Recently, the Golden Dawn Tabernacle / Tabernaculo Emanuel school building underwent several failed fire inspections after a complaint was lodged with the Tucson Fire Department about possible fire safety concerns in the school building. After multiple inspection failures, certain inspection findings have been addressed by the church, but there is still an outstanding determination for occupancy that might require the church to install a fire alarm system and fire sprinkler system.
Inspection Timeline
Below is an abbreviated timeline of events written by the fire inspectors (all of the detailed documentation is public record and linked below).
6/28/2022 - Tony Smith received a complaint email that Golden Dawn Tabernacle was operating an unauthorized school in their fellowship hall. Tony and I met with Rey Aguirre at the premises and the claim appears correct. We are finding the right contact at the State to start the process of getting the school appropriately licensed.
07/20/22 - Tomasz Piotrowski and I visited these premises to discuss if the second building is being used as a school.
The main building (sanctuary) has a sprinkler and fire alarm system, the second building has only emergency lights. We were unable to reach an agreement on the occupancy classification of the second building. Reymundo Aguirre was told to apply to the City of Tucson DPSD department for a determination. The COO (Certificate of Occupancy) for the sanctuary is A3 (church), we could not find a COO for the second building, it is believed to date back to 1992. I required the installation of smoke alarms, extinguishers and exit signs as a temporary minimum (see report).
08/04/2022 - I re-inspected the building being used as a school. Some 2A10BC fire extinguishers have been installed near exits.
Around a dozen smoke detectors have been installed in some of the classrooms and corridors. Paper, non luminous, non powered exit signs have been installed, Mr Aguirre has been informed that these signs are not acceptable.
On being allowed to inspect some previously unseen parts of the building, a small classroom was discovered on the second floor.
A large auditorium was discovered, being approximately 10,000 square feet, Mr Aguirre stated that they can have 400 people in there. This room has emergency lighting, but no fire alarm, sprinklers, exit signs or extinguishers. It has a stage and organ. The stage curtain does not appear to be fire rated. There are two sets of double doors as the main entrance, the other side of the room has three smaller exits, sufficient for this occupancy. I told Mr. Aguirre that the three smaller exits require illuminated exit signs and at least two 2A10BC extinguishers in the room. Looking through Tucson Pro, I can find no information on this building which was allegedly constructed in 1992.
08/08/22 - I contacted DPSD, spoke with Yaritza Leon, she found older information on this premises including the Certificate of Occupancy. She is digitizing it and will send it to me hopefully by the end of this week. Speaking to Captain Janton, we have established that this building will certainly require a fire alarm system for A3 and E occupancies.We will determine more once the information comes from DPSD.
8/17/2022 - I reviewed the files on this premises from 1975 to 1995. The plans appear to match the premises as viewed on Google Earth, all work appears to have been permitted. Mr Aguirre has not approached the city DPSD for a determination. I listed and quoted the fire alarm requirement for E occupancies in chapter 11. I also quoted the potential need for sprinklers, with a change of use from A/3 to A/3 / E. The stage curtain that was not fire resistant has been removed. Tony Smith and Captain Janton both agreed that there is no need for a fire watch at this premises. I dropped the report off to mr Aguirre and discussed it.
08/24/2022 - Upon Ray Aguirre's request, I came by to clarify the contents of the 08/17/22 report. I confirmed that every classroom should have an exit leading directly to outside, otherwise a sprinkler system will be required. They have installed luminous signs and 2A10BC extinguishers in the classroom and assembly areas. The Stage curtain has been removed. A Gentleman who identified himself as Zen, who is a trustee of the church, accused me of harassing them. I responded that I am doing as told by my Captain, and that I am just doing the reports and leg work. I informed them that I gave them a month to work out what they intend to do with the building. We are waiting on contact with Juan Garcia for a determination on the occupancy. I informed them that our department believes them to be an A3/E occupancy and as such they will require a fire alarm system. Should that be the case I told them they will be given sufficient time to get the work done. It will require permits, plans and a certified fire alarm company to carry out the work.
Fire Inspection Details and Documentation
Case: _FC565EC911F05
Parcel: 13817047A
Addresses: 301 E LOS REALES RD
Inspection Findings Part 1: https://pro.tucsonaz.gov/plandetails/_FC565EC911F05/
Inspection Findings Part 2: https://pro.tucsonaz.gov/inspectionhistorydetails/_FC565EC911F05/bb655813-0de6-42f6-8efc-c39ad0ac87cb
Locked Gates and Locked Doors During Church Services
Another concern that has been noted by former church members is the church policy in which the deacons lock the two church compound gates, as well as the main church entrances once the service begins. This is to prevent any unwelcome guests from walking in but it presents a significant fire safety concern. In the event that a fire were to break out in the church building, the locked doors and locked gates would prevent congregants from safely evacuating, and also prevent the fire department from gaining access to the church buildings. There was an incident (in late 2019) in which the fire alarm went off during a church service sermon, and Pastor Isaac Noriega ignored the fire alarm and chose to have the congregation sing over the noise, while the Trustees scrambled to figure out if there was an actual fire. It turned out that there was a small fire in an electrical fixture in the men's foot washing room, and they were able to put it out before it got out of control. What was especially concerning is that when this occurred both the church doors and exterior gates were locked when this fire alarm occurred.
Below are pictures of the two main gates into the compound (one with a gate closed, one with a gate open).
Do you have any additional safety concerns to report regarding Golden Dawn Tabernacle / Tabernaculo Emanuel? Feel free to leave a comment or you can contact us below, anonymously, or if you would like us to respond to you, please provide an email address or phone number.
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