Inspection
According to one of the residents, Tuesday’s fire in Dutch Quarter that left some 12 people homeless – including two babies – probably could have been prevented if the electrical wiring had not been faulty. Whether that is true in this case remains to be seen, but the fact is that there are many homes on the island with this problem that are in danger as well.
In this case the landlord said an electrician had gone through the building after a first fire reportedly sparked by the electrical wiring problem a day earlier and reportedly had declared it safe. After that fire the circuit breaker of the apartment involved reportedly was turned off, but someone may have turned it back on and if residents felt uncomfortable enough one has to raise questions.
Apart from the frequently inadequate electrical wiring found in especially low-income housing, the homes are built close together and the materials used often make them more vulnerable to fire was well. One has to wonder if proper building permits were ever issued for such constructions or expansions, also the electrical inspection that is supposed to be part of the process.
In this case most of the units reportedly were already targeted for demolition by Public Works and it appears many of them had been built without a permit. That means in this case building inspectors were at least in the process of tackling the problem, although that will be little consolation to the residents left homeless.
Perhaps other landlords will take note and realise that the building permit is not a way to harass them, but to ensure the construction is done correctly and with fire safety in mind. Considering the magnitude of the problem, strengthening and upgrading of the Building Inspection Department should become a priority, especially for an Island Territory about to become a country.
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