via the City of Georgetown
All animal-care facilities will be required to install fire alarms after City Council Feb. 23 unanimously approved amendments to the City’s fire codes. Newly constructed facilities will have additional fire-protection requirements.
The amendments make Georgetown’s fire codes among the strongest in the country when it comes to protecting pets and animals. Most fire codes – including on the international, national, and state levels – do not require fire prevention features for animal-care facilities.
“The code amendments council approved this week make Georgetown one of the safest places to board your pet in the entire country,” Mayor Josh Schroeder said. “These amendments represent a long overdue change in how the fire code protects these important members of our families. The features animal-care facilities are now required to install will help prevent tragedies like the one we experienced here in September from happening again, and we’re available to work with anyone who wants to bring our model to their community as well.”
The City added the requirements for animal-care facilities to its ongoing fire-code amendment discussions after a Sept. 18, 2021, fire killed 75 pets at a boarding facility. Fire investigators have noted that the interior smoke conditions during the incident rapidly changed in just 12 minutes, making immediate notification critical in preventing loss of life in future, similar events.
Under the approved amendments, all existing facilities used for the temporary or permanent housing or care of animals to install a supervised fire alarm system within 18 months of the codes going into effect. The codes will go into effect March 9, 2022, which is 10 days after the updates are published in the Williamson County Sun. That would give existing facilities until September 2023 to bring their facilities up to the new fire-code standards. As of Feb. 23, 2022, there were 23 existing animal-care facilities in the Georgetown Fire Department service area. Of those, 17 didn’t have fire alarms.
All newly constructed animal-care facilities are required to have advanced fire protection features that include a sprinkler system. Unless sprinklers are otherwise required by the City’s Building or Fire codes, acceptable alternatives to a sprinkler system are as follows:
- A facility with 50 or fewer animals on-site that has 1) a supervised fire alarm system; and 2) Class A finish on the walls (similar to the drywall that is used in residential garages) would not be required to install a sprinkler system.
- A facility with 51 to 100 animals on-site that has 1) a supervised fire alarm system; 2) fire resistive materials surrounding the kennel area; and 3) Class A finish on the walls would not be required to install a sprinkler system.
- A facility with 101 or more animals on-site that 1) provides all animals immediate, unobstructed access outside; 2) has a supervised fire alarm system; and 3) provides constant supervision would not be required to install a sprinkler system.
- Unless sprinklers are otherwise required by the City’s Building or Fire codes, a facility is not required to install a sprinkler system if it provides 24-hour, on-site supervision. Such facilities will have to install an approved fire alarm system.
Electronically supervised carbon-monoxide detection systems also are required in all, newly constructed animal-are facilities.
Equestrian facilities are exempted from the new fire-code requirements for animal-care facilities.
As of February 2022, Georgetown fire investigators could not pinpoint the cause of the fire. However, they hypothesized six potential causes, all of which have to do with electrical equipment at Ponderosa Pet Resort, 2815 N. Austin Ave.
As a result of investigating this incident, and in addition to the code amendments, the fire department has taken other steps to help mitigate similar incidents in the future. These steps include adding animal housing or care facilities to its annual, priority inspections list, as well as auditing and inspecting the existing animal-care facilities in its service area in fall 2021.
“Many people, myself included, believe animals are extensions of our family,” Georgetown Fire Chief John Sullivan said. “As a direct result of this unspeakable loss for 59 of our Georgetown families, we took a hard look at our processes and our building codes, and have taken several, critical steps to ensure we do better by our beloved pets. I wish I could turn back time and bring prevent this tragedy from happening in the first place. I get some solace, and I hope the families will as well, from knowing we have put measures in place to protect our four-legged family members in the future.”
Council also approved amending other elements of City fire code, adding a new subsection for mobile food vendors and updating parking restrictions.
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