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HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 9475 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9475 March 6, 2012 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Page 1 of 2 SUBJECT: FIRE DEPARTMENT INSPECTION PROGRAM The purpose of this Informal R Commercial Fire Inspection Program. The Fort Worth Fire Department has conducted commercial fire ins century. Prior to 1980 fire companies performed fire inspections at no charge noting specific ad responding to fires. In 1980, a computerized annual inspection program was approved and a data base of commercial occupancies was assembled. The base price for than 5,000 square feet) is $40 per occupancy, with no projected change. The program generates in excess of $400,000 in annual revenue for the City. Businesses vary in size, complexity, and degree of hazard. With t program the Fire Department organized the Bureau of Fire Prevent (BFP) to tackle the more formidable inspections. These included schools, hospitals, and specific high-hazard and/or complex commercial facilities. Fire fighters assigned to the Bureau of classes and were certified as Fire Inspectors. The remaining commercial establishments were divided by Fire Battalion and sub-divided by first- alarm response areas, then assigned to specific Fire companies for inspection. This meant that by 2011, of the approximately 17,000 commercial establishments in t- hazard category and were assigned to Fire companies. The Fire Officers inspecting these establishments were not required to be Certified Inspectors. On September 1, 2011, HB 3866 was enacted and required that all conducted by personnel certified by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection as Fire Inspectors. In order to continue this program that supported the safety of resi Worth Fire Department, two options were considered. Option 1 called for the addition of six Fire Inspectors to the BFP under the presumption that each could inspect about 25 minor occupancies per week for an approxi,000 inspections per year. With this option Fire companies would no longer spend any time conducting fire safety inspections. Positives: Immediate resumption of Fire Safety Inspection Program Concentration of the fire safety inspection function in one division Assigned areas with clear accountability Less drive-wear on fire apparatus ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9475 March 6, 2012 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Page 2 of 2 SUBJECT: FIRE DEPARTMENT INSPECTION PROGRAM Negatives: Annual increase to Fire Department budget of $600,000 for additional personnel, vehicles, training, etc. 2 ½ to 3 year re-inspection rate (currently calls for annual inspections) Loss of familiarity with layout/construction of local occupancie companies Option 2 called for the training/certification of all Operations Lieutenants and Captains during a - year hiatus from the Fire Safety Inspection Program. Positives: Increase in technical knowledge base of Operations personnel Full resumption of annual Fire safety inspection program (after training year) Local familiarity with business layout/construction Negatives: Loss of $400,000 - $600,000 revenue from 1 year inspection hiatus Short term (1-2 year) budget increase of approximately $400,000 for Texas Commission on Fire Protection training Ultimately, Option 2 was selected as the best short and long-term solution to the unfunded mandate of HB 3866. Despite an initial loss of revenue, certification of Operations Officers will increase firefighting knowledge and efficiency, and continuation of the Cprogram will not require any reorganization of the BFP. At this time, 160 Fire Captains and Lieutenants are participating on-duty in an on-line Fire Inspector course with five training/skills days scheduled off- duty at specific intervals throughout the course. Resumption of the annual Fire Safety Inspection Program is expected in October 2012. Tom Higgins City Manager ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH TEXAS