Human Services Doesn’t Check Smoke Detectors

ERIE, Pa. (AP) – A spokeswoman for Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services says it does not regulate smoke detectors in state-licensed home day care facilities.  Ali Fogarty said Tuesday that current regulations do not allow for citing a child care facility for compliance with fire safety codes including having working smoke detectors.  A blaze ripped through a home day care center Sunday morning in Erie, killing five children. The youngest was 8 months old.  Erie’s fire chief said there were not enough working smoke detectors at the Harris Family Daycare.  State Sen. Daniel Laughlin said he plans to introduce a bill that would require the Department to include inspection of all smoke detectors in their annual inspection of child day care facilities.  Fogarty said the department is committed to amending its existing regulations.