Fire Chief

Every day fire marshals, prevention officers, public educators, inspectors, plans examiners and fire engineers make decisions that will affect the public for years to come as they deal with new construction or enforcement of the existing fire code. These decisions guard the welfare of the community and make it safer for residents and firefighters should a building catch fire.

Let me share with you one victory and suggest how we can all share in another. For the past several weeks, my fire inspector has been working with the county building department on plans review and construction inspections of a lightweight frame building to be used as a “high hazard” occupancy that will be operational in approximately three months. Our primary concern is that the clientele who will use this building may or may not have the physical or mental capacity to exit the facility should a fire occur. For that reason the designs of the fire sprinkler, alarm and suppression systems are of paramount importance.

The initial site plan and construction drawings were submitted without complete sprinkler plans. The sprinkler plans were delayed while several discussions ensued on the most effective means to run a new 6-inch main for an additional fire hydrant and the sprinkler system. This new main, however, required at least one easement from a nearby property owner. To avoid construction delays, both the city and county agreed to a partial building permit for the foundation and framing while awaiting these completed sprinkler plans.

In the meantime, the fire department specified that the fire department connection needed to be moved closer to the new hydrant so that it freed the driveway for ladder company operations and allowed remaining fire apparatus better access to a third means of entry and egress from the building to assist with evacuation. As the deadline for the final sprinkler drawings approached the city water works at the suggestion of the fire department agreed that the new 6-inch main could be run from an existing tap on a 12-inch water main that would save the contractor time, cost and the legal entanglement caused by the easement.

In exchange for the concession, the department required the addition of an OS&Y valve with a tamper alarm to shut down the sprinkler system from the outside of the structure should the need arise. With the solution to the easement problem solved, the architect and sprinkler contractor quickly finished the sprinkler plans that included the added requirements and satisfied both the building and fire officials.

In working cooperatively, we hope this high-hazard occupancy will be free of any fire fatalities. While we possibly scored a life-long victory for fire safety in this building, there are many of us who are also working on a cooperative front to make changes in the national culture that will impact fire and life safety in the same way that working smoke alarms started to reduce fire fatalities beginning nearly 35 years ago.

Vision 2020 held a successful Web cast on Feb. 13 with more than 750 participants from across the country. The preliminary suggestions shared on that day will be the basis for a three-day symposium in Washington, D.C., late next month hosted by the Institution of Fire Engineers with a grant from the Department of Homeland Security. The symposium will bring together some of the best minds in fire and life safety from many other fire safety organizations to determine the next steps in reducing fire deaths, injuries and loss.

While these results are not yet known, it may take the form of several initiatives such as the self-extinguishing cigarette to reduce the greatest source of fire fatalities. It may be a wider use of fire sprinklers, especially in residential occupancies, or it may be some as yet unknown safety initiative. Whatever recommendations are forthcoming; stay tuned for what may be the beginning of the most significant victory in the reduction of fire loss since the advent of the smoke alarm.