Detailed Answers 2026-2027 Updated.
Location: Red Roof Inn, Sutton, Mass. Date: September 13, 2023 - Answer Fire erupted at an
emergency shelter, housing displaced and migrant families. Local officials have been concerned
over the state's struggle to secure temporary housing. The fire began "in the area of a stove in a
hotel staff area" Cooking left unattended on a stove is being blamed. The fire happened the
same day the NG was deployed to some shelter. The guard helped people get out of their rooms
during the fire. No serious injuries, but one person was taking to the hospital after breathing in
too much smoke. Local officials previously voices concerned about their ability to respond to
emergencies at the hotel, fell on deaf ears. FD also voice concerns, stating it'd likely require the
assistance of every department in the fire district and even more. The state's decision has been
questioned as their use of hotels w/out essential safety feats. like sprinklers, fully addressable
alarm systems, and language barrier faced by many occupants
Location: Red Roof Inn, Sutton, Mass. Date: September 13, 2023 (Lessons) - Answer Periodic
FD inspections should be conducted as required. Cooking appliances in use must never be left
unattended. Lack of fire prevention devices in the shelter increases the probability of fatal fires.
Location: Homeless shelter in Bronx, NY Date: December 7, 2012 and December 9, 2012 -
Answer Improperly stored mattresses were ignited in 2 separate incidents only 2 days apart.
1st incident a child was playing w/ a match and set a mattress on fire on the second floor of the
building. This was a small fire w/ no injuries and quickly extinguished. The 2nd was another
child playing w/ matches who also ignited a mattress that had been stored in the building's
lobby. Smoke & flames from the fire spread into the stairwell & upper floor hallways. There
were no building wide alarms or hallway smoke detectors to notify occupants. 2 building
occupants tried to to use portable fire extinguishers but found them empty and inoperable.
Many occupants tried to escape using fire escapes. However, some fire escaes were broken,
missing steps and jammed ladders. 4 adults and 2 children seriously injured. It was determined
the mattresses involved had not been properly removed from the building. Instead stacked in
the lobby & propped against walls in common areas. Also determined that fire escapes were not
in good working order, many fire extinguishers inoperable, and the building did not have a fire
alarm or sprinkler system.
Location: Homeless shelter in Bronx, NY Date: December 7, 2012 and December 9, 2012
(Lessons) - Answer Excess debris and improper storage presents a fire hazard. Lack of a
building wide fire alarm system will cause significant delays in implementing a building
evacuation. Fire escapes must be inspected to ensure that they are in working order. Fire
extinguishers must be visually inspected monthly to ensure that they are in working order.
Location: Homeless shelter in New York, NY Date: August 28, 2012 - Answer Shelter caught fire
and required a complete evacuation. The fire started when a lit cigarette left unattended by a
tenant ignited a mattress on the fourth floor. The fire was quickly extinguished by the building's
sprinkler system. 1 resident suffered from and was treated for smoke inhalation. Fire was
confined to a single apartment. Shelter had recently been fined more than $45,000 by the
, Department of Buildings for safety violations, including a violation for failure to provide a
sprinkler system. Records show that building had seven active violations at the time of the fire.
Location: Homeless shelter in New York, NY Date: August 28, 2012 (Lessons) - Answer Periodic
FD inspections should be conducted. Ignition sources, such as lit cigarettes, should not be left
unattended. Fire safety education may be beneficial to homeless shelter residents
Fire Guard Responsibilities - Answer Being familiar w/ the fire alarm system of the shelter in
which they are employed and the emergency prepardness plan for that shelter. Continuously
patrolling all areas of the shelter at least once an hour. Patrolling the area(s) affected by the out-
of-service fire protection system, keeping constant watch for fires. Maintaining a record of
patrols. Immediately reporting any fire to the department and notifying emergency
preparedness staff designation for the shelter. Assisting w/ evacuating shelter occupants and
other employees during emergency drills and actual emergencies. Being aware of the location
of portable fire extinguishers. Being knowledgable in the use of portable fire extinguishers.
Performing other fire-safety related duties as dictated by their supervisors.
F-02 Certificate of Fitness holders are generally supervised by one of the following: - Answer F-
80 Certificate of Fitness holder for Coordinator of Fire Safety & Alarm Systems in Shelters. F-
89/T-89 Certificate of Fitness holder for Fire and Life Safety Director. Impairment Coordinator
Impairment Coordinator - Answer will be delegated by the building owner to either the F-80
or F-89/T-89 Certificate of Fitness holder. In the absence of a specific designee, the building
owner will be considered the impairment coordinator. All shelters require either an F-80 or F-
89/T-89 holder on the premises at all times depending on the type of fire alarm system
installed. F-80 holders are required in any building or occupancy required to have a one-way
voice communication system, regardless of occupancy classification, and that is operated or
occupied for more than fifteen persons for a period of more than 30 days, including emergency
shelters.
Certificate of Occupancy - Answer the official document that establishes the maximum
number of occupants authorized to be in the shelter. If it establishes the lawful occupancy as
being more than 15 persons, an F-80 C of F holder is required, even if there are actually less
than 15 persons in the building at any particular time. Any shelter that is required to or
voluntarily installs a fire alarm system with one-way voice requires an F-53 Certificate of Fitness
holder and two-way voice communication will require a Fire and Life Safety Director on the
premises.
F-02 Certificate of Fitness holder - Answer will take instructions regarding their responsibilities
from their supervisor. If an out of service condition occurs, the F-02 C of F holder who is
performing regular fire watch patrols in that area may continue to patrol the area surrounding
the out-of-service condition while paying special attention to the fire hazard. It is at the
discretion of the F-02 C of F holder's supervisor to assign fire guards their patrols. F-02
Certificate of Fitness holders should be knowledgeable of and prepared to fulfill any of these
responsibilities. Although the F-02 Certificate of Fitness may be familiar with the shelter in