Families of Firdale fire victims file suit

By Jim Haley
For the Enterprise

Relatives of two people who died in a 2000 blaze have sued the owners and managers of the Firdale Village Apartments in Edmonds, alleging negligence for failing to provide "a reasonably safe" facility and an effective fire alarm system.

Billy Joe Clenney, 21, of Edmonds and Jessica Hanks, 20, of Snohomish died in Clenney's apartment of smoke inhalation. The fire started in his living room and did extensive damage to a 24-unit building of the 389-unit complex on 244th Street SW.

The Dec. 26, 2000, blaze ignited a call by local fire officials and legislators to require owners of older, larger apartment complexes to install automatic sprinkler systems, but efforts thus far have failed.

The lawsuit was filed last week in Snohomish County Superior Court, seeking unspecified damages. Defendants include Equity Residential Properties, a Maryland real estate investment trust. Also sued were ERP Operating Limited Partnership of Illinois and a Japanese corporation, Hochiki.

It alleges the defendants failed "to provide and maintain a reasonably safe premises for its residents and guests." The lawsuit also alleges the apartment's alarm system was not "in good repair so as to be operational, functional and effective at all times."

State Rep. Mike Cooper, D-Edmonds, 21st District, a Shoreline Fire Department officer, used the Firdale fire as an example in his effort to make older apartments safer. For two years he led a fight to require owners of older apartment complexes to retrofit them with automatic sprinkler systems designed to extinguish fires before they cause extensive damage or death.

Legislative efforts in 2001 and 2002 failed, partly because of the high cost of adding sprinklers to older buildings.

The Firdale complex was built in 1987 under older county codes that did not require sprinklers. The property was annexed into Edmonds in 1997.

Its all about money.

User Responses
From: Anonymous	Date: 08/14/2007
I have quite a few thoughts of the firdale village apts and the owners, but I would not lower myself to their level. I find it hard to believe these kind of people exist. I say to you who are looking for someplace to live, you would be safer sleeping under the freeway
From: Anonymous	Date: 11/25/2008
I am the Mother of Jessica K Hanks who was killed in "the fire" It was an electrical mal-function of breaker switch, also on the same curcuit as smoke alarm and the owners refuse to accept any fault as did the fire & police. I guess money is more important than a life in this case 2.

Your thoughts? Post a response to this review. Display my response: with my username anonymously Responses appear below reviews and one response per user is permitted.

   Free estimates on moving trucks      Find apartment share/roommates