Story Published:
Aug 20, 2008 at 11:54 AM CDT
Story Updated:
Aug 20, 2008 at 11:54 AM CDT
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- State health officials say new fire rules for long-term care facilities in Missouri likely won't mandate smoke detectors in every room. They say the Legislature apparently didn’t intend to go that far with a new law.
A deadly fire at a group home in Anderson in southwest Missouri in 2006 prompted lawmakers to require most assisted living, skilled nursing and residential care facilities to install sprinklers by the end of 2012. That law also requires complete fire alarm systems this year.
State officials are drafting rules to implement that law. The state fire marshal wants to require smoke detectors in each bedroom. Last week lawmakers rejected that proposal, saying it went beyond the law. Now health officials must rewrite the proposed rules regarding what makes a complete fire alarm system.
