Just because bed-and-breakfasts are supposed to be like homes away from home doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be treated like the businesses that they are.

The nearly 115 bed-and-breakfasts in Minnesota should be regularly inspected to protect the customers who pay for a safe night of lodging.

Right now whether fire-safety inspections are done depends upon the number of bedrooms and the particular city’s inspection practices. The state fire marshal’s office inspects lodging of six units or more every three years, but smaller B&Bs may or may not be inspected because it’s left up to the discretion of cities.

B&B customers deserve more consistency in safety standards and protection. This can be done without hiring more state inspectors. Cities should inspect all B&Bs regularly, just as fire officials examine any business in town. Most regional centers and smaller cities only have a couple of B&Bs in their city limits, so the inspections should not become a burden. Counties that have rural B&Bs could contract with the nearest city to do inspections.

This closer look at bed-and-breakfast inspections came about because of a fatal fire at a New Ulm B&B in July. Six people, including three lodgers, were killed in the tragedy.

Ironically enough, New Ulm has one of the more strict inspection policies listed in media reports. New Ulm officials inspect bed-and-breakfasts annually as part of the licensing process. The main house of the Bohemian Bed and Breakfast wasn’t licensed for occupancy, according to its most recent inspection in December. So it wasn’t inspected. A carriage house was inspected, and a problem noted with the fire extinguisher was resolved.

Even if the New Ulm B&B would have gone through the inspection for the main house, that doesn’t mean the tragedy would have been averted. Candles left burning on an outside porch were the cause of the fire, something that working smoke detectors, bedroom fire extinguishers and updated wiring would have had little effect on.

Nonetheless, the deadly fire has motivated a closer examination of inspection practices. Some cities already have upped their vigilance.

As charming as a B&B may be, it’s a business, and its customers should be able to expect consistent safety standards wherever they stay in Minnesota.