We need your help!

We have all heard a lot about HEA 1575 that changed the makeup of the Fire Prevention & Building Safety Commission and the code adoption process.  There is a draft interpretation of HEA 1575 written by the staff attorney for the Commission that all local fire prevention and building safety ordinances are now null and void (“un-enforceable”) and no new ordinances would be approved.  This will have a devastating effect on fire prevention efforts all over the State.  It will hamper operations.  All the places where the code states “adopted by local ordinance”  would now be left without details that fit the resources of the AHJ.  The existing ordinances on radio/communications integrity, water looping and/or hydrant spacing, plan review and review fees, CO alarms, non-compliance and violation fees, etc. would no longer be enforceable.

We need your help!  What we are asking is that you go through your local ordinance and detail the adverse effect it will have on your community and your department by using this interpretation.  Please send a copy of your ordinance and the narrative to the FIAI Board of Directors at board@fiai.us as soon as possible!  We are securing meetings with legislators and IDHS to put a stay on the rigid interpretation of the new law so that we do not rewind and undo the progress life safety partners have gained.  It is essential that we provide feedback from all over the State of Indiana that includes a diverse representation of departments.  We are working to secure the ability to adopt local ordinances and keep the statutory provisions of home rule to do what is best for our communities.  

We must get traction on this now because we will have a new Commission the first week of August and we are up against a tight timeline to find legislative support going into the next session to modify changes and provide clarification to portions of HEA 1575 that are unclear.

Please take a few minutes this week to detail how your community will be harmed by the loss of your local fire prevention ordinance.  Thanks!

Job Summary

Primary function will be performing building inspections. The position will also conduct training classes for students, faculty, and staff on fire prevention matters. Will be required to respond to fire emergencies on IUPUI campus to provide support to local emergency crews. Will review construction documents. May supervise Fire Code inspectors as required. May be required to travel to other campuses to provide support to other Loss Control Inspectors.

Required Qualifications

Associate's degree.in a fire/safety program or a related field and two years of experience in fire code inspection/enforcement and/or fire safety. Fire safety experience could include experience as a firefighter. Combinations of education and related experience will be considered. Indiana Certified Fire Inspector I/II or equivalent, at time of hire or within 6 months.

Possess a valid driver’s license with the ability to be insured by Indiana University.

Knowledge of and ability to clearly communicate the requirements of NFPA Codes and Standards, Factory Mutual Standards, applicable to the campus, state codes and local codes and ordinances. Ability to effectively present information to large groups and to a widely diverse population. Ability to project a positive, professional image of both the individual and the institution. Effective communication skills. Demonstrated interpersonal skills. Ability to proficiently use Windows-based programs.

Work Location Indianapolis, Indiana (IUPUI) Job Posting for IUPUI is up.

Go to https://jobs.iu.edu/. Click on “All External Candidates”, and then search for 306959

Wayne Township Fire Department, IN Announces the open position of Fire Inspector / Investigator.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FLYER

A week ago Friday (May 5), I attended the monthly meeting of the Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission (FP&BSC). I know no one likes more meetings, and certainly long meetings, but there is important information that is learned monthly at these meetings. I'd like to share some of that information this week, and encourage you to follow the actions of the commission - they have strong influence and input into our daily jobs. Here are some bullet points of relevant and important information for you:

• Commission information, including agendas, meeting minutes, and other information discussed below can be found here: https://www.in.gov/dhs/boards-and-commissions/. ;
• Beginning next month, Commission meetings will once again be held in downtown Indianapolis at the Indiana Government Center South (they have been help in Plainfield for the past several years). You can also join the meeting virtually each month, if you are unable to attend in person: from the link above, select Meeting Materials, then Public Notice for the month of the meeting. Because the meetings are also streamed virtually, they are now recorded, and you can view recordings of past meetings, beginning from the middle of 2022. On the link above, scroll down to "Minutes" and click on "View Meeting Recordings". 
• Each month, the State Building Commissioner (Craig Burgess) presents interpretations on various complex code questions that have arisen. In May, for example, he presented in interpretation on the reuse of decommissioned elevator hoistways, and important to us, some clarification on the dwelling-garage fire separation in the 2020 Residential Code. You can find the monthly interpretations in the meeting agenda each month, or a complete list, organized by code, can be found here: https://www.in.gov/dhs/boards-and-commissions/non-rule-policy-documentsinterpretations-of-the-commissions-rules/. ; Did you know, for example, that an interpretation was issued that states that live fire training facilities are not Class 1 structures? 
• A number of current rules are being re-adopted - the complete list can be found in the agenda of the May meeting at the link above. Administrative rules expire every 7 years, and therefore, must be re-adopted if they must remain effective. The re-adoption process does not allow the rule to be changed in any way. As mentioned last week, one of the rules that is currently being re-adopted is NFPA 1126. We have expressed our concern with the age of the referenced standard (2001 edition), and have recommended that it be updated. 
• A long discussion was held regarding HEA 1575, and the impact to both the commission and local jurisdictions. Because we will devote a future email update to legislative changes in 2023, I will not cover the HEA 1575 changes here, other than to say that the current commission appointments will expire on July 31, and as of August 1 the governor must appoint 10 new members of the commission. Stay tuned for much more information regarding this in coming weeks and months. 
• Of course, the commission also hears variance requests each month. I always learn new information each month in viewing the variance requests, and hearing the discussion, whether it be a code that I did not know existed, or a different way to interpret a code that I had not thought of. 

I strongly encourage you to attend commission meetings when you can, and in person if at all possible. The information leaned, and the networking that occurs, is always valuable information. The next commission meeting will be Tuesday, June 6 at 0900.

Until next week,

Darrel Cross, President

This past Wednesday, May 3, the FIAI Board held it's bi-monthly meeting in Noblesville.  I fully recognize that I am probably one of the few deranged people that get excited about board meetings, but I walked away from this board meeting so excited about the future of FIAI that I wanted to take a few minutes to summarize some of our topics of conversation for you this week. Although our by-laws authorize and establish several committees, in the past 10+ years I have been on the board we have not appointed people to the committees and empowered them to perform their functions.  In an effort to allow the board itself to focus on the overall direction and oversight of the organization, we have filled several committees.  The Conference Committee will be headed by Ron Lipps and Steve Rowland, and focused on all of the many details surrounding the 2024 annual conference.  We intend to have the location and dates selected and announced by mid-July.  The Legislative/Code Committee will be focused on monitoring the legislative process, as well as the Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission, and the rule-making update process.  The By-law Committee will be focused on necessary updates to our by-laws.  Any by-law changes will be presented to the membership and voted on at the 2024 Annual Conference. We are working several avenues on increasing the amount of training offered to you as an FIAI member.  The next training opportunity will be an on-site training at Allegion (a door and door hardware company ) in Carmel in early June - I hope to announce a date this week.  Beyond that, we are working to increase our partnerships with ICC, NFPA, and IABO (Indiana Association of Building Officials) to offer training. We discussed, and sent, a letter to the Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission expressing concern about the outdated version (2001) of NFPA 1126, Pyrotechnics before a Proximate Audience, that the commission is re-adopting.  This will hopefully lead into further discussions in the coming months on updating codes in Indiana.  As you may have heard (and we will update you in the coming weeks), HEA 1575 remakes the members of the commission.  This also puts a stop to any rule-making currently in process.  The new commission (to be appointed by August 1) will have it's hands full to determine the order of updating codes, and how that will be handled. We concluded our board meeting by spending time performing a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats).  This will help us as we plan toward a 1 and 5 year strategic plan for the organization.  I can truly say I am excited about the future of FIAI.  As always, if you have feedback, ideas for training, or questions, don't hesitate to reply or seek out any of our board members. For the board, and a safer Indiana, Darrel Cross, President

Code Corner

I attended the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) Annual Conference this past week in Cherokee, North Carolina.  One of the things that stuck out to me this past week was how often they refer to NFPA 1033 - Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigators.  The IAAI does an outstanding job of ensuring that the training that they provide ties directly to the Job Performance Requirements (JPRs) in 1033, and that through in person and online training (through CFITrainer.net) that they provide training in all JPRs listed.  

How does this relate to FIAI, you ask?  If you have taken Fire Inspector 1 or II classes, or researched our field, you probably know that the equivalent NFPA Standard for inspections is NFPA 1031 - Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Inspector and Plan Examiner.  This document provides the basis for the state of Indiana Fire Inspector I and II certification, and lays out the JPRs for what we do on a daily basis.

In 2019, the NFPA Standards Council directed staff and technical committees to combine standards that overlap and cover similar material.  As a result, the following NFPA standards have been combined into a new standard - NFPA 1030 - Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Prevention Program Positions:

• NFPA 1031 - Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Inspector and Plan Examiner 
• NFPA 1035 - Standard on Fire and Life Safety Educator, Public Information Officer, Youth Firesetter Intervention Specialist and Youth Firesetter Program Manager Professional Qualifications
• NFPA 1037 - Standard on Fire Marshal Professional Qualifications

This new standard is NFPA 1030 - Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Prevention Program Positions, and the first edition is the 2024 edition.  It is currently available on the NFPA website, and through NFPA LiNK.  Although many fire prevention programs also cover investigations, the committee elected to keep 1033 as a separate standard.

In future Training Minutes, we will delve into more specifics in NFPA 1030 that relate to our job functions.  In the meantime, I would encourage you to take a look at the new NFPA 1030 (or the older 1031, for that matter).  Do you have the requisite knowledge and skills that are required to be an inspector?  If not, what do you need to do to obtain those skills?

As a final note (and this is not a paid advertisement), as the world is moving to more digital formats, NFPA is doing the same.  Although you can still purchase hard copies of the NFPA Standards, they have developed a new digital viewing platform called NFPA LiNK.  You can find more information here:  https://www.nfpa.org/link?icid=W459.

Conference Committee/ 2024 Conference Location We are holding our bi-monthly FIAI board meeting this Wednesday, May 3.  One of the primary topics will be the formation of a Conference Committee for next year's annual conference, which is slated to be held in the Central District.  If you are interested in serving on the Conference Committee, or have a possible location you would like to suggest, feel free to reply to this email to make the suggestion.

National Fire Sprinkler Association INDIANA TRAINING SEMINAR Sprinkler System Installation Requirements 7 hours CEU May 31, 2023 MADE- Plainfield There are hundreds of different types of sprinklers in use today, and determining the rules for use, location, spacing, and obstruction distances can be complex. This full day seminar brings clarity and understanding to the process. The NFSA Indiana Chapter is offering Indiana fire and building officials this training for FREE for those who contact me at ritchey@nfsa.org for one-time ACCESS CODE prior to registering.   Click HERE for registration.

National Fire Sprinkler Association INDIANA TRAINING SEMINAR Sprinkler System Installation Requirements 7 hours CEU May 31, 2023 MADE- Plainfield There are hundreds of different types of sprinklers in use today, and determining the rules for use, location, spacing, and obstruction distances can be complex. This full day seminar brings clarity and understanding to the process. The NFSA Indiana Chapter is offering Indiana fire and building officials this training for FREE for those who contact me at ritchey@nfsa.org for one-time ACCESS CODE prior to registering.   Click HERE for registration.

Training Minute Hydrostatic Testing of Dry Standpipe Systems Did you know that manual standpipe systems and semi-automatic dry standpipe systems require hydrostatic testing at no less than 200 PSI (or 50 PSI in excess of the max pressure) every 5 years? Standpipes are a critical component of firefighting operations - they act as the "fire hydrant" for firefighters on upper levels of buildings (required when the floor level of the top floor is more than 30 feet above the lowest level of fire truck access).  Fighting a fire above the 3rd floor is virtually impossible without a standpipe system, but standpipe systems are often neglected and poorly maintained.  For wet standpipe systems (with water in the standpipe at all times), one of the common ITM failures is to neglect exercising the valves on an annual basis.  For dry standpipes (with no water in the standpipe until either a valve is opened automatically, or the fire department introduces water into the FDC), hydrostatic testing every 5 years is critical to ensure the system will not leak when charged.  This is a critical test to ensure the standpipe will operate correctly when needed - in the heat of fire is the wrong time to discover a standpipe is compromised!  Dry standpipe systems in exterior parking garages are subject to harsh weather conditions, as well as vandalism.  Standpipes in buildings are often in stairwells that are not often frequented or inspected - these types of environments can lead to system failures if not inspected, tested, and maintained correctly. This hydrostatic testing also includes the piping in the FDC line, and any system that has been modified or repaired should be hydrostatically tested immediately upon completion of the modification or repair.  All of the above requirements come from Section 6.3.2 of the 2011 edition of NFPA 25. This week, take a minute to read the above section, think through the standpipes in your jurisdiction, and check inspection records if needed.  Have they been hydrostatically tested as required?  If not, maybe it's time to require they be tested to ensure the safety of our firefighters, and the general public!

FIAI Board Update!

As you may recall, we had several open positions on the FIAI Board.  I am pleased to announce the following additions to the FIAI Board:

• Chris Betzner has been appointed Treasurer.  This is a critically important position for any organization, and Chris has agreed to serve in this capacity for FIAI.  Chris has 37 years of experience in public safety, starting his career as a fire fighter for the City of Peru in 1985, moved up through the ranks and finally advanced to Fire Chief, retiring after 33 years of service. Chris then joined the Indiana Department of Homeland Security and worked as a Deputy State Fire Marshal for 2.5 years, then for Indiana University for the office of Loss Control as a Fire Inspector for 2 years. He now works for the Zionsville Fire Department as Fire Inspector/ Investigator.  Chris has owned 2 businesses and has been married to his wife Janet for 40 years.
• Josh Earl has moved up to Central District Chair. Josh is the current Fire Marshal for Vernon Township Fire Department. He has been in the fire service for 11 years (all of which has been in Code Enforcement), with an additional 4 years working in the private sector for a fire protection company. He has been with the Vernon Township Fire Department since October 2021. Prior to that, he was the Deputy Fire Marshal at Fishers Fire Department; the Commercial Building Inspector for the City of Fishers; a volunteer firefighter at Cicero Fire Department (where he still occasionally assist them with inspections or investigations); and as a Fire and Building Code Official for the Division of Fire and Building Safety for the Indiana State Fire Marshals Office.
• Steve Kropacek ins the new Central District Vice-Chair.  Steve is the Division Chief of Fire Prevention/Fire Marshal for the Greenfield Fire Department, a position he has held since 2020.  Prior to that, he was a Shift Fire Inspector since 2016, and a Shift Investigator since 2011.  He has led GFD's Juvenile Firesetter program since 2008.
• Scott Thomas has accepted the position of Vice-Chair of the North District.  Scott is currently the Chief Fire Inspector and Lead Investigator for the Goshen Fire Department, where he has served in these roles for 7 years, and been employed since 2006.  Prior to Goshen, Scott served with the Markle Fire Department.  Scott is a IAAI Certified Fire Investigator (CFI) and ICC Fire Inspector 2, among many other certifications.  

In my 11 years on the board of FIAI, this is the first time we have had every position filled - congratulations to all!  For quick reference, here is the complete board:

• Past President - Steve Rowland, Indianapolis Fire Department
• President - Darrel Cross, Noblesville Fire Department
• Vice-President - Ron Lipps, Zionsville Fire Department
• Secretary - Ryan Flora, Westfield Fire Department
• Treasurer - Chris Betzner, Zionsville Fire Department
• North District Chair - Gerard Ellis, South Bend Fire Department
• North District Vice-Chair - Scott Thomas, Goshen Fire Department
• Central District Chair - Josh Earl, Vernon Township Fire Department
• Central District Vice-Chair - Steve Kropacek, Greenfield Fire Department
• South District Chair - Gene Wever, Bartholomew County Code Enforcement

South District Vice-Chair - Todd Atherton, Indiana Department of Homeland Security

National Fire Sprinkler Association INDIANA TRAINING SEMINAR Sprinkler System Installation Requirements 7 hours CEU May 31, 2023 MADE- Plainfield There are hundreds of different types of sprinklers in use today, and determining the rules for use, location, spacing, and obstruction distances can be complex. This full day seminar brings clarity and understanding to the process. The NFSA Indiana Chapter is offering Indiana fire and building officials this training for FREE for those who contact me at ritchey@nfsa.org for one-time ACCESS CODE prior to registering.   Click HERE for registration.

Department:                        Bloomington City Fire
Job Status:	Full-Time
Shift:	8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Days:	Mon., Tue., Wed., Thu., Fri.
Details:	Posted on Wednesday, April 5, 2023 and closes on Thursday, April 20, 2023 at 5:00pm

Job Description

Performs inspections and re-inspections for Class I structures within the jurisdiction. Manages fire inspection program, which includes scheduling and prioritizing inspections as directed by the Fire Marshal. Advises contractors, architects, owners and other agencies regarding construction projects and activities. Interprets and enforces fire code and guidelines. Organizes and maintains records. Writes reports detailing findings of investigations and inspections. Conducts fire investigations to determine cause and origin and assists other investigators, when necessary. Addresses and resolves issues with other City departments and outside agencies, when necessary. Assists with coordinating activities with the Office of the State Fire Marshal and/or Building Safety Commission regarding fire arson investigations, inspection activities, or code variance requests. Participates in the adoption of local fire ordinances, and coordinates with the Office of the State Fire Marshal regarding code adoption, enactment and enforcement. Responds to complaints, concerns, and requests for educational programs, inspections or information. Takes all reasonable steps to maintain a safe work environment.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE - High school diploma or equivalent required. Associate or bachelor’s degree in Fire Science, Business Management, or other related subject preferred. Experience and/or training equivalent to two years as a full-time Fire or Building Inspector with a state, local, or federal organization.

KNOWLEDGE - Knowledgeable about department and division policies and procedures; pertinent federal, state and local laws, codes and regulations; and local planning and zoning procedures. Principles, practices, methods and techniques of modern fire and life safety and fire suppression activities. Geography of the city and surrounding area. Various building construction types as they relate to building and fire codes and how they may be affected by fire. Basic statistical and analytical methodologies.

ABILITIES - Abilities to operate an emergency response vehicle and specialized emergency communications equipment. Work irregular hours including evenings, weekends, holidays and extended hours in emergency, disaster or other situations influenced by workload or staffing difficulties. Required to be on-call when necessary. Tactfully and effectively communicates, both orally and in writing. Use modern office procedures, methods and equipment including computers and related software and equipment.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS - Must be certified as a firefighter and fire prevention/inspector. Hold a state certification for fire/arson investigation, or equivalent certifications, preferred.(Must obtain within 6 months of hire). Must have a valid driver’s license; Indiana State license required within 30 days of job acceptance. Must maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities.

Additional Information

Salary: $44,325.23 - $57,623.36

Schedule: 8:00am - 5:00pm, Monday-Friday; and other times, as necessary. Position may be eligible for some teleworking.

Benefits:

• Employees receive 13 paid holidays per year and may earn up to 4 weeks (160 hours) of Paid Time Off in their first year of employment and 5 weeks (200 hours) in their second calendar year of employment.
• The City contributes 14.2% of an employee's salary to their retirement fund through the Indiana Public Retirement System (INPRS).
• Employees may contribute pre-taxed dollars to a 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan account to supplement their retirement earnings. As a pilot program, the City will contribute double the amount of the employee's 457 (b) contribution to a 401(a) account up to $30 per pay.
• After 1 year of employment, six weeks of paid parental leave are available to eligible employees. This is a pilot program for 2023.
• Health, vision, and dental insurance premiums are subsidized by the City and are available on day one of employment. Employees may elect the High Deductible Insurance plan with the City providing an HSA contribution and if the employee has received the most recent COVID Bivalent Booster the employee only plan is at no cost to the employee.
• The City offers life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment, and long term disability insurance at no cost to employees. Employees may elect voluntary term life and short-term disability insurance. 
• Employees may receive over $2,400 per year in HSA contributions and wellness reimbursements, insurance discounts, and incentives.
• City Employees ride for free on Bloomington Transit.

Disclaimer

ANYONE WISHING TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION WHO DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A COMPUTER MAY APPLY AT CITY HALL, HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT (401 N MORTON STREET, SUITE 230). 

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
La Igualdad De Oportunidades De Empleo Es La Ley.
The City of Bloomington does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, veteran status, housing status or disability in employment or the provision of services.

The City of Bloomington validates authorization to work using eVerify. The City will provide the Social Security Administration and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security, with information from each new employee’s I-9 form to confirm work authorization.

The Indiana District 1 Firefighter Training Council will be hosting a Public Fire and Life Safety Educator I/II Course. The details are as follows:

Location (Tenative):

MAAC Foundation - Emergency Services Training Campus

4203 Montdale Park Drive

Valparaiso, Indiana, 46383

Dates: 

Tuesday, April 18th, 25th, May 2nd, and 9th, 5pm CST - 9 pm CST

Thursday April 13th, 20th, 27th, May 4th 5pm CST-9 pm CST

Saturday, May 13th, 8am - 4 pm CST

It is important to remember that Community Risk Reduction should take priority to prevent tragedy in our region. 

Having someone on your staff, who is PFLSE certified, not only earns extra ISO points, but also provides your department with a catalyst for a CRR effort. 

Any questions, comments, or concerns, please let me know.

Flynn

Anthony C. Flynn

Firefighter/Paramedic

Fire and Life Safety Educator

Crown Point Fire-Rescue

126 N. East Street

Crown Point, IN, 46307

219-662-3248 (station)

219-670-1717 (cell)