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.