MISSION STATEMENT

“Through Inspections, Investigations and Training it is the Mission of the Fire Marshal’s Office to reduce and Prevent, Deaths, Injuries and Property Destruction from the Results of Fire.”

KEY JOB ELEMENTS

  • Administrative Duties
  • Conduct NC Fire Code Enforcement Inspections
  • Conduct Fire Investigations
  • Emergency Management
  • Fire Prevention Education
  • County Liaison to Fire Departments

 

ADMINISTRATIVE Duties

  • Responds to inquiries concerning fire district boundaries, insurance protection ratings, taxes, fire prevention, protection capabilities and related matters.
  • Maintains the Report of Fire Conditions for the State’s Firemen’s Relief Fund.
  • Conducts plan reviews on all commercial permit applications received for construction in conjunction with the Building and Permitting Office.
  • Reviews applications and inspects all large Public Assemblages and Events for public safety including all 1.3 and 1.4 pyrotechnic “fireworks” displays.
  • Active participation with Brevard’s TRC (Technical Review Committee) for City Development.
  • Active participation in the development of safety programs for County Departments.
  • Maintains up-to-date volumes of NC State Building Codes that are associated to the Fire Prevention Code and NFPA Fire Protection Manuals.
  • Assists in maintaining accurate fire district maps and descriptions.
  • Works with insurance companies and large claim loss investigators concerning claims and question from citizens that have experienced fire loss or damage.
  • Monitors and distributes programs that State agencies provide to local volunteer departments of the county.
  • Responds to citizens request concerning safety issues, questions and concerns.
  • Partners with the Division of Forest Resources regarding open burning permits and burning bans.
  • Active participation in the Chief’s Association and the County LEPC.
  • Maintains required continuing education for a Level III Fire Inspector certifications.


NC Fire Code Enforcement INSPECTIONS

The Transylvania County Fire Marshal’s Office is the authority having jurisdiction that enforces the North Carolina State Building Code; Fire Prevention Code throughout Transylvania County, the City of Brevard and the Town of Rosman. This code not only applies to the construction of a building, but the entire use and life of the building until the day it is torn down. The purpose of the code is to establish the minimum requirements consistent with nationally recognized good practices for providing a reasonable level of life safety and property protection from the hazards of fire, explosion or other dangerous condition in new and existing buildings. It also ensures safety to firefighters and emergency responder during emergency operations.

Under § 58-79-20. All; Assembly / Businesses / Educational / Factory - Industrial / Hazardous / Institutional / Mercantile / Residential ( multifamily greater than 2 family dwellings, hotels, motels, apartment buildings, lodging bed and breakfast, transient rentals) / Storage facilities / and Utility buildings, whether it is pre-existing or newly occupied are required to have periodic fire & life safety inspections performed by our office. The only exceptions are: private one- and two-family dwellings, and farm building that are not used for sleeping, or accessed by the general public and are used primarily for agriculture use.  

Periodic inspections are mandated by General Statute 153A-364 and General Statute 160A-424. Section #106 of the Fire Prevention Codes states that in no case may inspections be conducted less frequently than described in the schedule below.

  • Twice a year: Public and Private Schools
  • Once every year: Hazardous, Institutional, High-Rise, Assembly with an occupant load of 100 or greater, and Residential occupancies greater than a two-family dwelling and only interior common areas
  • Once every two years: Industrial, and Educational above the 12th grade
  • Once every three years: Assembly with an occupant load less than 100, Business, Mercantile, Storage, Churches, Synagogues, and miscellaneous Group U occupancies

This inspection schedule was approved by our local governing body and was submitted to the Division of Engineering of the Department of Insurance in 1993.

North Carolina State Building Code: Fire Prevention Code https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/NCFC2018

If you are an owner / manager of any of the listed above occupancies or have recently opened a new business within Transylvania County and have not had a periodic inspection, please contact our office so we can schedule that for you.

Here is a checklist that you can review prior to our inspection, this will cover the majority of items we will inspect.

 

FIRE INSPECTION CHECKLIST

 

The following is a list of violations commonly observed by our Fire Marshal’s during a routine fire inspection:

  • Fire extinguishers not provided, not serviced annually, not properly mounted, or obstructed.
  • Exit signs not illuminated, or emergency lights not properly working in power failure mode.
  • Fire alarm and/or fire sprinkler systems not being serviced annually or discovered to be impaired.
  • Commercial cooking equipment not protected by code compliant commercial exhaust hood and automatic fire suppression system, both of which are required to be serviced every six-months.
  • Marked exits being obstructed or blocked and/or improper means of egress.
  • Excessive use of temporary extension cords and/or multi-plug power strips in-substitution of permanent wiring, and exposed wiring or uncovered receptacles.

 

FIRE PREVENTION EDUCATION

  • Provides the necessary training to help identify that fires can be prevented through education. https://www.ncosfm.gov/community-risk-reduction
  • Issues permits for all Firework and Pyrotechnic sales, outdoor aerial displays and indoor proximity displays ensuring that state safety guidelines are followed. https://www.ncosfm.gov/licensing-cert/pyrotechnics/pyrotechnic-license-information-faqs
  • Updates the County’s Emergency Action Procedures as it relates to fire and evacuation plans of County Buildings when changes of operation or location affect the life safety of the occupants.
  • Attends continuing educational programs offered by the NC Office of the State Fire Marshal to learn new teaching methods in fire prevention.
  • Provides fire extinguisher training to all County departments and many businesses that want to comply with OSHA’s regulations.


COUNTY LIAISON TO FIRE AND RESCUE DEPARTMENTS

  • Maintains an open means of communication between the County and the local fire & rescue departments.
  • Works with the fire & rescue departments during the budget process.
  • Monitors fire department contractual performance.
  • Keep well informed of state regulations that departments must meet and keep the department’s ware of any changes or new programs from OSFM.

CONDUCT FIRE INVESTIGATIONS

  • General Statutes 58-79-1, requires that all fires must be investigated for origin, cause and circumstances. Fires are investigated to prevent financial profit, cover up criminal activities or fraud.
  • Performs fire investigations throughout Transylvania County, the City of Brevard, and the Town of Rosman determining origin and cause.
  • Partners with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies when acts of arson, or an explosion has occurred.
  • Provides assistance to insurance companies and private fire investigators, when requested, with scene examinations and documentation.
  • Responds to surrounding counties and jurisdictions when requested to provide assistance with fire investigations or large-scale events.
  • Maintains Fire Investigator qualifications, certifications and memberships with the NC Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM), the NC Chapter of International Association of Arson Investigators (NCIAAI), and the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI).

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

  • Responds locally to provide assistance with emergencies, search & rescues, missing persons, incidents and disasters.
  • Responds to mutual aid request to surrounding counties and jurisdictions to provide assistance with emergencies, search & rescues, missing persons, large incidents and disasters.
  • Assist in the development and updates of the County’s EOP.
  • Participates as a team member of Emergency Management to help plan for events that would affect our area with the knowledge of the County’s response capabilities.
  • Works with all County agencies involved in the recovery of events and develop mitigation practices to help reduce damage in the future.
  • Current Chairman of the Local Emergency Planning Committee -LEPC

DEPARTMENT STAFF

  • Scott R. Justus, Fire Marshal & Assistant Emergency Management Coordinator.  Level III Fire Code Enforcement Official – Certified Fire Investigator (CFI)

      828-884-3108 Ext. 3 - [email protected]

  • Gary Brown Jr. Deputy Fire Marshal. Level III Fire Code Enforcement Official

      828-884-3108 Ext. 3 - [email protected]

  • Mike Galloway, Assistant Fire Marshal. Part time

      828-884-3108 Ext. 3 - [email protected]