DEPARTMENT: SAFD
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Charles N. Hood
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Briefing on the San Antonio Fire Department Fire Prevention Division and Programs
SUMMARY:
The San Antonio Fire Department provides the highest level of professional service to the public by protecting lives, property, and the environment while providing life safety community education. The SAFD Fire Prevention Division is instrumental in fulfilling this mission through its many functions and programs. This briefing will inform the Council Public Safety Committee of how the Fire Prevention Division is structured, how the various teams within the group fulfill the mission, and a summary of active prevention programs.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The San Antonio Fire Department Fire Prevention Division's thirty (30) member group has three (3) main subdivisions; the Office of the Fire Marshal, Fire Inspections, and Community Safety and Education. Fire Prevention utilizes a budget of $5.8M with revenues from permits and fees totaling approximately $2.2M. Another $1.5M in revenue is realized from the HAZMAT facility permit process and related fees.
The Office of the Fire Marshal is responsible for the development and enforcement of the adopted Fire code. This office works closely with construction and industry stakeholders on code adoption and code amendments every 3 years. It oversees code modification requests and serves as the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) for all code related issues.
Fire Inspections, lead by a Division Chief, conducts all fire code inspections on new construction fire systems, certificates of occupancy, system modifications, and code enforcement in existing buildings. The group conducts case investigations based on citizen concerns and complaints. The group also performs plan reviews for certain fire permits.
Community Safety and Education (CS&E), also lead by a Division Chief, is responsible for public fire safety educatio...
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