AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

May 1, 2000

AASA: BH #2000-011
RE: Fire Sprinkler Retrofit Grant Program

Dear Boarding Home Provider:

In response to a tragic boarding home fire that killed eight people on April 27, 1998, Governor Gary Locke established a Fire Protection Task Force to study fire protection issues in state licensed residential care facilities.

One of the recommendations of the Task Force was to create a state fire protection fund for the purpose of ensuring that yours, and the other 121 non-sprinklered adult boarding homes, would be able to retro-fit fire sprinkler systems into their existing facilties.

The 1999 Washington State Legislature included $2.5 million dollars in the Capital Budget. These funds would assist adult boarding homes in obtaining partial funding, through a grant, which would provide the difference between the estimated cost of installing sprinklers during the home’s original construction, and the cost of retrofitting fire sprinklers into the facility now.

The original deadline for grant applications was January 28, 2000. Fifteen grant applications, totaling over $340,000 dollars, have been approved for funding. The state’s participation exceeded 66 percent of the total cost of these fire sprinkler retrofits.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, a number of potential grant applicants missed the deadline. Because of the importance of this program, a second round of grant applications will be accepted, if received no later than 4:30 p.m., June 16, 2000.

To take advantage of this program, or if you have any questions or concerns, contact Application Coordinator Deputy State Fire Marshal Larry Glenn at (360) 753-0470, fax (360) 753-0395, or email: lglenn@wsp.wa.gov.

Sincerely,

Mary Corso
State Fire Marshal
Washington State Patrol

Patricia K. Lashway
Director, Residential Care Services
Aging and Disability Services Administration