EASTHAMPTON — The Family Dollar on Union Street has been forced to close for a second time this year after numerous fire safety code violations were discovered.

Fire Chief Christopher Norris said the code violations were similar to the infractions for which the discount retailer was fined in March.

On Friday, the inspector for the city’s Fire Department conducted a routine follow-up inspection at the Union Street store and discovered that aisles were littered with merchandise, and exit paths were blocked with boxes, shelving and merchandise.

Additionally, miscellaneous goods were piled up to the sprinklers in the storeroom at the back of the store, not allowing for the 18 inches of clearance required by state fire codes. The 18-inch requirement is in place to allow for proper distribution of water in the event of a fire.

The pull station fire alarm was also obstructed by wares.

“Given the recent past history and ongoing violations that continued to compromise the safety of the public, these infractions were found to be egregious and led to the store immediately being shut down,” Norris said.

The manager has been issued an order to cease doing business and the store has been issued a $1,000 fine.

In March, the store was fined $2,600 and reopened within a couple of weeks after the violations were rectified and the building was brought into compliance.

The fire inspector first discovered safety code violations in May 2022 with overstocked merchandise blocking aisles, entrances and exits. At the time, emergency lighting was also not working and the store did not have permitting for combustible or flammable liquids as required by state law.

Cleanliness has also been an issue.

Representatives for Family Dollar could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.

“They reverted back to their old ways. It’s unfortunate that we’re in this holding pattern,” said Norris.

Norris said the department’s one full-time fire inspector has tried to work with the business to help correct the violations, as he considers fines and closures to be a last resort.

One of the bigger challenges he noted was the sheer amount of inventory that the business receives — with no place to put it. The department has suggested that the company consider purchasing an outdoor storage container for the inventory behind the building to prevent blocking vital safety features.

Norris said access in and out of the storeroom of the Family Dollar is especially important as it provides a fire suppression system for the entire complex at the Union Street plaza.

“If there was a fire at Village Pizza, for example, we wouldn’t be able to access the sprinkler system the way things are currently,” he said.

In order to reopen, the $1,000 fine needs to be paid, the Fire Department has to be notified that the violations have been corrected and an inspection would need to be completed by Norris or his designee.

As of Wednesday, Norris said the Fire Department has not heard from the manager or district manager of the company.

Family Dollar is owned by Dollar Tree Inc. of Chesapeake, Virginia. The company operates more than 16,000 stores throughout the U.S. and Canada. The national retailer has been repeatedly cited for safety concerns.

Since 2017, federal and state Occupational Safety and Health Administration programs have identified more than 300 violations in more than 500 inspections at Dollar Tree and Family Dollar stores, including blocked exit routes, unsafe working areas and unsafely stacked boxes and merchandise.

Emily Thurlow can be reached at ethurlow@gazettenet.com.]]>