As our severe winter starts to wind down, it’s a good time to step back and take note of how critically important a subject like residential fire safety really is. Unfortunately, we have seen a rash of residential fire disasters in the area of late, such as here, here, and here. Plus, this tragic Minneapolis occurrence cannot be ignored. Who could forget this holiday headliner? This other Minneapolis disaster from a few years ago only just now came to settlement. A recent article in the Minnesota Lawyer quoted a local attorney as stating that there is a lack of fire safety education resources for residential landlords.
That said, what can people do to prevent residential fires such as these? Don’t underestimate the importance of good working smoke alarms, as people often do. You may ask the St. Paul Fire Department for a free smoke detector, or they will make a house call to test your existing one. If you are a tenant living in St. Paul and have a situation that you think warrants inspection, you may contact the City Dept. of Safety and Inspections at (651) 266-8989. If you a landlord of a single-family rental or duplex in St. Paul and don’t live on the premises, you are required to register your property. More information is available at the City Dept. of Safety and Inspections website. Additionally, if you are a landlord or attorney practicing in housing law, you may want to purchase your own copy of the Minnesota State Fire Code.
Finally, Ramsey County landlords and tenants are both welcome to attend our Housing and Conciliation Court Clinic where they can present their questions to a volunteer attorney.
