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Detroit Fire Marshal Orders Evacuation of Leland House After Safety Violations

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  Published in House and Home on Thursday, December 11th 2025 at 11:51 GMT by Detroit Free Press

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Detroit Fire Marshal Orders Evacuation of Leland House Amid Safety Concerns

On the morning of December 11, 2025, the Detroit Fire Marshal’s Office announced that the Leland House assisted‑living facility located on 14 Leland Avenue in the West Side district had been evacuated after a routine inspection uncovered serious fire‑safety violations. The directive came after a series of routine checks revealed that the building’s fire suppression system, electrical wiring, and exit routes were all below the standards set by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Although no injuries were reported, the evacuation was deemed necessary to protect the more than 70 residents and 20 staff members who were in the building at the time.

What Prompted the Evacuation?

According to the article, the fire marshal’s decision was triggered by three key findings during a mid‑year safety audit:

1. Outdated Fire Sprinkler System – The sprinkler system installed in 1995 had not been inspected for over a decade, and several heads were either missing or clogged. This left the building largely vulnerable to even a small fire in the kitchen or boiler room.

2. Electrical Overloads – The audit uncovered that the building’s main panel was carrying an electrical load that exceeded its rated capacity by nearly 35 %. Multiple outlets were found to be connected to power strips that were in violation of NFPA 70E (Electrical Safety in the Workplace).

3. Blocked Exits and Inadequate Signage – In several stairwells, exit signs were either missing or not illuminated, and several fire doors had been propped open by staff for “convenience.” The article notes that the building’s emergency evacuation plan had not been updated in the past five years, and no recent fire drills had been conducted.

The fire marshal’s office, led by Chief Fire Marshal Laura DePinto, had scheduled a surprise inspection on December 9. “When we walked through the facility, we saw a number of violations that could compromise the safety of our residents if a fire were to break out,” DePinto said. “Given the urgency, we had no choice but to evacuate the building immediately.”

Evacuation Process

The evacuation began at 9:15 a.m., coordinated by the Detroit Fire Department (DFD) in conjunction with the facility’s emergency response team. Residents were guided to the two available stairwells by trained staff and security personnel, and escorted to an open field across the street that had been cleared for the purpose. The facility’s 24‑hour nurse was on hand to confirm the health status of each resident before departure. The article reports that all residents were accounted for and had no injuries.

The evacuation was also monitored by the MDHHS’s Office of Health Care Quality Assurance, which released a statement that they were “assessing the potential for further violations” and “will review the facility’s licensing status.” The article links to a press release from the MDHHS that outlines the agency’s plan to conduct a follow‑up audit within 30 days.

The Facility’s History

Leland House has been a focal point of Detroit’s discussions on assisted‑living safety for years. The facility, which was founded in 1978, has faced multiple citations in the past. In 2022, the DFD cited the building for non‑compliant fire alarm systems, and in 2023 the MDHHS cited it for inadequate staff training on emergency procedures. A 2024 lawsuit by the parent company, Leland Health Services, alleged that the company had failed to address these violations in a timely manner, but the lawsuit was dismissed due to insufficient evidence.

The article references an earlier piece from the Detroit Free Press that highlighted the facility’s “history of fire‑safety complaints” and notes that the current evacuation comes after a “spate of similar incidents across the city.” According to the piece, Leland House had been scheduled for a major safety upgrade earlier this year, but funding delays had postponed the work.

Officials’ Reactions

City Council Member Maria Gonzalez, who represents the West Side, called the evacuation “a necessary action that protects vulnerable residents.” She said that the council would be reviewing the city’s emergency response protocols to ensure that similar incidents could be mitigated more efficiently in the future. The article quotes Gonzalez, who mentioned that the council was already working on a draft ordinance that would “strengthen the enforcement of fire‑safety regulations for assisted‑living facilities.”

The Leland House management team, represented by President John McKane, expressed surprise at the findings. “We have been in compliance with all state regulations to the best of our knowledge,” McKane said. “We are cooperating fully with the Fire Marshal and the MDHHS to resolve these issues as quickly as possible.” He also said that the company would “implement a comprehensive training program for all staff within 30 days.”

Next Steps and Implications

The Detroit Fire Marshal’s Office has announced that Leland House will remain closed until a comprehensive safety audit is completed. In the interim, the MDHHS has placed the facility under a temporary suspension of operations, which means residents will be transferred to other licensed assisted‑living facilities. The article includes a link to the MDHHS’s licensing portal, which lists all currently approved facilities in Detroit.

The article also highlights the broader trend of increasing scrutiny over assisted‑living homes in Michigan. The state’s Office of Health Care Quality Assurance has announced that it will “conduct annual audits on a random sample of 50 facilities” to ensure compliance. This comes in the wake of several high‑profile fire incidents across the Midwest that have drawn public attention to the issue of fire safety in older buildings.

For residents of Leland House, the evacuation marks a significant disruption. The article includes quotes from residents’ families, who express relief that no one was hurt but also concern over the uncertainty surrounding the facility’s future. “We just want to know what happens next for our parents,” said one family member, who requested anonymity.

The article concludes with a call for policy reform, citing the need for “faster response times, better funding for safety upgrades, and stricter enforcement of fire‑safety standards.” It links to a city ordinance that is currently in the proposal stage, as well as to a community forum where residents can voice their concerns.

Key Takeaways

The article offers a comprehensive look at the incident, the immediate response, and the long‑term implications for Detroit’s assisted‑living sector, providing a useful resource for residents, policymakers, and anyone concerned about fire safety in eldercare facilities.