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COLUMBIA FIRE DEPARTMENT
Fire Prevention
2016Annual Report
Table of Contents
Message from Fire Marshal
Activities and Accomplishments
Administrative Duties
False Alarms
Special Events
Fireworks
Fire Investigations
Fire Plan Review
Code Enforcement
Public Fire Education
In Recognition
2017 Goals
A MESSAGE FROM THE FIRE MARSHAL’S DESK
As Fire Marshal of the Columbia Fire Department and on behalf of the men
and women in fire prevention dedicated to protecting the lives and property
within our city, I am pleased to present to the Fire Chief, command staff and
the citizens of our city, the 2016 Columbia Fire Department Fire Prevention
Annual Report.
It is our goal to offer the highest level of service possible for the citizens of
Columbia. I am honored to be a member of this department and this
community.
Sincerely,
George N Adams Jr.
Assistant Chief/Fire Marshal
ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
AN ARSON INVESTIGATOR WAS HIRED.
CONDUCTED PINK HELMET BREAST CANCER FUNDRAISER DRIVE DURING BREAST
CANCER AWARENESS MONTH.
CONDUCTED INSPECTIONS OF ALL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN THE CITY OF
COLUMBIA.
INSPECTED ALL HOTELS AND MOTELS IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA.
INSPECTED ALL BARS AND NIGHT CLUBS IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA.
INSPECTED ALL RESTAURANTS IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA.
CONDUCTED SMOKE ALARM DOOR TO DOOR INSTALLATION CAMPAIGN.
PARTICIPATED IN “REAL MEN READ” AT SAINT ANDREWS MIDDLE SCHOOL.
PARTICIPATED IN “RED RIBBON READING DAY” AT PINE GROVE ELEMENTARY.
ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS CONDUCTED SIGN CAMPAIGN AT THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE FAIR.
PARTICIPATED IN USC FIRE SAFETY DAY.
HOSTED FIRE PREVENTION PARADE AND POSTER CONTEST.
HOSTED A FIRE PREVENTION AND RECRUITMENT BOOTH AT THE SOUTH CAROLINA
STATE FAIR.
PUBLIC FIRE EDUCATION OFFICER BENGIE LEVERETT WAS SELECTED AS FIRE
FIGHTER OF THE YEAR BY KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS.
ASSISTANT CHIEF/FIRE MARSHAL GEORGE ADAMS WAS SELECTED AS FIRST
RESPONDER OF THE YEAR BY BENEDICT COLLEGE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT.
RECEIVED OVER $10,000 DOLLARS IN GRANTS FOR PUBLIC FIRE EDUCATION.
FIRE INVESTIGATORS RECEIVED OVER 400 HOURS OF TRAINING IN FIRE
INVESTIGATIONS.
ONE ARREST WAS MADE FOR ARSON WITH A WRITTEN CONFESSION FROM THE
SUSPECT.
INCREASED THE NUMBER OF SMOKE ALARMS INSTALLED BY 97%.
25 45 37
55
120
145
50
85
150
300
175
75
Call Volume
Fire Prevention Phone Calls Per Month
Number of Complaints received 18
Number of phone calls received 1,262
Number of fire code violation letters issued 31
Number of inspections requested 230
Number of false alarms processed 1,282
Number of municipal summons issued 27
False Alarms Undesirable fire alarms are problems for the fire department, public and businesses. In 2016, the Columbia Fire Department responded to 2,703 false alarms.
A false fire alarm is the activation of any fire alarm system not caused by heat, smoke or fire
and results in a response by the fire department.
City ordinance states that when four false alarms have occurred at one location within a year,
a user fee of $100.00 for service for false alarm response shall be billed to the property
owner. Each additional false alarm within the year shall require the billing of an additional fee
of $100.00
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
False Alarm Billing Total $12,800
SPECIAL EVENTS
In addition to conducting fire inspections , public fire education, fire investigation and
plan review, we provide additional fire services to some of the larger and unique special
events. These events include: The University of South Carolina Football and Basketball
Games, Fireflies Baseball Games, Mobile Food Truck Shows, South Carolina State Fair
Grounds- State Fair, Various Shows (Boat, Home &Garden, RV, Gun & Knife etc.) Oyster
and Chili Cook Off, Pink Ice Ball, Christmas and Spring Classics, various festivals in City
of Columbia- Italian Festival, Blues Festival, Crawfish Festival, Oyster Festival, Pride
Festival, Summer Concert in the Park Series, Famously Hot, and Soda City,
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January
Total 274
FIREWORKS/PYROTECHNIC SAFETY
Fireworks permits were managed by the Assistant Chief/Fire Marshal. Fireworks
permits are regulated by state law and enforced by local fire officials. Each permit is
processed according to state and local regulations by the Fire Prevention Division.
In calendar year 2016, the Fire Prevention Division processed 38 pyrotechnic display
permit applications.
Site inspections are required by state law to determine if the site meets distance
requirements. Required site inspections are conducted prior to as-well-as after each
display shoot for public safety. Inspections are conducted by trained Fire Prevention
personnel.
FIRE INVESTIGATIONS
The fire investigator and Deputy Fire Marshals investigated all structure fires that were
suspicious in nature to determine origin and cause. The Columbia Fire Department
Investigative team consists of one Fire Investigator, One Senior Deputy Fire Marshal and
four Deputy Fire Marshals. All have successfully completed an 80 hour course in fire
investigation and they received further training and continuing education in the field of
fire investigation from the International Association of Arson Investigation and the
National Fire Academy.
Fire Investigations In 2016, the Columbia Fire Department Fire Investigation team conducted 37
investigations, involving working structure fires, vehicle fires and suspicious property
damage. Twelve (32%) of the 37 cases were classified as incendiary fires (arson). Three
cases were cleared, one by arrest, one has warrants pending, and one case was
forwarded to the ATF. Four are being investigated as it relates to a serial arsonist, one
active with leads and four remain active with no leads. Twenty two (59%) were classified
as accidental and three (8%)were classified as undetermined.
Accidental - The cause does not involve an intentional human act to ignite or spread the
fire into an area where the fire should not be.
Incendiary - Intentionally ignited under circumstances in which the person knows that the
fire should not be ignited.
Natural - Caused without any direct human intervention or action such as lightning,
earthquake and wind.
Undetermined - Where the cause cannot be proven to an acceptable level of certainty, or
where the fire is still under investigation and cause may be determined later if new
information or evidence is discovered.
FIRE INVESTIGATIONS
0
5
10
15
20
25
Accidental
Incendiary
Undetermined
12
22
3
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Smoking
related
Electrical Heating Juveniles
playing
w/lighter
Motor
vehicle
accident
Other Fireworks Rekindle
32%
18%
14%
9%
5%
Causes of Accidental Fires Investigated
PLAN REVIEW
The code enforcement process begins with the review of building construction features
in plan review, which protects the building, firefighters, and occupants from natural and
man-made disasters.
Plan review is required for all new construction, as well as additions and most alterations
and repairs to existing structures including interior and exterior improvements. Plan review
is also required for fire alarm installations, fire hood suppression systems, underground
tank installations, and automatic fire sprinkler systems.
PLAN REVIEW
Building Plans 42%
Automatic Sprinkler 17%
Fire Alarms Plans 15%
Land Disturbance 1%
County Site Plans 16%
City Site Plans,
9%
Buildings Plans
Automatic Sprinkler
Fire Alarm
Land Disturbance
Couty Site Plans
City Site Plans
MAJOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
Spirit Communication Park
Seating Capacity 10, 020
Suite Level Capacity 966
Palmetto Compress Apartment Building
197 Units & two future retail spaces
Atlantic at Parkridge Apartment
11 Residential Buildings & One Clubhouse
The Station at Five Points
218 Units with Multi-level parking garage
CODE ENFORCEMENT
The Columbia Fire Department Fire Prevention Division is responsible for conducting
inspections while enforcing the applicable fire and life safety codes and fire protection
standards within the City of Columbia. The goal is to minimize the risk of life and property
loss from fire by enforcing and eliminating hazardous conditions. Fire prevention
inspections are the single, most non-fighting activity performed by the fire department.
Type of Inspections Annual 1,236
Conformance 588
Permit 528
Business License 425
Special Event 274
Life Safety (Holiday) 183
Fire Equipment 96
Certificate of Occupancy 69
Final 58
Night Inspection 50
Complaint 33
Haz- Mat 7
Total 3,514
CODE ENFORCEMENT
35%
16% 15%
12%
8%
5%
3%
2% 2%
1%
1%
0%
Type of Inspections
Annual 35% Conformance 16% Permit 15% Business License 12%
Special Event 8% Holdiay 5% Fire Equipment 3% C.O 2%
Final 2% Night Inspection 1% Complaint 1% Haz-mat 0.1%
CODE ENFORCEMENT
The Fire Marshal and the Fire Chief have a tremendous
responsibility for the prevention of death, injuries, and
property loss caused by fire. This is accomplished
through the strict enforcement of complex building, fire
and life safety codes. The following pages are
documented cases of severe fire code violations and the
importance of fire prevention efforts to detect these
violations and have problem corrected immediately.
Code Enforcement
CODE ENFORCEMENT
Improper Storage
On August 8, 2016, the business
owner was issued a written warning
of improper storage. He was
advised to remove any and all
combustible waste material which
might cause a fire hazard from the
building.
Unvented Space Heater
On December 16, 2016, fire officials
found a kerosene heater inside a
night club during night inspections.
The business owner was notified and
the hazard was removed immediately
from the premises.
Note. All of the severe
violations were corrected
immediately. The total
number of violations
detected in 2016
was1,854. The total
number of violations
corrected was 1,649.
Correction rate of 89%.
PUBLIC FIRE EDUCATION
The Columbia Fire Department Public Education Officer is responsible for disseminating the message
of fire safety to individuals of all ages within Richland County. The goal is to take a proactive approach
to raise awareness and educate the public on fire safety and how to protect their homes, businesses,
or family in the event of a fire or catastrophe. An integral part of the pub-Ed program is the smoke and
carbon monoxide alarm outreach component. The Columbia Fire Department is committed to keeping
our citizens safe, and through the generosity of business organizations our personnel are able to install
smoke/co alarms in homes throughout Columbia free of charge. In the event that the home already
has a working smoke detector, personnel will replace the battery for free instead.
Station Tours
There were 42 tours at
Headquarter Station and 11 tours
at surrounding Stations. 478
Occupants attended these tours.
PUBLIC FIRE EDUCATION The Columbia Fire Department installed 1,023 smoke alarms, 217 Carbon Monoxide alarms,
conducted 223 Home Fire Safety Surveys and change or installed 120 batteries.
Public relations Assignment
2
Emergency Evacuation Drill
16
Parades
20
Birthday Parties
1
Donations/Grants
$10,566.00
Emergency Evacuation Plan
12
Career Day Presentation
40
Fire Safety Presentation
69
Fire Safety Demonstrations
356
PUBLIC FIRE EDUCATION
The Public Fire Education Officer schedules, plans, and coordinates most of the
department’s public education opportunities. In the calendar year 2016 the Columbia Fire
Department reached approximately 152,000 occupants, which included station tours, fire
safety presentations, demonstrations, public relation events, sign campaign at the South
Carolina State Fair, the recruitment and prevention booth at the South State Fair, smoke
alarm installation blitz, fire safety home surveys, emergency evacuation drills, and career
day events.
IN RECOGNITION
Public Fire Education Officer Bengie Leverett (centered) was named Fire Fighter of the
Year by the Knights of Columbus for his outstanding work in fire education throughout
the city and county.
2016 year in review
2016 year in review
2017 Columbia Fire Department Fire Prevention Goals • Hire and Train a New Deputy Fire Marshal.
• Develop staffing design to meet current growth and demands in the City.
• Conduct 200 hours of in-service training for prevention staff.
• Prepare all staff to become Fire Inspector Level I certified.
• Send one staff member to 80 hour fire investigation course.
• Host fire prevention parade and poster contest.
• Maintain a highly trained and educated workforce.
• Establish a self-inspection program for lower risk businesses.
• Conduct one smoke alarm blitz in district one.
• Provide fire extinguisher training and emergency evacuation planning for businesses
in the City.
Thank you for viewing the Columbia Fire
Department’s Fire Prevention 2016 Annual
Report. We hope this report offered a summary
of the services provided by the Fire Prevention
Division and underlined significant achievements
and activities performed in 2016.