California Code § 102417(g)(1): Fire Safety Equipment

📋Type B Violation🏢Affects: Family Child Care Homes

What Is California Code § 102417(g)(1): Fire Safety Equipment?

California Code § 102417(g)(1)

Fireplaces and open-face heaters shall be screened to prevent access by children. The home shall contain a fire extinguisher and smoke detector device which meet standards established by the State Fire Marshal.

💡Insider's Tips

Inspectors check fire safety equipment during every visit, and it takes them about 30 seconds. They look at your fire extinguisher's pressure gauge and expiration tag, test your smoke detector by pressing the button, and check that fireplace screens are physically secured so a toddler can't pull them aside. Los Angeles accounts for 76% of citations on this regulation, so if you're in LA County, expect extra scrutiny. A dead smoke detector battery or an expired fire extinguisher is an automatic write-up with no verbal warning. Replace batteries every six months when you do your drills, and check the extinguisher gauge monthly.

facilities cited recently

That's 1 in 1250 facilities

counties affected

most common citation

📉

Decreasing

Last 90 days vs. previous 90 days

32 facilities (was 42)10 facilities

Source: California CCLD inspection records | Data: last 90 days as of Feb 16, 2026

How to Avoid Fire Safety Equipment Citations

✓ Prevention Checklist

Maintain proper temperatures for all perishable foods (below 40°F cold, above 140°F hot)
Use refrigerator thermometers to monitor temperature regularly
Follow safe food storage procedures and time limits
Discard foods that have been at unsafe temperatures
Train staff on proper food storage and temperature monitoring

❌ Common Mistakes

Having a fire extinguisher that's expired or shows a discharged pressure gauge. Providers mount the extinguisher and forget about it for years. Inspectors check the tag date and the gauge every single visit.
Using a fireplace screen that isn't properly secured to prevent child access. A decorative screen that a child can push over or pull aside doesn't meet the standard. CCLD expects screens that are anchored or heavy enough that children cannot move them.
Having smoke detectors installed but with dead batteries. Inspectors press the test button during visits. If it doesn't beep, that's a documented deficiency regardless of whether you 'just changed it last month.'
Relying on a smoke detector in the hallway without one in the room where children sleep or play. Inspectors check for detectors in areas where children are present, not just near bedrooms.

What's Being Cited in Each Region Over the Past 90 Days

Based on facility inspection reports filed with California's Community Care Licensing Division, here's how this citation appears across different regions in the past 90 days.

Los Angeles County

20 citations

San Diego County

4 citations

Santa Clara County

4 citations

Alameda County

1 citations

Ventura County

1 citations

Riverside County

1 citations

Santa Barbara County

1 citations

Data updated weekly from CCLD public records. Last update: 2/16/2026

See California Code § 102417(g)(1): Fire Safety Equipment Citations in Your County

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Fire Safety Equipment?

California Code 102417(g)(1) requires family child care homes to screen fireplaces and open-face heaters so children cannot access them, and to have a working fire extinguisher and smoke detector that meet State Fire Marshal standards. This regulation covers three distinct safety items that inspectors verify as a group during every visit. It matters for your daily operations because a single failed component, like a dead smoke detector battery, results in a documented deficiency with no verbal warning.

How common is this citation?

According to California CCLD inspection records as of February 08, 2026, 34 facilities have been cited for this violation in the past 90 days across 6 California counties. That's roughly 1 in 1,176 inspected facilities. Los Angeles County accounts for 26 of those 34 citations, making up 76% of all fire safety equipment violations statewide. San Diego follows with 3, and Santa Barbara with 2. If you operate in LA County, this regulation deserves extra attention.

What triggers this citation during an inspection?

Inspectors check fire safety equipment in about 30 seconds flat. They read the tag date and pressure gauge on your fire extinguisher, press the test button on every smoke detector, and physically check that fireplace screens can't be moved by a child. Based on CCLD inspection patterns, the most common triggers are an expired extinguisher tag, a smoke detector that doesn't beep when tested, or a decorative fireplace screen that a toddler could push over. Inspectors also verify you have detectors in rooms where children sleep or play, not just hallways.

How can I prevent this citation?

Replace smoke detector batteries every six months when you run your fire drills. Check your fire extinguisher's pressure gauge monthly and note the expiration tag date on your calendar so you replace it before it lapses. If you have a fireplace, install a screen that's anchored to the wall or heavy enough that a child physically cannot move it. Test your own smoke detectors weekly by pressing the button yourself, exactly the way an inspector will.

What should I do if I receive this citation?

Replace or recharge the specific equipment that failed inspection immediately. Buy a new fire extinguisher if yours is expired, install fresh batteries in smoke detectors, or secure your fireplace screen with wall anchors. Take dated photos of the corrected items and keep receipts as proof of purchase. Submit your Plan of Correction with these photos and a maintenance schedule showing how you'll prevent recurrence. For complex situations, consider consulting a licensed childcare compliance specialist.

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This information is educational and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed childcare compliance consultant for guidance specific to your facility. Citation data is sourced from California Community Care Licensing Division public records and is refreshed regularly.

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