11/3 Fire Prevention/Inspection Procedure PDF

11/3 FIRE PREVENTION/INSPECTION PROCEDURE 1 11/3 FIRE PREVENTION/INSPECTION PROCEDURE 11/3-00.00 FIRE PREVENTION/INSPECTION PROCEDURE -01. PREPARATION.01 GENERAL When engaging in fire prevention act...

11/3 FIRE PREVENTION/INSPECTION PROCEDURE 1 11/3 FIRE PREVENTION/INSPECTION PROCEDURE 11/3-00.00 FIRE PREVENTION/INSPECTION PROCEDURE -01. PREPARATION.01 GENERAL When engaging in fire prevention activities, make the following pre-arrangements before leaving quarters: A. Determine the area to be inspected. B. Assemble appropriate fire prevention materials. C. Review files and determine if any re-inspections are to be made on previously served notices. D. Make arrangements for any necessary personal contacts. E. Check your appearance. You are the Fire Department in the eyes of the citizen..50 LARGE INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES: When inspecting any industrial property where large groups of people are involved, make arrangements prior to inspection in order to avoid disruption of activities. -30. GENERAL OCCUPANCIES.01 INTRODUCTION: Contact a responsible person on the premises, preferably the owner or manager. Explain the purpose of the fire prevention program and invite the person to accompany you on your inspection tour. If anyone refuses you permission to inspect, make a note of it in that person's presence, and refer the matter to your supervisor for advice as to further action..33 INSPECTION TOUR Make a thorough inspection of the premises and discuss each hazard with the person. If a notice is written, go over each violation with the owner or responsible party so that they will understand what to do and how to do it. Leave the citizen with a good feeling toward you and the Department. If a subsequent inspection is needed, tell the citizen when you will be back and keep the appointment..50 CLOSED OR VACANT OCCUPANCIES When a closed occupancy is encountered during routine inspection, the following procedure shall be used: A. If the occupancy is vacant and there is no indication that any fire hazards exist, an entry shall be made on the SORTS or FPOS Occupancy Inspection Report indicating the occupancy is vacant. B. If the occupancy is closed but appears to be in use: An entry shall be made on the SORTS or FPOS Occupancy Inspection Report indicating that the occupancy was closed. Return to the occupancy at a later date and conduct the inspection. If a second attempt is not successful, call the business telephone number or the emergency telephone number as listed on the SORTS or FPOS Occupancy Inspection Report. When occupant or owner is contacted, set a date and time for an inspection. If the owner or occupant cannot be contacted, and: 1. Conditions indicate that no further action is necessary, the statement, "Closed, no visual hazards", shall be made in the remarks section of the SORTS or FPOS Occupancy 11/3 FIRE PREVENTION/INSPECTION PROCEDURE 2 Inspection Report. 2. Conditions indicate an inspection is necessary, the following procedure will be followed. Ownership information may be accessed through A. Data Quick as follows: Normal business hours - Legal Liaison Unit or Brush Unit B. Station LUPAMS program. After owner's name and address are determined, mail an F-340C to the owner stating, "The Fire Department is conducting routine annual fire prevention inspections in the area. We would like to conduct a fire prevention inspection of your premises. Please contact the Fire Station Commander at Fire Station , located at , telephone number , so that an appointment for an inspection can be made". Use L.A.M.C. 57.01.24. Allow 30 days for the owner to make contact with the Fire Department. If contact is not made, forward the entire file on the property, to the Fire Prevention Bureau, Legal Liaison, for further action. -40. HAZARD CORRECTION - NORMAL PROCEDURES.01 GENERAL Issue either a Notice F-340A, B, C, or D when any fire or life safety violation is found..06 SERVING NOTICES: Notices shall be served either personally or by U.S. mail. When entering the hazard correction date on a notice that is to be mailed, allow sufficient time for delivery to the responsible party. The hazard correction date should be a maximum of 30 days from the date of preparation of the notice. A Notice must be addressed to a named person. Notices to be mailed will be placed in unsealed envelopes properly addressed with assignment designation of the sender placed below the return address. Forward to Department Headquarters for mailing. A notice written on vacant property must be written to the property owner. To locate the owner of record, use the County Assessor Map Book to obtain the correct Assessor's identification numbers (Map Book, Page, Parcel). Then use this identification number to determine the legal owner through the following methods: 1. Data Quick as follows: Normal business hours - Legal Liaison Unit or Brush Unit 2. Station LUPAMS program. Section 57.01.35C of the Fire Code authorizes the issuance of notices to make the items listed in 57.01.35A operational. In order to make this determination, periodic inspection or tests are required. The procedure for such tests is set out in Regulation Number Four. Whenever such tests are required, an F-340D, Notice of Fire/ Life Safety Violation, shall be served indicating equipment or system to be tested. Refer to Vol. 5, 9/7-00.00, F-340D, Form Instructions. A representative of the Fire Department may witness the test and sign the F-340D form. The installation, alteration, and major repair of any fire protection equipment listed in 57.01.35A shall be performed under permit of the Department of Building and Safety. Use F-338, Fire Prevention Bureau Referral to notify other departments of needed alteration. Refer to Vol. 5, 9/7-00.00, F-338. 11/3 FIRE PREVENTION/INSPECTION PROCEDURE 3.10 COMPLAINT OF HAZARD: Any complaint of hazard received at the Fire Station should be inspected without delay, and in no case later than the following day. Platoon responsibility should be disregarded in an inspection of this type. Reinspection and follow-up work will be handled by the platoon with the area responsibility. Complaints received from City Council Field Offices or City Council Deputies require Battalion Commanders to report back to the City Council Field Office explaining the disposition of the complaint. Refer to Vol. 5, F-333. Complaint processing procedures shall be completed as per 11/1-51.01. The Battalion Office is the control point for the Fire Department regarding councilmatic complaints..12 REINSPECTION: A. Station Commanders shall list all reinspection dates on the F-957. B. When all items cited on the fire prevention notice are complied with, sign your full civil service name, enter date, place file in the corresponding SORTS or FPOS Occupancy Record folder, and update the SORTS Occupancy Inspection Report. C. If after a maximum of thirty days it is found that full compliance has not been obtained, the inspecting member shall initiate a "Request for Legal Action", F-290, for forwarding through Battalion to the Legal Liaison Unit. Refer to Vol. 5, 9/7-F-340A, B, C, E. D. All reinspections shall be recorded in SORTS or FPOS with the time spent and the result of the reinspection documented..20 CONDEMNATION TAG F-336: When an F-340 notice is issued to condemn the use of any appliance, device, equipment, system or material which creates a hazard or which fails to provide intended protection, an F-336 Condemnation Tag shall be attached to the item. An entry shall be made on the notice indicating that a tag was used in accordance with 57.01.36 of the Fire Code..36 CITATION PROCEDURE: This procedure is used when a Fire Department member has observed the commission of a misdemeanor, and it is necessary to summon the violator before the Municipal Court. Fire Department citations are dissimilar to traffic citations in that bail cannot be deposited and forfeited. The violator must appear to answer charges. A criminal complaint is drawn by the City Attorney and accompanies the Citation when presented to the Court. Copies of Citations issued to juveniles (under 18) are referred to the Los Angeles County Probation Office by the Legal Liaison Unit, Fire Prevention Bureau. Issuance of a Citation, Form F-211, constitutes a peace officer arrest for violation of laws relating to fire prevention and fire suppression under authority of Penal Code Section 853.9. Failure of the violator to make a voluntary appearance, as cited, to answer charges at the designated place and time constitutes a separate misdemeanor (failure to appear) and a bench warrant may be issued for the violator's arrest. Any member of the Fire Department may issue a Citation provided such member has been authorized to do so. Authorization may be granted as follows: A. By the member's Station or Unit Commander when the Citation is to be issued within the boundaries of the Mountain Fire District. B. By a Section Commander when the member is assigned to the Fire Prevention Bureau. C. By the member's Battalion Commander under any other circumstances. Extreme care and good judgment must be exercised. The member issuing the Citation shall have first made certain of the current established policies relating to issuing Citation and arrest procedures and shall follow explicitly the 11/3 FIRE PREVENTION/INSPECTION PROCEDURE 4 instructions of the F-211. Refer to Vol. 5, F-211. It is absolutely essential that all information on the Citation be accurate to the best knowledge of the issuing member. A. Citations must be issued to a named individual. When the individual is the owner or person having control of a premises, structure, business, device, vessel, or vehicle that may be involved, the individual should be so identified (owner, manager, partner, tenant, lessee, driver, etc.) Obtain driver's license for proper identification. B. The violation must have been observed by the member signing the Citation as the issuing officer. C. The L.A.M.C. or C.C.R. (Code of Regulations) section cited shall include the specific section numbers. Fire Code Section 57.20.16 shall not be used unless proof is available that the violator had previously been served a notice in writing regarding the same violation. The description of the violation shall be brief but sufficiently complete to indicate its nature to the violator and to the Court. Wording such as: "Smoking in posted fire district area", "Dumping in fire district", "Riding motorcycle on fire road", describes the act as well as the area in which it was performed and indicates the violation falls within the scope of the Code Section cited. D. The Citation is invalid unless signed by the violator. Explain to the violator that signing the Citation is not an admission of guilt, only that the person signing will appear in answer to the charges. If the violator refuses to sign, a peace officer arrest shall be made. Refer to Vol. 6, 11/3-40.48, Arrest Procedure. E. Additional information, such as witnesses' names, addresses, and telephone numbers, or other facts pertinent to the violation may be noted on the reverse side of the Citation on the fourth (Fire Department) copy only. Witnesses should be at least 14 years of age and apparently competent to testify in Court. F. SUPPLYING CITATION BOOKS: Legal Liaison Unit, Fire Prevention Bureau, shall issue the Citation Books and maintain a record of their distribution. 1. One book shall be issued to each Battalion. 2. One book shall be issued to each fire station assigned the responsibility for fire prevention inspection in any portion of the Mountain Fire District. 3. Issuance of Citation Books to units within the Fire Prevention Bureau shall be made upon request of the Section Commander. 4. Control of the Citation Book use is the responsibility of the Commanding Officer of the station or unit to which it is assigned. 5. To obtain additional Citation Books, forward an F-225, through channels, to Legal Liaison Unit, Fire Prevention Bureau. F-225 Forward As indicated To Legal Liaison, Fire Prevention Bureau, THROUGH CHANNELS Number of Copies One Routing ---- 11/3 FIRE PREVENTION/INSPECTION PROCEDURE 5.48 ARREST PROCEDURE: This procedure must not be used except in the case of extreme urgency and only when the violation is clearly evident. The need for an arrest is extremely rare. The authority to make an arrest must be given in person by a Battalion Commander or higher ranking officer. Any officer of the Fire Prevention Bureau may grant permission to make an arrest. The arrest must be made by the member witnessing the violation who assumes all the responsibilities and liabilities of a complainant. When an arrest is made, the member making the arrest shall be guided by the following procedure: A. Request police assistance. B. Request Department photographer. C. Notify your immediate superior. D. Notify the Fire Prevention Bureau Chief on call. E. Forward a red letterhead report to the Fire Prevention Bureau. F. Police will transport the arrestee to the place of booking. The arresting member will follow in a Department vehicle and will be called upon to give complete details for the arrest report. F-225 Forward As indicated To Fire Marshal, THROUGH CHANNELS Number of Copies Three Routing Original - to Fire Prevention Bureau Duplicate - retained by Chief authorizing arrest. Triplicate - retained by arresting member. Information Required A detailed account of circumstances of the arrest. Include names, unit, and police report number. -45. PARKING CITATION PROCEDURES.01 PARKING CITATIONS - RESPONSIBILITIES: Division Commanders are assigned the responsibility for the issuance of the Parking Citation Books. They shall establish control over the issuance and the return of such books and shall cause a supervisory check to be made of completed citations..10 OBTAINING CITATION BOOKS: All employees will obtain their parking citation books from the Division in which they are administratively assigned. Such citation books shall, upon completion, be returned to the Division Office. Station Commanders shall cause a journal entry of the Parking Citation Book to be made, covering the issuance and the return of books for their respective stations. 11/3 FIRE PREVENTION/INSPECTION PROCEDURE 6.20 PARKING CITATIONS, USE OF: Parking Citations shall be used only for parking violations.30 ISSUING CITATIONS: The citing member shall use a ball-point pen. The original of the citation shall not contain any information which does not appear on the violator's copy..40 PARKING CONTROL: Fire Department members shall cite only for the following parking violations: A. Vehicle Code Section 22500(d) "No person shall stop, park, or leave standing any vehicle whether attended or unattended within 15 feet of the driveway entrance to any fire station." B. Vehicle Code Section 22500.1 "No person shall stop, park, or leave standing any vehicle, whether attended or unattended, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a peace officer at any curb, or in any location in a publicly or privately owned or operated off-street parking facility, designated as a fire lane by the fire department". The designation shall be indicated (1) by a sign (Refer to LAMC 57.09.05) posted immediately adjacent to, and visible from, the designated place clearly stating that the place is a fire lane, (2) by outlining or painting the place in red and, in contrasting color, marking the place with the words "FIRE LANE", which are clearly visible from a vehicle, or (3) by a red curb or red paint on the edge of the roadway upon which is clearly marked the words "FIRE LANE". C. Vehicle Code Section 22514 "No person shall stop, park, or leave standing any vehicle within 15 feet of a fire hydrant except when local authorities indicate a different distance by signs or markings, and except when such vehicle is attended by a licensed driver who is seated in the front seat and who can immediately move such vehicle in case of necessity.".50 PAY-BY-MAIL ENVELOPES: A pay-by-mail envelope shall accompany the violator's copy of the Parking Citation. The violator's copy shall be placed on the top of the envelope, facing outward and affixed in a conspicuous and easily observed place on the vehicle..60 COMPLETED CITATIONS: The citing member shall submit the original and second page of all completed parking citations to the Station Commander. Station Commanders, after review, shall remove the original from the book and forward to: Bureau of Parking Enforcement, Stop 745. 11/3 FIRE PREVENTION/INSPECTION PROCEDURE 7.70 CITATION CHECKING BY SUPERVISORS: Each employee issuing a Parking Citation shall submit the original citation (court copy) to the Station Commander. The Station Commander shall check the following items on the citation: Completeness: Refer to Volume 5, Form Instructions. Each applicable blank space on a citation shall be filled in. Legibility: Citations must be legible. Tampering: There shall be no changes on the citation other than corrected errors. Errors: An error or omission in certain items may invalidate the citation. A positive check shall be made of the: A - Date of offense B - Correct VC section cited C - Correct location of offense The Station Commander who checks the citation shall initial the lower right hand corner. PBow 22:30, October 7, 2006 (PDT) Article Sources and Contributors 8 Article Sources and Contributors 11/3 FIRE PREVENTION/INSPECTION PROCEDURE Source: http://lafd.info/index.php?oldid=8119 Contributors: PBow