Town asked to mandate smoke detectors in residential properties

Town Attorney Doug Napier will worked with Mr. Keys on smoke detectors in rental properties.

On Monday night a retired firefighter asked the Front Royal Town Council to consider creation of an ordinance mandating owners of residential properties to install and maintain operating smoke detectors by town code.

Roger Keys addressed town officials during the public concerns portion of council’s February 25 meeting dealing with non-agenda topics. Keys referenced recent apartment building fires in the town limits. Those fires include one on Royal Lane that resulted in a fatality still under investigation; a second suspected arson in a large apartment building on Virginia Avenue led to the death of several pets.

Keys noted that he could find no existing code and asked council and town staff to address the issue as a matter of public safety: