CASTLE HILLS, Texas – It has been nearly 18 months since a fire at a senior apartment high-rise building claimed the life of five people and displaced hundreds.
Now, 100 former residents, including the relatives of nine now deceased, are part of a lawsuit against three companies they allege were negligent, making the fire on Dec. 28, 2014, even more damaging.
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According to the lawsuit, in 2014, Firetrol was contracted to "inspect, test, and maintain Wedgwood's fire alarm system to ensure it complied with national and local fire codes, standards and regulations."
The suit alleges Firetrol failed to do so adequately "rendering the fire alarm system grossly inadequate and placing occupants of Wedgwood at serious risk of harm."
Firetrol's parent company, Consolidated Fire Protection, is also named in the suit.
The suit alleges that in 2013 Shamrock Fire Systems Inc. "replaced... the fire alarm controller panel in Wedgwood's fire alarm system."
The suit claims Shamrock "failed to adequately install, maintain and test the fire alarm controller panel."
Five people died in the fire.
According to attorneys representing the former residents, a total of nine people later died from complications from smoke inhalation caused by the fire.
The suit is seeking monetary damages “far exceeding $1,000,000.”
On Thursday, Firetrol and Consolidated Fire Protection declined to comment on the suit.
Shamrock Fire Systems Incorporated was unable to be reached Thursday.
The group of residents has reached a settlement with Wedgwood and Entrada Management, but the terms of the settlement remain confidential.