JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – State Fire Marshal Mike Chaney disputed some claims by Jackson Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba when it comes to Thalia Mara Hall.

The facility closed in August 2024 after mold and other safety issues were discovered.

Chaney said the State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) walked through Thalia Mara Hall around 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 30. He said State Assistant Chief Deputy Fire Marshal Jonathan Owens was accompanied by Abdelhakeem Ali of MCI Construction and Judson Vance, the current manager of Thalia Mara Hall.

“I don’t know why Mayor Chokwe Lumumba would question whether or not my staff walked through Thalia Mara Hall last week but we showed up and will continue to do so. Despite Mayor Lumumba’s claims during a Monday, February 3, 2025, press conference, the report released following the walkthrough was not an old report. It did contain photos taken during the initial September 2024 walkthrough because the vast majority of issues in those photos remain. Some issues have indeed been fixed. For example, some damaged electrical outlets have been repaired, extension cords have been removed, and fire extinguishers have been serviced. Other problems, including chairs and other items blocking electrical boxes and egresses, haven’t been addressed. There are also other problems, outside of my purview that need to be taken care of, like human waste still on the balcony and piles of garbage sitting outside the building,” said Chaney.

He said the “major life-threatening problems” that were outlined in the initial report had not been addressed at the time of the follow-up walkthrough:

• There is no record that the sprinkler system has been tested and no inspection was scheduled before the January 30th walkthrough.
• The fire alarm system was not working during the January 30th walkthrough. The SFMO reentered the building on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, after being told that the fire alarm system was repaired on Friday, January 31, 2025. It has been deemed working properly as of Tuesday, February 4, 2025.
• According to records filed with the Mississippi Insurance Department (MID) Conveyance Division, the elevator has not been inspected since March 2023 and the two escalators have not been inspected since March 2021. All such conveyance machines require an annual inspection by a private company. Once inspections are completed, documents are submitted to MID. Mayor Lumumba stated on Monday, February 3, 2025, that the elevator and escalators were working. However, during the September 2024 walkthrough, the escalators were not working. During the January 30th walkthrough, the escalators emitted a burning smell and were ordered to be shut off by the Chief Elevator Inspector. Additionally, during the January 30th walkthrough, the elevator was not coming even with the floor when it stopped, leaving a gap of as much as six inches, and was also ordered to be turned off until it could be inspected and repaired.
• There is no working fire curtain in the building. A curtain is being designed and will be installed at a later time. If all other major issues can be fixed but a fire curtain is still not installed, SFMO inspectors have recommended that Thalia Mara Hall be allowed to reopen but be placed under a fire watch. A fire watch requires that a third-party company be on site during hours that the building is occupied and keep a log of all activity in the event that there is a fire. The third-party would alert authorities if there is a fire and attempt to put out a fire using fire extinguishers and other means until help arrives.

“The mayor’s staff is correct in saying that the SFMO did not close Thalia Mara Hall last September. However, it’s our job to keep it closed now in order to protect life and property,” Chaney said. “While the Jackson Fire Department and Jackson Fire Inspectors are welcome to help address safety issues, the SFMO has jurisdiction over this situation. State and national fire codes supersede municipal law. Much of the back and forth in this situation could be solved by not rushing the process, setting up required inspections, and providing the required paperwork. The notion that this was a failed inspection is not exaggerated.”

There is no exact date on when Thalia Mara Hall will reopen.