2021 ANNUAL REPORT

25

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

Office of the Fire Marshal The goal of the Frederick County Fire Marshal’s Office is to protect life and property, and to foster a fire-safe environment through engineering, education, and enforcement. The Fire Marshals are responsible for providing fire, life safety, and other code enforcement and investigative activities throughout Frederick County and its municipalities. The Office of the Fire Marshal is comprised of two sections: Code Enforcement and Investigations. Fire Marshals are certified in Code Enforcement; they are Certified Fire and Explosion Investigators (CFEI) through the National Association of Fire Investigators; and they are certified Fire Investigation Technicians (FIT) through the International Association of Arson Investigators. Each of these certifications requires proficiency and competency in all phases of code enforcement and investigation through successful completion of “hands-on” skills testing, a written examination process, and continuing education.

All personnel assigned to the Office of the Fire Marshal are appointed by the Maryland State Fire Marshal as Special Assistant State Fire Marshals/Investigators.

Code Enforcement Section

The goal of the Code Enforcement Section is to ensure public safety and welfare through compliance with various fire and life safety code regulations. There are over 7,000 properties subject to inspection throughout Frederick County. Fire Marshals conduct fire and life safety inspections in accordance with the Frederick County and Maryland State Fire Prevention Codes. A Fire Marshal is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week to handle emergent code enforcement and other complaints and investigations. The most common hazards noted during regular fire and life safety inspections include lack of properly maintained fire suppression and detection systems, lack of properly maintained smoke alarms, obstructed sprinkler heads and fire department connections, blocked exits, overcrowded conditions, excessive storage, improper use of extension cords, electrical deficiencies, non-working emergency lighting and exit signs, and crowd management deficiencies. The Office of the Fire Marshal prioritizes inspections by the potential for loss of life or injury. Public assembly buildings, which include restaurants, meeting halls, churches, public and private schools, and apartment buildings, represent the greatest threat to life safety. All buildings must comply with the Fire Prevention Code with the exception of one and two-family dwellings. Checks of mercantile properties, which tend to become overcrowded and/or overstocked during peak holiday shopping periods, are usually performed during the holidays.