Fire Prevention and Public Education
The Fire/Code Official is responsible for the following activities: fire prevention and public education, fire investigations, fire safety inspections, storage tank inspections, blasting inspections, sprinkler inspections, commercial change of owners/ change of tenant inspections and enforcement of the Township’s fire codes.
The best time to control a fire is before it starts. An assortment of brochures on fire prevention is available at the municipal building. Some of the topics covered include fire safety during the holidays, fire safety checklists that can be used around the home, information on making home emergency escape plans, fire safety tips for seniors, electrical fire safety, outdoor fire safety, and carbon monoxide detectors.
Fire safety programs (e.g. presentations and assistance with developing emergency plans) are also available to the public, businesses, schools, day care centers and civic organizations. The National Fire Protection Association’s “Learn Not to Burn” program geared towards elementary and intermediate school-aged children, and “Remembering When: A Fire and Fall Prevention Program for Older Adults” for the senior community, are both available through the Fire/Code Official’s Office. Contact the Fire/Code Official for more information about a fire safety program tailored to your group or business.
Information is also available at the following web sites:
National Fire Protection Association; www.nfpa.org. Click on Sparky the Fire Dog on the right side for games and safety tips for children.
The Home Safety Council; www.homesafetycouncil.org has great safety information for around the home.
Fire Investigations
The Fire/Code Official’s Office is responsible for coordinating and conducting investigations of all fires that occur within the Township to determine their origin and cause. In the case of accidental fires, the information gathered is important to determine if defective products or processes were involved so that improvements may be made to prevent similar fires from occurring in the future. If a fire is determined to be intentionally set, the Fire/Code Official works closely with the township’s Police Department to find those responsible for prosecution and/ or rehabilitation, including juvenile fire setters. Also, the information gathered from fires is used to update and improve the fire prevention programs described above. The chart depicted below shows the number of incidents that fire companies have responded to over the last three years. Both Limerick Fire Company and Linfield Fire Company are now using the NIFRS (National Incident Reporting System) to send reports to the County and State.
Fire Incidents
| Year |
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
| Number of Incidents |
448
|
548
|
478
|
Fire Safety Inspections
One of the primary duties of the Fire/Code Official is performing fire safety inspections in commercial, industrial, institutional, and business properties. Inspections are done annually to ensure compliance with the Township’s fire and safety codes and ordinances. During these inspections, owners and occupants are also encouraged to develop and implement emergency plans in the event that they are involved in any type of disaster or emergency.
Commercial Change of Owner / Change of Tenant Inspections
When a commercial property has a change of owner or a change of tenant, a Commercial Certificate of Compliance is required. Once the application is completed, an inspection by the Fire/Code Official is conducted to verify compliance with the Township’s fire code. For more information regarding this inspection, contact the Zoning & Code Enforcement Office.
