Negligent landlords, old properties main causes of electrical fires

Lex Talamo

Shreveport Times

Miniature cross decals decorate the light fixtures inside of Shreveport resident Lori Grogan's subsidized apartment.

Grogan is a Christian. A woman of faith. But that's not why the crosses are there.

One day Grogan turned on the lights in the apartment's bathroom — and they sparked. Later that night, she heard a thud from her daughter's room and rushed in to find her daughter huddled in a corner. She'd been shocked by the lights.

"We're terrified. I've had an electrician come out, and he said it wasn't safe to live here," Grogan said. "I put the crosses on the lights because I'm giving this over to God."

Shreveport resident Lori Grogan has put cross decals on her light fixtures because she's afraid that faulty wiring will cause a fire.

Negligent landlords and old properties are two of the main causes in Shreveport of electrical fires, a designation that includes fires from faulty wiring and malfunctioning air conditioning-units, according to Assistant Chief Fred Sanders of the Shreveport Fire Department.

A third main cause listed by Sanders: uneducated tenants.

Sanders said the Shreveport Fire Department responded to about 1,100 fires this year through Nov. 30. Of those, 165, or about 15 percent, were deemed "electrical in nature."

The good news, he added, is that most of the fires can be prevented — and that tenants hold the power in their own hands to reduce fire danger in rental properties. They also can report negligent landlords.

Shreveport resident Lori Grogan shines a flashlight on the air conditioning maintenance log in her apartment. Grogan is afraid to turn on the lights in her apartment for fear of starting a fire.

More:Renters: Do you know your rights?

Forged in fire

Butch Browning, the Louisiana fire marshal, said 18,342 building fires were reported statewide from 2012 to 2016, of which slightly more than 14,000 occurred in one- or two-family dwellings or apartment buildings — though fire departments voluntarily reported the information, so numbers are approximations.

Of the residential fires, only 347— or about 2.4 percent— involved air conditioning or HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) units, Browning said.

Multiple factors contributed to these fires, Browning said, making it "difficult to pinpoint one cause."

A damaged area near an air conditioning unit in a Shreveport apartment.

But investigators marked "electrical failure or malfunction" in at least 50 of the fires, Browning said. Other recurring problems included "failure to clean; design, installation or manufacturing deficiencies; equipment overload and improper operation; or misuse of materials or products.

Dorrie Mathias, another Shreveport resident, reached out to The Times after an acquaintance's air conditioning unit in a rented apartment, paid for in part by a Section 8 voucher, allegedly caught on fire.

"The fireman who was there told us he had never seen such dangerous wiring and that we needed to get her out of there," Mathias said. "But with Section 8, it's not always that easy. She needs to be approved, and she needs a place to go."

A photo of a water bulge near lighting fixtures in a Shreveport Sect.8 housing apartment.

Bobby Collins, executive director of the Shreveport Housing Authority, said the agency oversees about 4,600 units city-wide involving 30 different properties and about 300 landlords.

Properties involved in the Section 8 voucher program have to pass an initial safety inspection before being approved. They also must undergo an annual inspection.

Negligent landlords

Collins estimated that, after a property has passed inspection, only about 10 percent of residents in the voucher program will lodge a complaint. Of those, "only about 1 percent" will move, he added.

"We generally have good landlords," Collins said. "That may be a result of us having a high standard and being consistent over time."

Shreveport Housing Authority Executive Director Bobby Collins said Section 8 tenants with concerns about unsafe housing should not fear retaliation from landlords, as eviction requires a court order.

Tenants can also call for a "special investigation," at no cost to the themselves, on any day if they have safety or sanitation concerns, Collins said.

"It works surprisingly well for tenants to have an initial inspection, an annual inspection, and the ability to ask for a special inspection at any time," Collins said. "If there is a problem, the landlord has to step up and fix it. If not, then we stop paying and terminate the agreement."

Collins added that he's not concerned that complaints may be under-reported, even though he acknowledged "it's not that easy" for people of limited means to move.

The Shreveport Housing Authority oversees more than 4,600 units in its Section 8 housing voucher program.

"Folks are pretty quick to come forward, especially if it's something that impacts the safety of themselves or their families and their quality of life," Collins said, adding, "A lot of times, that starts a conversation and encourages the landlord to fix the property."

Tenants shouldn't fear retribution for reporting concerns to property management, Collins added. Eviction from housing, and the program, occurs only by court action.

"A landlord can't just come and put your stuff out on the street. Eviction is only through court order, so there shouldn't be any fear," Collins said. "But there is no way on earth to help anyone if they don't speak up."

A flashlight illuminates decrepit insulation near an air conditioning unit in a Shreveport apartment.

Mathias's acquaintance said her situation got better after Mathias left some negative reviews of the apartment complex online.

Grogan also said her apartment complex sent out a maintenance person, though she still has concerns about the safety and sanitation of her complex.

Sanders, the assistant fire chief, said the fire department does not track how many fires occur in Section 8 housing, though he did note that low-income people experience disproportionate incidents of fires.

Shreveport resident Lori Grogan holds up a tool, allegedly left by a maintenance worker, that cut her after she stumbled in a dark room in her apartment. That week the light fixture had fallen out of the ceiling, Grogan said.

Scattered news reports point to problem fires in several properties that accept Section 8 housing vouchers:

An Aug. 31, 2017, fire that killed an 86-year-old man in a Dixie Garden Drive complex unit without working smoke detectors.
A January 2016 fire in a complex in the 1600 block of Fullerton Street where smoke came "from a rooftop air conditioning unit."
A May 2009 fire in a complex in the 4200 block of Lakeshore Drive in which investigators blamed an air conditioning unit, according to news reports.
A 2008 fire that destroyed 14 units in a complex in the 1000 block of Quail Creek Drive where a resident reported seeing " a red glow coming from the electrical heating unit in the ceiling of the apartment."

Reducing risk

Sanders, the assistant fire chief, identified three main causes of A/C-related fires in Shreveport: worn filters, flammable storage near units and faulty parts or equipment.

"The usual concern is with the window-mounted air conditioning unit," Sanders said. "These units run for extended periods of time, especially in the months of June, July and August."

For electrical fires, he listed five main causes: faulty outlets, frayed extension cords or cords that run under rugs, too little clearance near space heaters, outdated wiring or the wrong bulb wattage.

"Usually these fires are more deadly, because they normally occur in the late night hours or early morning," Sanders said. "These fires can be difficult to contain, especially if they are inside the walls or in an attic space."

Electrical wiring in a Shreveport Sect.8 housing apartment.

The Shreveport Fire Department, the U.S. Fire Administration and the state fire marshal offered the following tips for tenants to prevent air-conditioning and electrical fires in their homes:

Give air conditioning units a "break" during the hottest hours of summer months if you're not in the building to prevent overuse/overheating of equipment.
Have a professional check central air conditioning units at least once a year.
Make sure insects, leaves, dirt or debris have not clogged exterior air conditioning units.
For window units, keep filters clean and never use an extension cord with a unit as electrical loads will cause insulation to melt.
Make sure the electrical system is equipped to supply the amperage for the cooling unit.

Those who fear they are living in an unsafe unit should call 9-1-1 if in immediate danger, such as if they see sparking equipment or smoke, Sanders said.

Patched up electrical wiring in a Shreveport Sect.8 housing apartment.

They can also call the state fire marshal, the local fire department or the city Department of Property Standards for an inspection of a perceived unsafe unit, Collins said.

Collins added that landlords have rights too, so residents should be able to back up their claims by keeping documentation of poor inspection results from the official inspectors called out to the scene.

Resources

9-1-1: For immediate concerns such as smoke or sparks.

Shreveport Fire Department: To report units perceived to be a fire hazard. Call (318) 673-6655.

Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal: To learn more about fire inspections, call 1-800-256-5452 or 225-925-4911 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The Shreveport Office is located at 960 Jordan Street and can be reached at (318) 676-7145 or (888) 634-7682.

City of Shreveport Department of Property Standards:Inspects properties that are allegedly unsanitary or unsafe. Call (318) 673-6200.

Volunteers of America, Northwest Louisiana: Can connect individuals to Section 8 services or disaster services through Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Those interested can visit the agency's website at voanorthla.org or call (318) 221- 2669 for more information.

Legal Services of North Louisiana: Can provide low-income families and individuals with information about tenant rights in Louisiana. Call (318) 222-7186 for more information.