Christ Yoder
Related Articles
GEORGETOWN, Texas – The city of Georgetown recommends updates to the city’s fire code after a pet boarding house caught fire, killing all 75 dogs inside.
Recommended updates include the requirement for smoke detectors and sprinkler systems in kennels and boarding houses for pets of all sizes, a city official said on Tuesday.
According to Georgetown Fire Chief John Sullivan, the Ponderosa Pet Resort facility was not required to have smoke detectors or a sprinkler system due to its square footage, the Austin American-Statesman reported. .
Businesses 10,000 square feet or more must have a sprinkler system, but the pet complex was 8,125 square feet.
The fire department was notified of the blaze shortly before 11 p.m. Saturday. Sullivan said firefighters arrived within five minutes and found “the worst possible scenario,” with thick smoke and a blaze emanating from the building.
They couldn’t save any of the dogs. No one was present.
The pet store was last inspected in 2015 and found no violations. It was considered a low-risk business, so it was only inspected for three to five years, Sullivan said.
City officials said the Ponderosa Pet Resort had an operating license but did not have a kennel license. The city’s kennel license has food, water, sanitary, and health requirements, but does not require sprinklers, smoke detectors, or 24-hour staff.
The city is asking residents to comment on the fire code and a petition has been launched to call for state legislation requiring smoke detectors and fire extinguishing systems at animal boarding schools.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
Eric Torberson, chairman of the animal law section of the State Bar of Texas, said owners will only be able to sue for the “fair market value” of the animal, not the emotional loss, because there are no state laws governing animal boarding. .
Ponderosa Pet Resort owner Phillip Paris did not respond to the US statesman’s request for comment.
