Fire Marshal To Survey City For Smoke Alarm Compliance

Fire Marshal Mike Morin says he's working with the Tax Assessor's office to survey apartment buildings in the city to make sure they have smoke and fire alarms.

The effort coincides with news of a recent fire in an apartment building on Hope Street. "There was no fire alarm system in that building," Morin said.

WHDH reports the 24 Hope St. building was up in flames by the time Woonsocket Firefighters arrived. One woman was forced to throw her baby from a window to neighbors below. NECN has a video of the scene.

Morin said the cause of the fire was an electric heater placed too close to a couch. "It was a little chilly out that night," Morin said.

Morin says he's determining whether the owner of the building will face charges.

Meanwhile, he said, his office has an on-going effort to make sure city apartment buildings are in line with the law. The Tax Assessor's office, he said, is drafting a list of three and four-family properties in the city. With that list in hand, he said, they'll begin inspecting the properties one by one to make sure the proper alarms are in place.