Emergency PreparednessFire Prevention & The Public

a necessary partnership

The Greater Cleveland Safety Council

October 10, 2013

Jim Alunni, Fire Marshal

Chagrin Falls Fire Department

Fire Marshal Jim Alunni

• Chagrin Falls Fire Department• Fire Marshal for the Municipalities of

Bentleyville, Chagrin Falls, Hunting Valley, and Moreland Hills.

• Ohio Fire Officials Association• Northeastern Ohio Fire Prevention

Organization• NFPA (IFMA), ICC • At 42 I’m considered a young inspector

What is a Fire Prevention Bureau?

• The FPB is primarily responsible for the enforcement of local, state, and federal laws pertaining to the prevention of fire and the maintaining of fire safe buildings throughout the a municipality. These goals are primarily accomplished through the regular inspection of commercial properties, schools, hospitals and multi-family dwellings as well as review of plans for new properties.

What else do you do?

• In addition to our primary responsibilities, the FPB is also responsible for public education.

• The FPB is involved with the fire safety requirements of all public events that take place within their municipalities. The events add a unique dimension to fire safety protection. Art shows, festivals, concerts, fireworks shows, etc…

The Basics

• Fire Safety Inspections are usually conducted annually

• We ask that you provide as much detailed information as possible on your occupancy

• Follow up inspections are conducted for compliance at preset intervals, we give thirty days, some give ten, the State gives seven.

Types of Inspections

• Bureau Inspections• Company Inspections • Occupancy Inspections• Safety System Inspections• Acceptance Tests

Types of inspectors, the good, the bad, and the ugly.

• Good Inspectors are usually members of a dedicated Fire Prevention Bureau. They attend the latest training and can explain to you why you are being cited.

• Bad inspectors, this is relative, usually smaller departments, company inspectors don’t catch everything.

• The Ugly….badge pointers, it’s wrong because I said so.

What’s that Inspector looking for and how much is this going to cost me?

I’m looking for what is going to kill my Firefighters, the public ignores fire alarms but they run when they see smoke and fire.

By the time Fire Crews arrive the structures are already severely compromised.

Our Cliché: “The Fire Code is written in blood”

How well do you know your building?

• Primary & secondary means of egress (evacuation routes) • Building safety features – emergency & exit lighting, fire

extinguishers, specialty suppression systems, fire alarm pull stations, fire alarm control panel, and sprinkler systems

• Emergency plans and central meeting places• Accounting for all employees, vendors, & visitors• Fire alarm system notifying fire department & place a 911 call

with additional information

Inspection Checklists

General Precautions: Storage• All storage, regardless of the type, shall be

kept at least 24 inches below a ceiling in non-sprinklered areas and at least 18 inches below the ceiling in sprinklered areas of the building.

• By keeping storage at least 24 inches below the ceiling in non-sprinklered buildings, the fire department can direct water over the storage to reach the fire, and will also help to minimize the fire spread through the building.

• In buildings equipped with automatic fire sprinklers, the storage must be kept at least 18 inches below the ceiling or the spray pattern issued from the sprinklers will be blocked by the storage, thus keeping water from reaching the fire.

Fire Service Features

• Fire lanes• Premises identification • Knox box/key box

maintenance• Hazards to firefighters• Hydrant access

Building Service & Systems

• Working space and clearance

• Multiplug adapters • Extension cords

Fire Resistive Construction

• Partitions• Walls• Ceilings

Fire Protection Systems

• Automatic sprinkler systems

Fire Protection SystemsAlternative automatic fire

extinguishing system

Fire Protection Systems

• Standpipe systems

Fire Protection Systems

• Portable fire extinguishers

• P.A.S.S.• Pull the pin• Aim at the base of the

fire• Squeeze the handle• Sweep the fire away

from you

Fire Protection Systems

• Fire alarm and detection systems

Means of EgressOccupant load

Means of EgressExit & Emergency Lighting

Means of EgressDoors, gates and turnstiles

Means of Egress

Ohio Administrative Code(Ohio Fire Code)

• (3) 117.3 Reporting of fires.Unfriendly fires shall be reported to the fire department having jurisdiction. The fire chief or designee shall make a report and forward a copy of said report to the state fire marshal of such unfriendly fires as required by section 3737.24 of the Revised Code.

Carbon Monoxide Emergencies• It is a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas that is

produced by incomplete burning of carbon based fuels.

• Important to properly maintain appliances, equipment and chimneys.

• Carbon monoxide poisoning can lead to serious injury and death – know the warning signs.

• Call you local fire department if you suspect a problem.

Natural Gas and LP Gas Emergencies• Recognize the odor

oA “Rotten egg” odoroA blowing or hissing soundoDead or discolored vegetation in an otherwise

green areao Flames, if a leak has ignitedoDirt or dust blowing from a hole in the groundo Bubbling in a wet or flooded area

Natural Gas and LP Gas Emergencies

• React & Reporto Leave the area immediately and call 911 from a

safe area.oDo not use any electrical devices in area of leak –

light switches, telephones, or appliances.oDo not use any open flame, matches or lighter.oDo not start vehicles close to area of leak. o Stay clear of structure just in case there is an

explosion.

• Power failures can occur at any time and may last for minutes, hours, or days.

• If you see a wire down, report it to your fire department immediately.

• Assume it is a live, energized wire until the power company says it is de-energized.

• Keep people away from the wire and anything the wire is touching including fences.

• If generators are being used for secondary power, they have to be outside away from any open windows to prevent CO poisoning.

Blackouts

Blackouts• Use caution when refueling generator.• Have a plan if blackout occurs during

the winter for an extended period and you have no heat.

• Dry ice can preserve food in refrigerator and freezers

Hazardous Materials Incidents• Occur when chemicals are used or released

improperly.• Incidents can occur during production, storage,

transportation, use or disposal.• Accidents can cause death, serious injury, long-

lasting health effects and damage to buildings, homes, other property, or the environment.

• Material Safety Data Sheets• Emergency Response Plans

Hazardous Materials Incidents

• 911 and fire department response• Evacuation• Shelter in place• Contaminated employees –

decontamination• Medical evaluation• Hazard mitigation• Incident clean-up; contractors

Warning Systems & Signals

• Wireless Emergency Alertso Free informational text messages to WEA-enabled

cell phones• Emergency Alert System

o Local radio and TV stations• NOAA Weather Radio

oNationwide network of radio stations broadcasting weather information from local weather service office

Weather Emergencies

• Flooding – do not drive or walk through the water

• Flooded basements and workplaces – numerous hazards

• Hurricanes• High winds

Other Emergencies

• Earthquakes• Wildfires• Terrorism /

Biological Events• Bomb Threats• Evacuations

Communications

• Family First• Management Team• Employees• More info at www.ready.gov

Thank you!

Questions?

Jim AlunniFire Marshal

Chagrin Falls Fire Department21 West Washington StreetChagrin Falls OH 44022

440-247-1671jim@chagrin-falls.org