Forty-two Montgomery County group homes housing the elderly, disabled or juveniles lack bedroom windows large enough to serve as emergency exits, putting the residents in danger and the homes out of compliance with safety codes, county officials said Thursday.
The county’s answer: Supply the buildings with sprinkler systems as a fire-prevention tool.
The County Council’s Public Safety Committee recommended on Thursday setting aside $250,000 to fund the installation of sprinkler systems in the group homes.
“We want the homes to stay open to continue providing the services that they do,” said Phil Andrews, chairman of the county’s public safety committee. “But we also want them to be safe.”
The 42 group homes include 25 that serve the developmentally disabled, 15 that are assisted-living homes for the elderly and two that serve minors. Bedroom windows in the buildings were not large enough to accommodate easy emergency exits.
Committee member Mike Knapp said the county was in a difficult situation.
“We got caught in a quandary because we had code enforcement personnel identifying legitimate things that needed to be fixed, and group homes that are getting fewer dollars from the state in funding. …” Knapp said.
Kitty Salahuddin, director of residential services of the Association of Retarded Citizens of Mongomery County, said the fire codes have been in place for years, but inspectors have ramped up enforcement efforts recently.
“It’s nothing new,” Salahuddin said. “Of course as providers we want to comply because we want everybody to be safe. We just don’t have the funding to do it.”
Michael Love, a division chief for Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services, said the county was getting a good deal.
“One way or another, the county is responsible for these people,” Love said. “I think it’s a pretty good compromise to set aside $250,000 for sprinkler system. You’re getting a lot of bang for your buck and of course the safety of group home residents, which is the most important thing.”
Andrews said he expected the full council to vote on the funding in July.
