East Providence Fire Dept. Partnering with City for Sessions on New Safety Requirements

Homeowners, realtors, landlords and tenants are encouraged to attend an upcoming meeting about new fire safety requirements in three-family dwellings.

The is working with city planning officials to explain . The meeting is scheduled for March 2 at 6:30 p.m. in .

The changes, which went into effect Jan. 1, require that smoke detectors be installed in all common areas for the buildings. The devices will also be required to be set up so that if one detector goes off, it triggers the others around the building.

The new provision will also require that owners or residents install smoke and carbon detectors outside each sleeping area. In buildings with more than three units, a local fire alarm must also be installed.

More than 475 residential properties around East Providence are subject to the new requirements.

"This should have been done a long time ago," Fire Marshal Oscar Elmasian said of the new requirements.

People are required to submit a plan of the changes to the fire department, which will have to be approved.