As of February 2023, a total of seventy-six (76) high rise buildings in Montgomery County do not have sprinklers in each unit. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that more than 2,500 people die in home fires each year. Yet, the risk of dying in a home fire decreases by about 80% when a […]
Condo Smarts: Strata can prohibit outdoor cooking on balconies and decks (BC)
Dear Tony: Our neighbour recently had a fire in their barbeque. The damage to our two townhouses was siding, decks and extensive smoke damage as everyone had their windows open. Our home insurance is covering the damage to our personal property and interior of the strata lot, but the neighbour does not have home owner […]
Playing with fire (mitigation) (CO)
Repeated studies have shown global climate change is leading to larger, more severe wildfires. The raging infernos that sparked Aug. 8 in Maui leveled thousands of homes and killed more than 100 people. The entire Canadian town of Yellowknife, which is about the size of Durango, was forced to evacuate last week under threat by […]
Homeowner raises fire risk concerns with overgrown brush in Chula Vista (CA)
Homeowners in the South Bay say they’re concerned about overgrown brush around their neighborhood and the fire risks it could pose to nearby homes. CBS 8 went to work to find out who was responsible for the brush cleanup and what was being done about it. Read the article………………………..
Australia: Preventing Winter Fire Hazards
Winter is well and truly upon us and statistics show that almost half of unit fires are started in the kitchen and 58% of all fire fatalities occur in winter. With winter well and truly here, let’s take the time to brush up of safety measures and be prepared if you haven’t already to reduce […]
Village of Oak Creek HOA earns a ‘Firewise’ title (AZ)
The La Barranca II Homeowners Association in the Village of Oak Creek received its Firewise certification and accompanying signage at its entrance at the intersection of Jacks Canyon Road and La Barranca Drive on the morning of Wednesday, July 26. Read the article………………………..
Council chair pressured to rescind costly condo fire sprinkler law (HI)
Condominium associations are lobbying Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters to repeal a law that requires high-rise condos to install costly fire sprinkler systems, prompting Waters to seek input from the Waikiki Neighborhood Board. Read the article………………………..
Second annual running of the goats held in Malibu West (CA)
The community spirit of the Malibu West neighborhood was on display last Saturday as residents joyously gathered for its second annual running of the goats. Young and old paraded down Paseo Canyon Drive cheering 250 goats hired to clear dangerous brush surrounding their neighborhood. Read the article………………………..
6 Condo Fire Safety Best Practices
Fire danger is something that condominium communities across North America all face. A fire can spread quickly, doubling in size or raging out of control in 30 seconds or less. And while some factors, like dry landscaping and unattended flames, can increase the risk of fires, education about fire safety is the best method of […]
Barbecue grills must be approved by the HOA (NV)
Q: We have a homeowners association board that pretty much agrees on most things except we are having difficulty with a portion of article 3.6 of the covenants, conditions and restrictions. What is your take on “there shall be no open fires whatsoever” as it pertains to the rest of the article? Read the Q&A…………………………
A Pending Hawai‘i Law Pushes Residential High Rises to Install Fire Sprinklers, or Get Working on Their Plans
After the deadly Marco Polo fire of 2017, older Honolulu high rises were required to install sprinkler systems or pass a safety evaluation, but compliance is slow going. Now state legislation asks them to add the costly systems to their reserve studies. Read the article………………………..
Reno Fire, NV Energy, Nevada Division of Forestry Using Goats to Reduce Wildfire Risk (NV)
In an effort to reduce the risk of wildfire risk in Rosewood Canyon, the Reno Fire Department, NV Energy, and the Nevada Division of Forestry are teaming up to use goats as fire mitigation tools. On June 5, goats from High Desert Graziers from Smith Valley started to graze approximately 16 acres of property owned […]
Can I BBQ on my Condo Balcony? (ON)
It’s BBQ season! With it, comes questions pertaining to BBQ safety and neighbourly etiquette. This is particularly true in condo living and even more so when one lives in a mid to high-rise complex, where occupants have the exclusive use of a balcony. Read the article………………………..
Mesa Antero, Chateau Chapparal named Firewise USA (CO)
The Mesa Antero Property Owners’ Association and Chateau Chapparal Owners’ Associations received official designations as Firewise USA sites at the end of May, bringing Chaffee County up to seven such designated neighborhoods. Read the article………………………..
Fire Safety and Prevention for HOA Communities in Sacramento (CA)
As an HOA community in Sacramento, fire safety should be one of your top priorities. Preventing fires from happening and being prepared in the event of an emergency can minimize danger and avoid severe damage. Read the article………………………..
When is it antisocial to grill? The rules from the experts
Being a good neighbor doesn’t cost anything, and under the terms of HOA, being a bad one could be pretty expensive Read the article………………………..
HOA becomes first Firewise USA site in Green Valley (AZ)
One Green Valley neighborhood is making history as the first local homeowners association to become a certified Firewise USA site. Bill Hollingsworth, a board member with Solar Del Viejo HOA, accepted the award Wednesday on behalf of his community alongside representatives from the Green Valley Fire District and the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire […]
Marshall fire-affected HOA may be first in Colorado to allow metal fencing (CO)
In what many Marshall Fire victims are hoping will become a movement to embrace safety over aesthetics, the Rock Creek Homeowners Association modernized the rules. It voted unanimously Thursday to allow its 65 Marshall Fire victims, and anyone else who lives in the community, to rebuild using metal fire-proof fencing. Read the article………………………..
Fire Sprinkler/ELSS Update for High Rise Buildings (FL)
If you own a unit in a high-rise condominium or manage such condominiums, you are likely aware that the Condominium Act requires that the condominium buildings must be retrofitted with a fire sprinkler system or an engineered life-safety system (ELSS). The Condominium Act provides that the local authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) may not require completion […]
‘They wanted to be putting that fire out’: Pasco homeowner says broken hydrant led to delays in fighting blaze (FL)
A Pasco County man believes a fire hydrant that wasn’t working led to delays in fighting the fire that damaged his home. The ABC Action News I-Team uncovered that when it comes to inspections and maintenance of fire hydrants, not all hydrants are treated equally. Read the article………………………..
Rebuilding the 80027: Rock Creek HOA debates fire-resistant fencing (CO)
As the Marshall fire whipped through Superior’s Rock Creek Ranch subdivision, one firefighter clocked the amount of time it took for each house to explode into flames: Seven minutes. No one had ever seen such a destructive fire in the middle of winter. Read the article………………………..
2023 Update to Illinois Smoke Detector Act: What Do Illinois Community Associations Need to Know?
In August of 2017, the Illinois Smoke Detector Act (“Act”) was amended to include additional requirements for smoke detectors in residences, and these new requirements took effect on January 1, 2023. Read the article………………………..
Philly condo, apartment residents protest a bill to add sprinklers to old buildings (PA)
Philadelphia Councilmember Mark Squilla found himself besieged Thursday by high-rise condo and apartment dwellers angered by a bill he introduced almost a year ago. The legislation would mandate installation of sprinkler systems in older buildings over six stories. Read the article………………………..
Fire Extinguisher Inspections
Portable fire extinguishers are often times our first line of defense against small fires and chances are you aren’t too far from one right now. Like any lifesaving equipment you want to ensure that it is operable at all times so it will work when you need it most. Read the article………………………..
Residents at Somers condo, site of fatal 2022 fire, said broken hydrant is in urgent need of repairs (NY)
Residents in the Heritage Hills Condos in Somers are furious over a fire hydrant that has been out of service for almost a year. They say they have tried for months to get it fixed to no avail. Read the article………………………..
How far will you go to reduce your wildfire risk?
No one wants to lose their home in a wildfire. But what pushes people to act beforehand to protect their property — to cut down overgrown shrubs around decks, prune low-hanging tree branches or clear dead leaves from gutters? Read the article………………………..
Condo Column: Up in a puff of smoke (NH)
Likely the most overlooked portion of preventive maintenance in a condominium association is the inspection and cleaning of flues and chimneys. Read the article………………………..
Twin blazes at Arapahoe County condos highlight danger of lack of fire-suppression sprinklers (CO)
Donna Reis and Jon Wilkerson are among the hundreds of people displaced recently by two separate fires at an Arapahoe County condominium complex. The couple, who’ve shared the same one-bedroom residence for the past 30 years, say it’s unlikely that they’ll return. Read the article………………………..
Condo Column: The hidden danger (NH)
A recent item came to my attention that I thought I might share with you. E-bikes and escooters are becoming more and more common. If you haven’t yet seen one in your condominium association you likely will soon. They can save a lot of environmental wear and tear, are faster than walking to work, and […]
Supervisors, community members raise issues with new fire hazard severity zone map (CA)
Bill Groody, president of the Buckingham Homeowners Association and a board member of the Konocti Fire Safe Council, pointed out that in the new map, the entire Buckingham peninsula is in the very high fire area, up from half from the last map. “That is a very significant change.” Groody said he wasn’t there […]
Sound the Alarm: New Illinois Law Requires 10-Year Battery Smoke Alarms to Be Installed in Homes
In 2017, the Illinois General Assembly passed Public Act 100-0200 to update the Illinois Smoke Detector Act. Public Act 100-0200 requires all Illinois single and multi-family homes to have a smoke alarm with a sealed 10-year battery by January 1, 2023. The legislator provided several exceptions to this law—please review to see if your community […]
Fire safety and communication latest topic at meeting of Key Biscayne Condominium Presidents Council (FL)
The Key Biscayne Condominium Presidents Council (KBCPC) members meet regularly to discuss topics affecting the island’s condominiums. Topics addressed include insurance, security, fire safety, reserve spending, engineering studies), association budgeting, electric vehicle charging, storm water drainage, and more. Read the article………………………..
Increase the Defensibility of Your Home with These Crucial Fire Safety Products (CO)
There is no way around it — Boulder County is wildfire territory. Although we can neither predict nor control Mother Nature, there are some steps homeowners can, and should, take to harden their homes against fire damage. Some of the important first steps include clearing your gutters of leaves and other flammable materials, maintaining your […]
Colorado’s wildfire risk is so high some homeowners can’t get insured. The state may create last-resort coverage.
Some Colorado homeowners are telling state regulators and lawmakers that they can’t secure coverage for their homes because of rising wildfire risk Read the article………………………..
‘Tis the Season…for Fire Prevention
During the winter months, the rate and risk of residential fires increases. Your condo or HOA is not immune to this. The increase is often attributed to additional electricity use, holiday décor, Christmas trees and the increased use of electric space heaters. Residents and owners need to be sure that they are using common sense […]
Reducing Wildfire Risk: Bella Vista community works to prevent future fires (CA)
Members of the Shasta County Fire Safe council teamed up with the Dusty Oaks Firewise community group on Thursday to take steps to prevent wildfires and limit the fire threat. Read the article………………………..
Fire Sprinkler Retrofits Gain Traction As Building Owners Eye Rising Insurance Costs (HI)
Amid a terse political debate about fire safety in Honolulu, managers in at at least 10 older high-rise buildings in the city are pushing ahead to install fire sprinklers for the first time, according to city records and interviews with condominium associations. Read the article………………………..
Colorado wildfires are making it harder to insure homes. Could a publicly funded plan stave off an insurance crisis?
In the Pine Brook Hills subdivision north of Boulder, homeowners started reporting increasing insurance premiums about two years ago. Families who had bought insurance from the same company for 20 years or longer received notices that their carriers were going to drop them, said Kevin Smith, president of the Pine Brook Hills Homeowners Association. Read […]
Co-op and Condo Boards Begin Tackling Fire Risk From E-Bikes (NY)
Steven Sladkus was eating lunch outdoors at a restaurant on East 52nd Street a few weekends ago when he noticed a commotion down the block. “I saw all these people congregating in front of a highrise building and so many fire trucks it looked like a 10-alarm fire,” Sladkus recalls. “Soon I heard there was […]
Hundreds Of Honolulu Residential High Rises Fail To Meet ‘Acceptable’ Fire Safety Standards (HI)
A new report on the results of comprehensive safety evaluations was recently shared with the Honolulu City Council. Very few high rises have fire sprinkler systems. Read the article………………………..
Red Cross installs more than 60 smoke alarms in Dungeness Meadows (WA)
The effort was “terrific” and “extremely well organized,” said Jane Martin, a volunteer and Dungeness Meadows Homeowners Association board member. “No one could believe it was free,” Pratschner said. Installations were pre-arranged with residents through the Homeowners Association, and volunteers chose Dungeness Meadows — which includes 205 manufactured, mobile and stick-built homes — for the […]
Deep Fried Turkeys: Don’t Let Your Holiday Go up in Flames
A time filled with gratitude, food, and – disaster? The Thanksgiving holiday, with all its warm spirit, can unfortunately bring danger as well, especially when fried turkeys are involved. Thanksgiving leads the holiday season with the most home cooking fires, as there are approximately two to three times more fires on this food-driven holiday than […]
For Ruby Ranch residents, years of advocacy and planning brings wildfire mitigation (CO)
For property owners of Ruby Ranch, years of advocating, planning and work have come to fruition as work crews complete fire mitigation in the wilderness near their homes to limit the risks of wildfire. Read the article………………………..
Malibu Country Estates recognized as ‘Firewise Community’ (CA)
The Malibu Country Estates (MCE) neighborhood, with its 107 homes adjacent to Pepperdine University, was officially recognized as a Firewise community on May 18 by Firewise USA. The program is part of the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and the “Firewise” designation is expected to result in lower fire insurance premiums for individual homeowners. […]
Kohl’s Ranch community gets fire evacuation plan (AZ)
A comprehensive fire evacuation plan was recently presented to the Kohl’s Tonto Creek Subdivision Homeowners’ Association at the summer potluck held July 23. The plan was developed and presented by Bob Higel, who has served as the Firewise chair of the Kohl’s Tonto Creek Subdivision HOA, since 2013. Read the article………………………..
Neighbors band together to evacuate animals during wildfire (TX)
Fire evacuees had to band together to save their beloved animals during the Hermosa Fire last week in Wimberley. “I have quite a few horses, and a couple of mini donkeys and dogs and cats,” said Kellee Ferguson, the president of the River Mountain Ranch Property Owners Association. “So it was stressful.” Read the article………………………..
Top Tips for Fire Preparedness (NY)
Remember the old Smokey the Bear commercials, “Only YOU can prevent forest fires”? Well, consider that living in a NYC coop or condo, or even rental building with hundreds of neighbors and how just one of them could adversely affect the entire community. Read the article………………………..
When Natural Beauty Became a Threat: The Evolution of a Firewise Community (OR)
No one will ever forget the Summer of 2020…the orange sky that hung over us for days. The stench of what remained of a destroyed landscape…the ash falling like snow in the 100-degree heat. Read the article………………………..
Why Panama City Beach firefighters are assisting a high-rise with downed fire pump (FL)
With a Beach condo’s fire pump out of service, firefighters pumped hundreds of gallons of water into the high-rise’s water pressure system on Thursday to keep its residents safe. Read the article………………………..
One Developer’s Case for Building in a High-Risk Fire Zone
In the past five years, California’s wildfires have burned more than 30,000 structures, prompting debate over whether the state and local governments should allow development to continue in higher-risk parts of the state. Read the article………………………..