Apartment Complex Lacked Smoke Detectors
The manager responsible for an apartment complex that went up in flames will not face a fine, even though he failed to install smoke detectors in the building, according to El Paso Fire Dept. officials.
The fire displaced 42 residents at the Five Points Apartment complex on the 1000 block of Elm Street in Central El Paso.
“We have to find a new apartment, a new place to stay,” Rey Morales said. “It’s a pain.”
Everyone made it out of the complex safely, but flames and smoke destroyed everything from couches to clothing. Fire officials said a car battery caught fire in an upstairs bedroom. On Monday, a fire inspection revealed there were also no smoke detectors inside.
“There wasn’t even fire extinguishers,” Morales said. “If it wasn’t for the lady downstairs knocking on everyone’s door, it would have been worse.”
Fire officials said it’s not uncommon for older buildings in this area not to have smoke detectors.
“When the buildings were built, it wasn’t required because smoke detectors didn’t exist, but if you have property in the city of El Paso that you rent, then you are required to have smoke detectors in them,” chief building inspector Tom McGuire said.
Fire officials said they do not usually conduct inspections for smoke detectors at apartments simply because they do not have the staff to do so. Now that they’ve discovered the violation, the building owner will have to install them.
