Starting Wednesday, daycares across Maine will no longer be able to use baby gates in certain areas of their facilities.
The Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office says the change is needed after inspectors found many daycares were blocking exit paths with gates, which can pose a serious safety risk.
While daycares often use gates to prevent children from running off, the state says in many cases it goes against fire code, which requires a clear path of escape in case of an emergency.
