Records Show Many Fire Violations in High-Rises

Fire prevention specialists believe that automatic sprinkler systems are one of the most effective means of limiting fire damage. But the systems are just one requirement in the elaborate fire code that building owners must live by.

The code controls the materials used in construction, the design of hallways, exits, elevators and ceiling heights and sets limits on how high office workers can stack material on their file cabinets. Detailed inspections and tests are carried out by the Los Angeles Fire Department at each high-rise, each year.

And, overall, the buildings come out looking pretty good, Battalion Chief Kenneth Johnson said.

But at just about any time, every one of the buildings is likely operating with dozens of individual violations, according to a survey of Fire Department records by The Times.

Range of Violations

The violations range from burned-out light bulbs in exit signs and stacked garbage in hallways to the failure of whole fire alarm systems. From the serious to the simple, building operators often take months to correct the errors.

Last year, inspectors threatened to take legal action against operators of the 42-story California Plaza because they were “blatantly disregarding fire safety and seriously lacking a cooperative attitude,” according to the report filed by Inspector Mario D. Ruedo. “Fire safety is certainly a low priority.”

Just six weeks later, the building at 300 S. Grand Ave. was given a clean bill of health by inspectors after multiple deficiencies in seven areas were corrected. Among them were missing exit signs, needed repairs to fire doors on every floor and a missing lock box with keys to stairwells, elevators and the fire control room.

In a 1985 inspection, the Union Bank Building was cited for 143 missing exit signs. A year earlier, 18 fire alarms failed.

Unauthorized Christmas Tree

The Crocker Center was cited for multiple violations seven times in the last three years. Among the violations were an unauthorized Christmas tree in the lobby and the routine shutting off of power to fire pumps.

The Arco towers also have their share of violations.

“The violations are constant, and constantly changing,” said Tom Gutman, general manager of the Arco complex. “It can be somebody just putting a box for a while in a freight elevator lobby. That’s the nature of 95% of these things. But (the First Interstate fire) provides a true picture of what all this really means: If you ever have a fire like First Interstate, each one of these will be important.

“It is a tenant responsibility as well as a building responsibility. . . . It’s the responsibility of everybody.”