|
Fire Marshal Services
Fire/Life and Property Safety
KCFMO is
responsible to protect the life and property of Kitsap County from
the hazards of fire, explosion, hazardous materials, and other
hazards through the use of code enforcement of adopted state, local,
and federal codes and ordinances; accepted engineering practices;
and education. Plan reviews of facilities before construction or
occupancy ensure adequate life safety and fire protection measures.
Fire protection includes water on site sufficient to extinguish a
fire or to contain the fire to prevent its spread, hydrants to
supply fire equipment apparatus, built-in fire protection, and
access to the facility.
Fire Investigation
In the Fire
Investigation Unit, fire cause determination is given the highest
priority. The Fire Marshal and Deputy Fire Marshal's have special
expertise in fire behavior to determine cause and origin. KCFMO has
very good relationships with local law enforcement agencies and
works aggressively with them in prosecuting individuals who commit
the crime of arson. In response to increased juvenile fire
incidents, KCFMO developed Fire Stoppers for Kitsap County, a
children's fire prevention program. Fire Stoppers is a comprehensive
juvenile firesetter intervention program aimed at reducing the
incidents of fireplay and fire setting by children and adolescents
through early identification, evaluation and treatment. KCFMO
provides intervention services, along with fire safety school and
appropriate prosecution. Staff is developing an interactive Fire
Stoppers program to be made available via the world wide web and on
compact disc for presentation by schools, etc.Fire Code
The
International Fire Code and the International Fire Code Standards
are adopted by the Washington
State Building Code Council pursuant to RCW 19.27. KCFMO is
authorized to administer and enforce the International Fire Code as
adopted by Kitsap County Code. KCFMO conducts inspections for all
commercial businesses in the unincorporated areas of Kitsap County
to identify and mitigate any conditions which would reasonably
create a life safety hazard, tend to cause fire or contribute to its
spread.
Plan Review
KCFMO is part
of the Department of Community Development's plan review process -
reviewing plans for a variety of permits for non-structural
compliance with current building and fire codes as adopted by the
County. Residential multi-family structures, fire alarm systems,
sprinkler systems, hazardous materials permits, water supply
systems, and commercial properties are a few of the many permits
reviewed by KCFMO.Clean Air
The Fire Marshal's Office is
responsible for education and enforcement of State outdoor
burning regulations to reduce unhealthy particulate matters in
the air we breathe in Kitsap County. KCFMO works closely with the Puget
Sound Clean Air Agency implementing public education campaigns
about burning. KCFMO is also responsible for responding to outdoor
burning complaints from the public.
Fire Safety Advisory
Committee
The Fire Marshal chairs the Fire
Safety Advisory Committee which was established by the Board of
County Commissioners in 1999 to review fire safety evaluations as
provided in Ordinance 244-1999, periodically review that ordinance
and recommend improvements to it; investigate and recommend to the
Board of County Commissioners funding sources for fire and life
safety enhancements to Group R, Division 1 multi-family buildings;
when requested by the Board of Appeals, provide recommendations on
appeals under this chapter; and develop strategies to enhance fire
safety within the community.
Back to Fire Marshal Main Page
|
