Innovative Approach in Twin Cities Seeks Improved Code Enforcement
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Fire Prevention in Action
Adoption of the Minnesota uniform fire code is being coupled with innovative approaches to code enforcement by both the St. Paul and Minneapolis Fire Departments.
The state code is based on the Western Fire Chiefs Association code. St. Paul adopted the code with some changes last September. Minneapolis, which added a number of amendments, expects to adopt the code later this year.
During this period, organizational changes have occurred in the fire marshal staffs of both fire departments. These changes are still evolving—in the direction of career opportunities for non-fire fighting personnel in the two neighboring cities.
Division reorganized
St. Paul Chief Steve Conroy initiated reorganization of his department’s fire prevention division in 1979. Fire Marshal Dan Norrgran and Fire Fighters Local 21 were involved in the planning process. Other parts of city government, including civil service and the city council, approved the tradition-breaking change.
The new organization creates a career path beginning with fire prevention aides up through fire prevention technicians, who report via an assistant fire marshal to the fire marshal. The fire marshal is responsible for activities of the inspection division and for arson investigation.
An entry level position of fire prevention aide 1 is open to men and women without fire service backgrounds who are high school graduates. Duties are generally to assist other staff members. Advancement is to fire prevention aide II.
Degree required
With additional training, education and experience, aides can advance through the progressively higher steps of fire prevention technician I, II and finally III, which requires a college degree and is the equivalent level of a fire captain.
The first three people to take advantage of the new system in St. Paul through civil service tests began several months of fire prevention training and education in April 1980. The three aides are Kathy Reicher, Jeanne Dornfeld and Dennis Heldman.
Conroy believes this new approach to fire prevention provides better use of manpower because it allows lower level personnel to handle routine matters and frees highly skilled personnel to concentrate on the more difficult inspections, investigations and building plans evaluations.
“As a result, I think St. Paul can expect to have improved enforcement of the new fire code and a lower fire loss record,” Conroy said. “In addition, we created another opportunity for career development in the fire department.”
Prior to the 1979 reorganization, the fire prevention division had seven fire inspectors. The new system provides for additional positions.
The 1979 fire loss in St. Paul (population 270,000) was $5.5 million, with the estimated per capita loss estimated at $17.75—well below the estimated national average of $21.65. There were two deaths in 1978 and four in 1979.
Code amended
Minneapolis (population 397,000) soon will adopt the Minnesota uniform fire code, after an extended period of working out amendments to fit the city’s needs and desires. For example, Chief Clarence Nimmerfroh said it was necessary to make the new fire code compatible with the city’s 1979 housing maintenance code, which sets minimum standards for dwelling maintenance.
“This allows the approximately 30 Minneapolis housing inspectors to augment the fire department’s smaller staff of fire inspectors in residential areas,” Nimmerfroh explained.
An important feature of the two codes is a requirement that all dwelling units and sleeping places in the city must have a smoke detector. The types and locations of smoke detectors are spelled out. In addition, the sale of smoke detectors lacking the Underwriters Laboratories seal is now prohibited in Minneapolis.
Exception made
By contrast, the newly adopted Minnesota state fire code does not require smoke detectors in owner-occupied dwellings. Battery or 110-volt smoke detectors are allowed by the state in rental units, but the Minneapolis fire code requires 110-volt detectors in rental facilities.
Blueprints for commercial building or redevelopment go to the fire marshal’s office and building inspection department for approval of the required fire protection system. The fire marshal determines the locations of sprinkler heads, alarms and detectors, while the plumbing and electrical sections of the building inspection department verify the integrity of these systems. Upon completion, a fire department inspector determines if the fire protection system actually works in a new structure, by physically setting off a sprinkler or an alarm.
“This procedure is satisfactory,” Nimmerfroh reported, “but we will continue working on improving coordination between our fire inspectors and the various building inspectors.”
Hit by budget cut
The Minneapolis Fire Prevention Bureau, headed by Marshall Bush, fire marshal, totals 10 people. This is a reduction of seven, caused by a budget cut and subsequent reorganization in January 1977. A supervisor of inspectors reports to the fire marshal and an assistant supervisor is in charge of fire code enforcement inspectors. In addition, there are two public education specialists.
Nimmerfroh believes the city’s commercial and industrial fire loss rate has stabilized in recent years and that fire prevention emphasis now must be placed on residential areas.
“A majority of our annual fire deaths and injuries occur in residential fires caused by smokers’ carelessness,” he said.
In 1979, there were 18 civilian fire deaths and 74 fire injuries in Minneapolis. Fourteen of the deaths occurred in apartments or single-family housing.
Plan more public education
An increased program of public fire education is planned by the Minneapolis Fire Department to deal with the problem. The program anticipates the use of nonuniformed fire personnel who would be hired through a civil service system similar to the one in St. Paul.
“Our belief is that nonuniformed men and women with special training may be as effective in communicating with homeowners and apartment residents as fire fighters or our present fire inspectors,” Nimmerfroh said. In some instances, they may have greater success.”
“One reason,” he explained, “is that there is a reluctance, especially among women, to allow uniformed personnel into the home for inspection or discussion of fire prevention.”
Nonuniformed career people
The program being developed includes the employment of career nonuniformed men and women whose advancement would be within the fire prevention bureau.
Nimmerfroh emphasized his strong support for the program. But because of current budget constraints related to economic conditions, the Minneapolis City Council has not yet provided the funds to begin initial hiring and training.
“I remain confident,” he said, “that as the current reorganization of our department continues, the city council will appropriate start-up funding for this vital new program.”
Assistance by elderly
Minneapolis and St. Paul are among 13 cities that use senior citizens to augment their public fire education activities as a part of fire code enforcement. The senior citizens, who have no police power, are trained and supervised by the two fire departments, which also provide fire prevention literature for distribution to the public.
In St. Paul, five senior citizens are involved in a continuing program of voluntary home inspections. These voluntary inspections are directed at neighborhoods with the greatest number of residential fires or fire potential.
Called the Senior Citizens Home Fire Survey Team, the five members go door-to-door using a 23-point checklist as they offer to inspect homes. Whether or not they gain admittance, they leave fire prevention materials.
High-rise program
In Minneapolis, three senior citizens are used for a fire prevention effort directed at residents of high-rise apartment buildings for the elderly. The three seniors schedule special programs in these buildings that include fire prevention films, displays, distribution of literature, presentations by fire department inspectors and refreshments.
The purpose not only is to prevent fires in these structures through public education, but to teach the elderly residents what to do if there is a fire.
Both Conroy and Nimmerfroh are enthusiastic about the results so far and would like to expand the program.
