Kingsville’s vulnerable occupancy residences are coping well with new regulations for fire safety.

The new regulations came into effect in January of this year mandating sprinkler systems, supervised fire drills and staffing levels for evacuation purposes.

Fire Chief Bob Kissner says many of the residences in Kingsville are ahead of the legislated timelines. “By the end of this year we want to have all their drills approved and we want to have witnessed drills at each location. That’s the next goal and then we’ll be working with them based on the results of those drills if they need to make improvements or add staff or what they need to do.”

Kissner says if a fire were to break out today at one of the the town’s long term care facilities or retirement homes the outcome would likely be positive with the systems that are already in place.