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For Needy Residents, A Lifeline To Fire Safety
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In keeping with state requirements, group homes for the developmentally disabled must do emergency drills monthly, he said. Also, he said, staff members are on duty round-the-clock, not just for safety but also to get people out into the community. "We all want to make sure our participants are safe," he said.
As many as 174 group home residents could have been displaced if the county had not acted, officials said. The new program, said council member Andrews, means that "no one is being kicked out."
The program will be administered by the county's Department of Housing and Community Affairs, which already works with group homes on loans for other improvements.
The widespread safety problems have arisen during a boom in group homes across the county. For a number of years, Health and Human Services officials checked them for fire code compliance, but the inspections were not as rigorous as they are now, officials said. About two years ago, they asked fire inspectors to get involved.
Donahue recalled two fires in group homes in Montgomery since he joined the fire department 30 years ago, but no injuries.
Even so, there is potential for tragedy, especially because some group home residents have health conditions -- advanced Alzheimer's disease, for example -- that make it more difficult for them to walk out on their own in the event of an emergency.
The advantage of a fire sprinkler system, activated by intense heat, is that "it's like having a firefighter in every room," Donahue said.
By citing the homes that violate the fire code, the county will "keep the problem on the record" until it is resolved, Donahue said.
To benefit from the county's installation of fire sprinklers, the homes must already be in place, serving predominantly clients who are assisted by public agencies, and must commit to continuing as group homes for three years, or else pay back a prorated portion of the cost.
The installation of sprinkler systems, Donahue said, is an important step toward prevention. "When someone calls 911 and the firetrucks roll," he said, "you're in damage-control mode. You can never turn the clock back."
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