Fire marshal begins inspections
Fire marshal Justin Green inspects a fire extinguisher at Russellville Utilities. Green will be completing required business inspections through May.
Fire marshal Justin Green used to only do do business inspections on a limited basis – for new construction and if there was a complaint. Now, these inspections are required by state and federal law for all businesses annually, and they will be taking place throughout Russellville now through the end of May.
Green he will be visiting every business in the police jurisdiction of Russellville to inspect and check for fire code and life safety violations. His visit will be different from visits currently being made by the Russellville Fire Department. RFD officers are updating pre-plans, which give officers information that will aid in fighting a fire – store layout; location of extremely flammable items; location of electric, water and gas shut-offs; and contact information. RFD officers will be on the road in their fire trucks over the next weeks and months to obtain this information, while Green will be coming out separately for mandatory inspections.
Inspections are required both to maintain the city’s recently improved ISO rating of two, as well as to ensure Russellville businesses are safe and properly maintained.
“This is helping them because if anyone ever gets hurt or injured in their business because of a fire and a fire code violation – say a door is locked or blocked, or they store flammable liquids too close to an ignition source – now the business owner is liable for that. They could be held negligent and be liable for that person’s injuries or death,” Green explained.
Green’s goal is to keep businesses owners from spending more than $50 a year on violations; however, he does expect that most if not all businesses will have at least one violation that will need to be addressed. Some of the most common infractions include extension cords being used on a permanent basis; exit ways blocked; access to breaker panel rooms blocked; breakers not being labeled properly; and combustibles stacked too high, too close to the ceiling.
He will also be checking, particularly in restaurants, to see that equipment has been signed off as being inspected and approved.
“It’s a slow process,” Green said. He will be visiting businesses Monday through Friday, and even a Saturday here and there, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through May.
Green encouraged business owners not to fret about identified violations. “It’s not the end of the world. I will explain what they have to do to fix it,” Green said.
For more information on these upcoming inspections, call 332-8765 and leave a voicemail or email firemarshalRFD@gmail.com. The most important thing, Green said, is to understand the nature of these required inspections and their purpose.
“I have to do this – I’m required to do this. It’s not that the City of Russellville is trying to crack down on people” – rather, it’s state and federal law, Green said. “It’s to help everyone and make sure our town is safe and people are safe to go in every business in town and spend their money in the City of Russellville.”
