Henrico man survives house fire, says no smoke alarms were in rental home

A Henrico man who survived a house fire says there were no smoke alarms inside the rental home where he and his daughter lived — and he wants other renters to know their rights.

Carlos Jerez suffered first-, second-, and third-degree burns on his head, hands, and feet after a fire broke out in his home the night before Memorial Day. The 52-year-old says he had just returned from a long shift at work when he briefly stepped away from food he was cooking.

"I took a step out, like, two minutes. I'm in my bedroom, and I hear a crackling fire," Jerez said.

By the time he noticed the fire, it had already spread rapidly.

Jerez and his daughter, who was not injured, were able to escape the burning home before firefighters arrived. He later woke up in the hospital.

According to the Henrico Fire Department, there were no smoke alarms inside the home Jerez was renting. Under Virginia Code 55.1-1220, landlords are required to provide a certificate to the tenant stating that all smoke alarms are present, have been inspected, and are in good working order once every 12 months.

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