City Establishes Task Force in Wake of Noyes Street Fire

As victims are mourned, education is urged;

Call 207-482-LIFE with questions or concerns

PORTLAND, Maine – In the wake of last Saturday’s tragic fire that claimed the lives of six young people, City officials continue to assist in the investigation to determine a cause as well as assist with remembrances of the victims.

“This is a very emotional and raw time for everyone in Portland, and it’s important to note that no one should be placing blame,” said Mayor Michael Brennan. “When something like this happens, everyone – including landlords, tenants and the City – should use this incident to educate themselves about best practices and learn from it as we move forward.”

“I’d like to thank the City’s dedicated first responders who worked tirelessly over the weekend, and work to protect us each and every day,” continued Mayor Brennan. “I’d also like to once again express my condolences to the family and friends of the six victims as they continue to mourn the loss of their loved ones. Our hearts go out to them during this terribly difficult time.”

As the City would in response to any incident of this magnitude, Acting City Manager Sheila Hill-
Christian has instructed staff to begin an administrative review of its city codes and local ordinances. The City is announcing today that it will be establishing a task force to review fire and code inspections policies to enhance recently completed reports that were focused primarily on staffing levels. The task force will include representatives from Fire, Police, Inspections, Social Services, Corporation Counsel, a local landlord association as well as technical assistance from other cities that have been through similar events.  

The City’s Inspections Division has operated as a complaint driven system for the last 10 years. The division includes a team of three inspectors that handle land use, building, plumbing, and electrical inspections and one inspector that handles citizen complaints. Complaints range from trash, disorderly properties, outdoor dining, hoarders, illegal units, etc. Complaints are prioritized based on life safety hazards. More than 850 inspections have been performed in the last year as a result of complaints. According to recent census statistics, more than half of Portland residents live in rental units.

Following authorization from the State Fire Marshal’s Office, the City of Portland is releasing the inspections report for 20-24 Noyes Street. (See attached.) The City continues to work in conjunction with the State as it continues its investigation. This includes evaluating whether the landlord of this property has violated any city codes and whether or not legal action is warranted.

“As we await the results of the investigation, our focus is on recovering from this tragedy, assisting our first responders, helping the community heal, and responding to concerns from the community,” said Portland Fire Chief Jerry LaMoria. “When it comes to fire safety, we can’t do this alone. Everyone has a role to play. For anyone who has any fire safety questions or concerns that they’d like to talk about, please call us at 207.482.LIFE or email at life@portlandmaine.gov.”

Three essential fire prevention methods that everyone should practice include checking smoke detectors to make sure they are in working order, replacing batteries on a semi-annual basis, and establishing and practicing a fire escape plan.