No Batteries In Detectors Rental Home Where Russians Died Had 3 Warning Devices

The rental home where six Russian immigrants died in a fire last week had three smoke detectors, but none had batteries, fire officials say.

The smoke detectors worked when the Solodyankin family moved in 16 months ago, said Laurie Brown, a manager with Chuckanut Realty Property Management.

By state law, landlords must make sure each dwelling has working smoke detectors when renters move in, said Bellingham Fire Capt. Don Beattie. But it’s up to the renters to maintain them.

Brown said the fire has prompted the property-management company to adopt a new policy on smoke detectors. For now, the company won’t count on renters to check their batteries.

“We are going to start contacting our renters and going with batteries in hand to make sure they’re in working order,” she said.

Killed in the fire early Friday were six Russian immigrants: Vyacheslav Solodyankin, 36, of Spokane; his wife, Yelena, 35; three of their children, Lera, 14, Vyacheslav Jr., 6, and Alina, 1; and a cousin of the children, Nadia Solodyankin, 8.

The couple and five of their children were visiting Vyacheslav Solodyankin’s brother, Sergey Solodyankin, 38, and his wife, Olga, 35, who lived at the Meridian Street house.