Westfield Fire Department is currently accepting resumes for a full time Community Risk Reduction Specialist. Application period open until March 29 at 4:00 PM. Job description available in FormStack link. 

https://cityofwestfield.formstack.com/forms/?5685474-EpiDsqOoyi&fbclid=IwAR1wWbJg8YOHyIyhnyV-Evlnoat_t-Rw4AQO_EV-MWJW7KZGIAumPmwE3rQ_aem_AU4Ub9EZRo5AHvx8Tt6NOpDGgTi6lzJTjMVfXiu72zyshhgUGil8pxXgzlkc3V6Mw-8

Tracy Rumble from the Greenwood Fire Department is requesting information about what other fire departments are charging for false alarm fees. 

If you can share, please email him by CLICKING HERE or emailing rumblet@greenwood.in.gov .

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.