(a) A Bureau of Fire Prevention in the Division of Fire is hereby established. The Bureau shall be operated under the supervision of the Chief of Fire, under the direction and control of the Director of Public Safety. The Bureau shall consist of Fire Prevention Inspectors assigned to these duties.
(b) The Chief of the Fire Division may detail such members of the Division as Assistant Inspectors as are necessary.
(c) It shall be the duty of the Bureau to enforce all laws and ordinances covering the following:
(1) The prevention of fires;
(2) The storage and use of explosives and flammables;
(3) The installation and maintenance of automatic and other private fire and smoke alarm systems and fire extinguishing equipment;
(4) The maintenance and regulation of fire escapes;
(5) The maintenance of protection and elimination of hazards in buildings and structures, including those under construction;
(6) The means and adequacy of exit in case of fire from all places in which persons work, live or congregate for any purposes from time to time, including, but not limited to, factories, schools, hotels, lodging houses, asylums, hospitals, churches, halls, theaters and amphitheaters; and
(7) The investigation of the cause, origin and circumstances of fires.
(d) In performing the above-stated duties, the Bureau shall survey each commercial and industrial establishment, mercantile, educational and institutional occupancy, place of assembly, hotel and other buildings, except the interiors of dwellings, within the municipality, and shall specify suitable fire or smoke detecting devices or extinguishing appliances which shall be provided in or near boiler rooms, kitchens, restaurants, clubs and similar establishments, storage rooms involving considerable combustible materials, rooms in which hazardous manufacturing processes are involved, repair garages and other places of a generally hazardous nature. Such devices or appliances may consist of automatic fire alarm systems, automatic sprinkler or water spray systems, automatic smoke detection devices and systems, standpipes and hoses, fixed or probably fire extinguishers of a type suitable for the portable class of fire, suitable asbestos, approved fire blankets, manual or automatic covers or other special extinguishing systems. Appliances of more than one type or special systems may be required.
(e) The Bureau shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as are set forth in sections of this Code and other ordinances, and as may be conferred and imposed from time to time by law.
(Ord. 198-15. Passed 10-19-15.)