Fire ordinance may come into effect after fatality
In the wake of a fatal fire on the corner of Anchorage Street and Estero Boulevard, one that took the life of Beach resident Joanne Finney and injured two others, the Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District may entertain the implementation of an authoritative order to allow annual fire inspections on specific residences that could potentially protect another deadly incident from occurring again.
Capt. Ron Martin informed the FMB Board of Fire Commissioners last week that he is working on the District’s first-ever fire ordinance and expects to bring a legislative document for consideration and potential approval in five weeks’ time.
The last reported fatal fire in the district was in 1980. While that deadly result was 35 years ago, fire officials believe many aged buildings on the island should be subject to inspection.
“It is my goal for this organization to act historically, boldly and swiftly. Chapter 535.75, paragraph 13 in the Florida State Statutes exempts one- or two-family homes from annual fire inspection, unless there is an ordinance that subjugates them to that,” he said. “It is my intention to bring a local ordinance in front of you that will subject non-owner, occupied, two-family structures, short-term rentals and vacation rentals to registration so that we have a 24/7 contact with a responsible party and an owner and an annual certificate of fire fitness for these structures. We have an aging building stock that is turning over and structures that are in delipidated conditions that people are living in. We need to act, because we will not go another 35 years without another fire fatality if we do not.”