Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Fire chief's proposal for inspectors smart

Firefighters in this part of Florida spend more of their time on medical calls than they do responding to fires, because fires just aren't as common as in the past.

There are several reasons for that. New buildings constructed according to tougher fire codes replace old structures, fire suppressant equipment such as sprinklers and extinguishers is more prevalent, more buildings have smoke alarms, and electrical equipment that could spark fires is manufactured to higher safety standards.

However, a piece of the credit for fewer fires also goes to fire code inspectors, who check structures to make sure that they comply with laws intended to reduce blazes and save lives if a fire does occur.

Largo fire Chief Jeff Bullock, recognizing the importance of those inspectors, is concerned that many buildings in Largo get inspected only once every six years.

These are described as relatively low-risk structures. High-risk buildings such as schools, day care centers, hospitals and nursing homes get inspected much more often, usually every year, according to the city.

But Bullock is concerned enough about the city's 8,000 low-risk structures - buildings such as small restaurants, retail shops and business offices - that he is suggesting that the city hire civilians to inspect them at least every couple of years.

Bullock also wants to start charging property owners an inspection fee to cover the cost of more frequent inspections. Fees could run from $35 to $150 or more for an inspection.

Largo has four fire inspectors, who are kept so busy with inspections of the 1,000 high-risk facilities plus new construction that they aren't able to get to the low-risk structures as often as they would like. By adding four trained civilian inspectors and assigning them to the less complicated low-risk buildings, the frequency of those inspections could improve dramatically, Bullock said.

Bullock said a study shows that 80 percent of the infrequently inspected facilities have fire code violations. Many of those property owners may not even be aware that they have violations that could threaten their property or the lives of their employees and customers.

City officials should give serious consideration to their fire chief's proposal. Inspections every six years just aren't good enough.

[Last modified June 27, 2006, 07:01:16]