In light of last week's fatal fire at a Quebec seniors residence, municipal hall is looking into fire safety measures in place at Delta care homes.
Last Thursday, fire destroyed the residence in L'Isle-Verte, a town in eastern Quebec. On Monday, authorities confirmed 16 people had died in the blaze while another 16 are still unaccounted for.
Frigid temperatures and thick ice that formed as firefighters battled the blaze have hampered search and recovery efforts.
It has been reported the residence was only partially equipped with sprinklers.
Following the incident, Delta Mayor Lois Jackson called fire Chief Dan Copeland to enquire about the state of fire safety at local seniors residences.
The report from deputy Chief Robin Cullen states that, according to the Fraser Health Authority, prior to August 2000, residences were not required to have sprinkler systems in place, although only a few care homes within the health region are still without sprinklers.
Of the 17 facilities in Delta, all have sprinkler systems that should be inspected and serviced annually. All facilities are required to have a fire safety plan, which outlines evacuation routes in the event of a fire, and drills should be conducted on a quarterly basis on each shift at a residence.
The department's fire prevention officers inspect local facilities regularly to ensure compliance with regulations.
"It's always disconcerting when you hear of such a tragedy and you wonder what's happening in our own community," Jackson said. "It's well in hand and we're very pleased once again that Chief Copeland and his crews are looking after the people in Delta."
