What's my next step? - non existent emergency lights in my building.

[Anonymous]

We've been living in this building for 9 months. We had 2 fires in upper levels but none required evacuation. We're in the first floor so worst case scenario we just run out our balcony door which opens to the back courtyard/pool.

I've contacted our management company 3 times since the first fire to let them know that there are no emergency lights in the stairways that lead to the garage and inclement weather shelter area (a small laundry room down in the garage). You go down the hallways following the emergency lights saying EXIT and when you open the door to the stairways it's complete darkness!!!! Just 3 days ago we had a power outage around the time I left for work so I had to go down the stairs holding my 30lbs toddler on my lap with our bags on top of my 35 week belly holding a flashlight to get to our car.

So I guess I have 2 questions here...

Who do I contact to have this issue seriously looked into?

And is the shelter supposed to be large enough to accommodate every resident in the building? I can't see 80 ppl fitting into that room in case of an emergency.

[Anonymous]

1) What city do you live in?

2) Why the fock have there been two fires in such a short time span?

[Anonymous]

OP,

Has the management company responded?

Contact your local housing folks. STAT. My sense is this is a code violation.

I agree with PP. Two fires in nine months is a lot. I've lived in the same building since 1994 and there have been no fires to my knowledge.

[Anonymous]

Meanwhile, invest in one of those flashlight-headbands.

[Anonymous]

I had a problem with a ventilation system in the emergency stairwells. It created a suction so forceful I could barely open one of the doors during a fire alarm (I was also 9 months' pregnant and on bed rest at the time, on the 15th floor (grrr)).

I wrote a formal letter of complaint to the local fire marshal and they were in there inspecting the place within a day.

[Anonymous]

Can you call the fire chief at the local station? Will they issue a citation?

[Anonymous]

Have the building inspected by everyone you can think of.

This is a serious liability issue for the building. Major code violations plus they can get sued out the ass in accident or robbery.

[Anonymous]

I'll try calling the fire station. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We've been living in this building for 9 months. We had 2 fires in upper levels but none required evacuation. We're in the first floor so worst case scenario we just run out our balcony door which opens to the back courtyard/pool.

I've contacted our management company 3 times since the first fire to let them know that there are no emergency lights in the stairways that lead to the garage and inclement weather shelter area (a small laundry room down in the garage). You go down the hallways following the emergency lights saying EXIT and when you open the door to the stairways it's complete darkness!!!! Just 3 days ago we had a power outage around the time I left for work so I had to go down the stairs holding my 30lbs toddler on my lap with our bags on top of my 35 week belly holding a flashlight to get to our car.

So I guess I have 2 questions here...

Who do I contact to have this issue seriously looked into?

And is the shelter supposed to be large enough to accommodate every resident in the building? I can't see 80 ppl fitting into that room in case of an emergency.

Call the Fire Department inspector and report this as this is a violaton of the fire code. They will inspect, give them a huge fine, and give them 24-hrs in which to correct situation. They will also fine them for the first violation and if they don't fix problem give them a huge fine.