the relevant fire fighting authority. During the period that we held the license, we moved to another home that was across a county line so we had to also learn the rules of a second jurisdiction. I mention that because different things were stressed by the two entities.
The City of Houston sent out a Deputy Fire Chief. He had warned me when we made the appointment in regard to what he would be looking for. He was very concerned with having fire alarms in central locations like the top and bottom of the stairs and the kitchen.
In contrast, the fire inspector for Montgomery County required that there be a fire alarm in every room of the house. Apparently, there had recently been a very tragic fire in the county and that event had caused them to toughen up their requirements. We have complied with that requirement and we think it is a good idea. It drives us crazy though when the batteries start to lose power and we can’t determine which alarm is beeping occasionally.
Both inspectors required that all bare light bulbs, usually a closet light, have a protective casing. It seemed far-fetched to me for something to be placed next to the bulb on the ceiling and catch fire. I did buy the casings and install them.
The Houston inspector went all through the house testing wall sockets. Of course, he found several that needed repair and took our word that we would have them fixed. This was not inspected at the other house.
The county inspector required that we buy and have available two chain ladders that could be used to escape out of upstairs windows. I bought them and have them in a closet upstairs but I think that it would be much more dangerous to tell the boys that they are there and worry about when they were going to try them out for fun.
Nancy and I sleep downstairs and the boys are upstairs. It will be my job to get up there and get them out and her job to gather everyone at the meeting place. We pray that we will never need to execute the plan.
Both jurisdictions required that we have fire extinguishers on both floors and that we have a fire drill plan that the children can execute. Of course, both of these are essential. We realized a few days ago that we needed to go over the fire drill again with the boys because a smoke alarm went off in the kitchen and several of them did not even know what it was.
Fire safety is serious business. Very close friends of ours had a serious fire a few years ago. The important thing is that they all got out of the house. Houses can be replaced. I am glad that the fire fighting jurisdictions held us accountable for keeping our home safe.
Related Blog:
State Adoption: Home Safety Inspection.