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Rincon Center tenants tell Fire Commission that blanket 'ignore alarm' instruction is dangerous
Summary
A Rincon Center Tenants Association representative told the commission that building management repeatedly instructs the entire mixed-use complex to ignore alarm testing, a practice he called a 'very dangerous proposition' affecting hundreds of residents; Chief Nicholson said the department will refer the matter to the fire marshal for follow-up.
David Oz, speaking for the Rincon Center Tenants Association during general public comment on March 9, urged the San Francisco Fire Commission to address what he called an unsafe practice at the large SoMa complex: building management allegedly instructs all residents across multiple buildings and floors to "ignore any and all fire alarms" when testing occurs in a small area, rather than limiting the instruction to residents who will hear the test.
"Telling people on the other side of the complex, 22 floors up, to ignore any alarms here is a very dangerous proposition," Oz said, describing the complex as "22 stories, 2 buildings" with hundreds of residents. He asked the commission for a contact to address the concern after saying staff had "not been particularly responsive so far."
President Katherine Feinstein asked whether the chief could follow up and suggested referring the complaint to the fire marshal as a health-and-safety issue; Chief Janine Nicholson replied in the affirmative. The transcript shows the chair requested follow-up and the chief agreed to pursue the matter.
The item was recorded as public comment; commissioners did not enter into debate during the comment itself. The commission directed staff to take the complaint to the appropriate internal office (fire marshal) for investigation and follow-up with the tenant representative.
