WA fire officials press for safety reforms as ADUs surge

Jerry Cornfield

(Washington State Standard) As Washington lawmakers ease barriers to build more housing across the state, fire officials warn of an “unintended circumstance” making their jobs more difficult in some communities.

They say recent state laws encouraging higher density development have led to more properties with multiple single family residences, or accessory dwelling units, squeezed onto them.

In some situations, the path to reach a front door is no more than 3 feet wide, too narrow to get a gurney through in a medical emergency and too little space to safely lean a ladder if there is a fire, they say.

Fire marshals are pressing the state Building Code Council to mandate a minimum 5-foot wide path to access any new home that does not face a street, alley or parking lo