Fire chief: Deadly fire could occur here despite code efforts

A deadly fire such as the one that occurred last week in Oakland, California, could happen in Cape Girardeau, fire chief Rick Ennis said Wednesday.

Ennis said such fires can occur despite the best efforts of city building and fire inspectors to ensure public safety.

At least 36 people died during a dance party Friday night at an Oakland warehouse that housed artists' studios and illegal living spaces.

A similar deadly situation could occur in Cape Girardeau if, for example, "somebody was running an illegal nightclub, and we didn't know about it," he said.

"Outside of things like electrical fires or flue fires, the fires don't usually start because of building-code violations, but the progression of the fire and spread of the fire through the building could certainly be affected by building-code violations," he said.

Ennis said historically, the nation's most deadly fires have involved such factors as crowding, inadequate exits, combustible interiors and a lack of fire sprinklers.

Ennis said at least three of those factors were involved in the Oakland fire. He said he doesn't know whether crowding was involved.

Building and fire-safety regulations pose a "double-edged sword," Ennis said.

"We as city (building) inspectors and fire inspectors are often criticized by the public because we are seen as the bad guy out there trying to impede progress and impede people from being able to do what they want to do with their property," he said.

Ennis added when a deadly fire occurs, "people ask, 'How did you let it happen?'"

The fire chief said Cape Girardeau and other cities seek to enforce standardized building and fire codes to save lives.

Ennis said the Cape Girardeau Fire Department does fire inspections of some businesses, but not all.

"We don't have the manpower to do fire safety inspections of every business," he said.

The department's fire marshal and fire inspector handle fire inspections.

Businesses with liquor licenses are inspected annually for fire safety as part of the business-license process.

All new commercial construction, including apartments, and major remodels of businesses, undergo fire safety inspections and must meet building codes, Ennis said.

Businesses housed in older buildings do not have to meet current fire-safety requirements such as fire-sprinkler systems or lighted exit signs unless there is a major change in their use, Ennis said.

The fire department does not inspect residences unless specifically requested by the homeowner. Even then, it is done only as a courtesy, Ennis said.

"We cannot enforce codes or enforce inspections in a private dwelling," he said.

Ennis said much of code enforcement centers around new construction or major remodels.

"When we go out for a fire inspection, we have to ask for permission to enter the premises," Ennis said.

Property owners rarely deny such requests, but when they do, the city has to take legal action to force compliance, he said.

Fire sprinklers are required in new commercial structures, those remodeled for a different use and buildings with four or more apartment units, Ennis said.

According to the fire department, about 300 structures, mostly businesses, in Cape Girardeau are equipped with sprinkler systems.

Southeast Missouri State University and other state institutions or agencies don't have to meet city fire safety codes.

"A lot of times, they will bring us in as a courtesy. We can offer suggestions, but we don't have enforcement power," Ennis said.

The state inspects health care facilities such as nursing homes and hospitals.

"We will also get involved in those inspections, again, out of courtesy," Ennis said.

The city's development services handles building-code inspections, including inspections of rental housing.

Ennis and development services director Alex McElroy said some people do major remodels of structures without notifying the city in an effort to avoid the added expense of meeting codes.

McElroy said, "Unfortunately, people can be shortsighted by not trying to take care of life-safety things up front."

Ennis said business owners are encouraged to install fire-safety devices such as sprinklers even when they are not required.

The fire chief praised the developers of Marquette Tower on Broadway for taking such action.

When opened in 1928 as a hotel, no sprinkler system was required.

It later was renovated to house state offices, but no sprinkler system was required for such a structure, The state agencies subsequently moved out, leaving the structure vacant.

It now is being developed into offices for high-tech ventures, but this time, it is being outfitted with sprinklers.

mbliss@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3641

Pertinent address:

1 S. Sprigg St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.