§ 46-27. Duties.

(a)

A fire safety inspector shall be an ex officio agent of the state fire marshal, upon designation thereby, and shall have all the powers and duties of such agent as set forth in F.S. ch. 633. In addition, a fire safety inspector shall enforce the fire prevention code adopted by section 46-1 and all laws and sections of this Code and other ordinances embracing the following:

(1)

Inspection of potential hazards.

(2)

Abatement of fire hazards.

(3)

Investigation of the cause, origin and circumstances of fires.

(4)

Control and use of explosives and flammables.

(5)

Regulation of the maintenance of fire escapes.

(6)

Regulation of the maintenance of automatic and other private fire alarm systems and fire extinguishing equipment.

(7)

Control of the means and adequacy of exits in a fire, from factories, schools, hotels and lodginghouses, hospitals and churches, halls, theaters and other places in which numbers of persons work, meet, live or congregate and conduct exit drills as established by management.

(8)

Inspection and enforcement of the installation and maintenance of emergency water supply systems and sprinkler systems.

(9)

Enforcement of all provisions of the building code adopted in section 18-86 relating to fire prevention.

(10)

Educational fire prevention programs.

(11)

Establishing motor vehicle routes and fire lanes in the manner provided by the code adopted by section 46-1. Such routes and fire lanes shall be approved by the board of county commissioners prior to becoming effective.

(b)

In carrying out his responsibilities, a fire safety inspector may request the assistance of all agencies and departments and divisions of the county government.

(c)

A fire safety inspector shall exercise his duties within the unincorporated areas of the county and may, upon request of any municipality, exercise the duties set forth in this section within such municipality.

(d)

Right of entry for inspection shall be in accordance with the following:

(1)

A fire safety inspector shall have the right and authority to enter any building, structure or premises for the purpose of making inspections or investigations at all reasonable hours, provided that, except in an emergency, the right and authority conferred by this subsection shall not apply to the entry of a private residence unless written notice is served upon the occupant thereof. Such written notice shall contain a statement of the time an inspection shall be made and shall also contain a statement of the purposes of such inspection or investigation, which purpose shall be within the scope of this article.

(2)

The inspection and examination authorized by this article shall be done in cooperation with the building division for the purpose of reporting and correcting the following fire hazards or fire conditions pertaining to buildings and their occupants:

a.

Disrepair.

b.

Age and dilapidated condition.

c.

Faulty or unapproved construction.

d.

Inadequate fire escapes or lack of means of egress.

e.

Inadequate fire alarm protection.

f.

Inadequate fire extinguishing equipment.

g.

Materials in buildings especially suitable to fire.

h.

Conditions endangering other property or occupants.

i.

Inadequate emergency water supply or inadequate sprinkler system.

j.

Any other fire hazards dangerous to life or property.

k.

Investigation and inspection of fires and fire damage to determine the cause of such fires and recommend prevention of additional fires.

(Code 1970, § 8-6; Ord. No. 78-01, § 2, 11-1-77; Ord. No. 83-03, § 2, 2-1-83)

State law reference

Powers of state fire marshal, F.S. § 633.081 et seq.