Fire marshal reports 161 occupancy inspections; finds mostly minor violations

The El Paso de Robles fire marshal briefed the city council on July 21 about recent mandated occupancy inspections, reporting that the department inspected roughly 161 occupancies (hotels, motels, larger apartment complexes, schools and the city jail) and found mainly minor issues that required follow-up.

"We inspect those differently than we inspect regular businesses...we look for fire and life safety issues," Battalion Chief and Fire Marshal Paul Patty told council. Patty said inspectors check sprinkler systems and five-year testing, exit doors and lighting, and a long checklist of roughly 40 items for these occupancies. He said about 8% of inspected properties required a follow-up visit for issues such as expired fire-extinguisher service or nonworking exit lighting but that significant immediate hazards were rare.

Patty said the inspections are performed by fire crews and engine companies in collaboration with staff, and that the department typically notifies property owners of violations by email; significant hazards are addressed immediately on site. "If it's a fire and life safety hazard that's immediate, we ensure that that is cleared up at the moment with that we're there," he said.

Council members asked for examples and timelines; Patty cited common follow-ups — expired extinguisher service and burned-out exit lighting — and said the department uses follow-up inspections to track compliance.

Why it matters: mandated occupancy inspections are intended to reduce fire risk in high-occupancy and high-turnover properties; the marshal's findings suggest relatively good compliance with a small percentage needing corrections.

Next steps: The fire department will continue inspections and follow-up as needed; council members were encouraged to visit and observe the inspection process to better understand operational needs.