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Chaos @ KMHC

Sunday I was settling in for the night and for the first time in years the main KMHC building fire alarm was triggered.  Sirens were going off inside our units and the hallway.  I immediately got dressed to investigate.  The flashing annunciator panel light indicated an alarm on the second floor so I offered to assist Brenda the security tenant by checking the floors for smoke and asking tenants are they ok.  Poor Brenda she was doing her best to reset the alarm annunciator panel with no success.  I could tell the loud noise was causing her confusion.  When I worked at ADT central station there were alarm sirens going off all the time during shifts so I’m used to it.  
While checking the building interior I notice the police talking to a tenant in the rear building stairwell. The new tenant was inebriated and cursing at those around her.  Then the Fire Dept. showed up and proceeded to do a floor to floor inspection and found the interior to be secure.  A fireman spoke and made an observation “Why there are no fire extinguishers on each floor and when was the last time the landlord had an actual tenant fire drill!” He mentions this because some tenants were standing in the hallway or staying in their unit and not evacuating the building. The answer to his question is never.  These are important issues from the Hamilton Fire Department to the landlord.  So what made the fire alarm go off!  It’s a mystery Urban Native Homes Inc. will have to solve.
Interestingly enough tenants were never told when the main fire alarm is triggered the KMHC front door automatically remains open and the other doors electronically remain unlocked.  It’s a good procedure in an actual fire…fuck the keys…just get out of the building.  I’m relieved it’s a false alarm yet KMHC should be prepared for all type of emergencies.  
Ohh wait there's more!  Later just as I’m drifting off to sleep the office alarm goes off and again Brenda had to reset the alarm panel, then I notice another police officer at the building entrance asking to speak to a female tenant.  Really at 1:30 am!  I wonder does HPS realize native elders have to sleep. :P  Anyway it’s none of my business I had other things on my mind.  During the fire alarm confusion I was informed a friend and fellow tenant Judy had passed away at the hospital just hours prior.  Perhaps the inability to reset the fire alarms was a signal from Judy she has left this world to a better place.

My critique – Communication and cooperation among the UNH staff is practically nonexistent.  The security tenant trying to get a hold of UNH staff for assistance and obtain the updated security codes was like pulling teeth with a pair of rusty tweezers.  UNH’s Administration staff is a joke i.e. nobody wants to get up from their comfy sofa, off their asses to answer the phone or come down to KMHC and help reset the alarms. 
In a previous blog I describe UNH’s as a Mickey Mouse Operation a better title would be “Monkey Business Inc.” :P   Time for a complete staff overhaul. 

Tk
Location: Hamilton, ON, Canada

Comments

sweetgrasslady said…
UNH had a fire drill about a little over a year ago . Only a handful of people went outside . This was during an inspection. I personally didn't go outside because I was showering. It was a sad show of people for a drill, but nothing was done about it. We have had several inspections by the FD , nothing was ever said about fire extinguishers. Yes it is a little odd.
May 9, 2017 at 11:08:00 AM EDT
Anonymous said…
No fire extinguishers? I'm sure the fire Department will be on their asses about that. So I wouldn't be too worried. And maybe it was Judy; hopefully it's not faulty and needs a replacement. There is an after hours emergency number when you call the office, just have to listen to the prompts.
May 9, 2017 at 11:11:00 AM EDT
Tony King said…
Yes KMHC does have annual fire alarm inspections from a independent contractor. Noticing the inspectors wearing a different uniform I was going to ask are they affiliated with the Hamilton Fire Dept. but got sidetracked. I assume at the end they have to submit a report to HFD that all is well.
May 9, 2017 at 1:19:00 PM EDT
Tony King said…
Update on Fire Alarm - Anonymous was right. 1 hour ago the Hamilton Fire Dept. showed up at KMHC looking for Phil the maintenance guy. A group of four firemen with a list of written infractions. Phil was not around so I opened the entrance door and directed them to the UNH's office. Oooh! I wonder which office monkey will be spanked. ;)
May 10, 2017 at 10:35:00 AM EDT
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