Codes Save Lives
Corrected code violation makes difference
between life, death for three
Pearl and her two house guests woke up when the smoke detector
went off. It was 3 o'clock that December morning. They searched
the house but didn't smell smoke or see any evidence of fire.
So they reset the smoke detector and went back to sleep. The
detector sounded again at 7 a.m. This time there was no question
that the house was on fire. Pearl and her friends had enough
time to escape, but were left with only the clothes on their
backs. The house was ruined. Later, when interviewed by the
local media, they would say that without a doubt the smoke
detectors had saved their lives.
Ron Hampton was reporting to work when his team received
the call to condemn the structure. The team helped the fire
department evaluate and secure the scene. After returning
to the office, Ron remembered struggling with the building's
previous owner, an out of town landlord, the year before.
So he had his staff pull the file. Yes, the address had been
cited for several property maintenance code violations. The
previous owner's checklist was included in the paperwork.
There, at the top of the list showing all of the items that
had been fixed, the owner had put a check next to smoke detectors.
Ron's team had enforced the code. For Pearl, it had made the
difference between life and death.
The newspaper clipping hangs on the bulletin board in his
office. Ron Hampton keeps it as a reminder -- a reminder that
smoke detectors and proper code enforcement make a difference.
His team had been directly involved in protecting the health,
safety and welfare of the city's citizens.
Story submitted by
Ron E. Hampton
Chief Master Code Official
Division of Code Enforcement, City of Ashland, KY
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