By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Neocles Leontis wants renters in Bowling Green to know the city has no required fire inspections for apartments.
“There is no legal requirement in BG for fire safety inspection or health inspection of older houses that have been divided up into apartments before they are put on the market for rental,” Leontis said during the public participation time at City Council Monday evening.
“There is also no requirement that electrical wiring in older rental properties meet modern electrical codes,” he said. “Thus, many older properties in BG lack proper grounding, posing hazards for electrical shock or electrical fires.”
Leontis, a chemistry professor at Bowling Green State University, said he became aware of the situation when some of his students complained about a house they were renting. He advised them to request a fire safety inspection by the city fire division.
The inspection found 13 violations, he said.
“The electrical hazards constitute an immediate fire hazard and shock hazard to the occupants,” Leontis said, reading from the fire division report. “The electrical service and interior wiring are sub-standard and must be upgraded.”
Since the city has no fire inspection requirements, there is no way to know if similar problems exist in other older rentals, he said.
“How many other renters find themselves in similar situations? At present we have no way of knowing because the city does not require landlords to register their properties or to subject them to regular inspections to prove that they conform to basic standards of human habitation,” Leontis said.
Leontis said his step-daughter was awoken by the fire division in 2011 when a fire started in an apartment next to hers. It was discovered the water heaters in the building were located in the bedroom closets of each apartment.
“At the time, I was unaware that there is no requirement for regular fire safety inspections in BG, and it did not occur to me to request a fire report to find out whether the owners had been cited for fire violations that led to the fire,” he said.
Leontis said he recently asked for a copy of that fire report, but was told the fire reports are destroyed after five years.
He asked that City Council request all fire reports be saved electronically, and put online for the public to view.
“In this age of electronic reports, there is no reason to throw away historical reports that can help us to understand the nature and extent of the problems we have to solve,” Leontis said.
Leontis also advised that prior to signing a lease, renters ask if a fire inspection has been performed.
“You have the right to call the fire department,” he said. The non-emergency number at the fire division is 419-352-3106. Renters can also request a health inspection by the Wood County Health Department by calling 419-352-8402.
Leontis also requested that the fire division add to its mission statement the goal of fire prevention and enforcement of fire codes.
After the council meeting Monday, Fire Chief Bill Moorman said safety has always been the division’s top goal.
“Safety is our first priority in the fire division,” he said.
Though the fire division doesn’t perform inspections on all rentals, they will if requested, Moorman said.
“We will gladly go there and check it out,” he said.
The fire division tries to educate students during campus events about fire hazards, Moorman added.
He suggested that renters make sure to not sign a lease without viewing the apartment.
“We always recommend taking a look before signing,” the chief said.
