Since March of 2020, many of the fire and life safety inspections normally conducted by The Washington State Fire Marshals Office were suspended by the state agency that licenses the facility (primarily Department of Social and Health Services & Department of Health) in compliance with the proclamations issued by the Governor. It is anticipated that inspection will resume in April 2021. As the SFMO gears up to resume inspection, they reviewed the types of violations that were cited between 2016 and 2019.

#5 Portable Fire Extinguishers: Includes maintenance and inspection violations, as well as improper mounting height.

#4 Emergency & Standby Power Systems: Includes violations related to emergency generators and/or battery back-up fire alarm systems and emergency lighting.

#3 Electrical Equipment, Wiring and Hazards: Includes extension cords used in place of permanent wiring and one power stirp being plugged into another power strip as the leading violations found in this category.

#2 Fire Protection Systems Inspections, Testing and Maintenance: Includes violations related to fire alarms, fire sprinkler, and other fire protection systems. These systems are critical components of the built-in fire and life safety features of a building. Ensuring these systems operate as designed when an emergency occurs increases the safety of the building occupants. The inspection, testing, and maintenance frequencies were not extended during the pandemic, so facilities are expected are expected to maintain their fire protection systems in operable condition.

#1 Fire-Resistance-Rated Construction: Violations were primarily penetrations into firewalls. Breaches in sheetrock often caused by electrical or cable wiring not properly protected agains the spread of smoke and heat is the leading cause of violations.