Concerns over fire safety at Cherry Blossom Townhomes have been brought to light following an investigation, which unearthed potential non-compliance issues with the Fire Code that were seemingly overlooked during the approval process. According to a report released by the Ombudsman's Office, homeowners have been left seeking answers for over a year within a complex network of bureaucracy and potential building code shortfalls.
The crux of the problem appears to be tied to questions about the appropriate width of the access road and whether the complex was built tall enough to require a certain type of firefighting equipment. A document from November 2019 indicates that several items were "in apparent violation" of Fire Code requirements. However, Fire Bureau officials ultimately approved the building plans without a proper written explanation or documented resolution to these concerns. This raised eyebrows, especially since subsequent measurements and investigations have suggested the complex may not be fully compliant with current fire safety standards.
Furthermore, parking practices at the townhomes have exacerbated the concerns. The Ombudsman's Office noted that vehicles frequently park on the pavement portion of the access road and sidewalks, potentially hindering firefighters' access in emergencies. The fire plans examiner had originally flagged that the building appeared to be taller than 30 feet, which under today's Fire Code, would require a 26-foot-wide access road or an installed automatic sprinkler system. Despite this, the development was approved and constructed with an access road under 25 feet wide. A visit from the Fire Bureau in June 2024 confirmed that using ground ladders wouldn’t follow best practices, as some buildings exceeded the suggested height for such firefighting methods.
To demonstrate these discrepancies, the Ombudsman's Office provided visual proof in their investigation, citing a site visit photo from January 2025 that showed multiple cars parked on the access road. "It is reasonable to believe that even more vehicles are typically parked at night when most people are home from work and school," the report stated, hinting at the compounded risks faced in the event of a fire. Challenges faced by firefighters include narrow access impeded by the parked cars, with limited usage of their six-foot braces for ladder trucks, which demand an 18-foot minimum road.
Homeowners and the association expressed discontent with the mixed messages from Fire officials and the slow response to their pressing safety concerns. "After the homeowner initially raised concerns, seven months elapsed before an inspector visited the Cherry Blossom Townhomes to meet with them," the investigation revealed. One homeowner was quoted saying, "the place wasn’t built right" and "the street wasn’t wide enough," echoing the sense of unease that has settled among the Cherry Blossom Townhomes' residents.
