Columbia Fire Prevention Division Directory Precious Cannon (General Information).803 545-3701 Fire Prevention Plan Review (General Plan Review Questions).. 803 545-3402 Fire Prevention Construction Inspections.803 545-3735 Fire Prevention Special Events. 803 545-3736 Fire Prevention Complaints.803 545-3715 Precious Cannon, Administrative Secretary 803 545-3701 George Adams Jr., Assistant Chief/ Fire Marshal.803 545-3701 Michael Thomas, Assistant Fire Marshal 803 545-3462 Kent Scott, Senior Deputy Fire Marshal 803 545-3715 David Koon, Senior Deputy Fire Marshal.803 545-3402 Kris Scott, Deputy Fire Marshal.803 545-3736 Ken Willis, Deputy Fire Marshal.803 545-3711 Vacant Position, Public Fire Education Officer... 803 545-3717 Vacant Position, Fire Investigator...803 545-3701 Steve Hartwig, Deputy Fire Marshal 803 545-3735 Ken Smith, Deputy Fire Marshal.803 545-4159 Dameion Dawson, Deputy Fire Marshal.803 545-4156 Bengie Leverett, Deputy Fire Marshal 803 545-4162 Ariel Thomas, Deputy Fire Marshal 803 545-3718
CONDUCTED THE FIRST EVER PINK HELMET BREAST CANCER FUNDRAISER DRIVE DURING BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. FIRE PREVENTION DIVISION INCREASED THE NUMBER OF INSPECTIONS BY 2% COMPLETED DATA ON THE NUMBER, SIZE AND LOCATION OF ALL HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS. CONDUCT INSPECTIONS OF ALL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA. INSPECTED ALL HIGH-RISE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA. INSPECTED ALL HOTELS AND MOTELS IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA. SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED ALL DOOR TO DOOR INSPECTION CAMPAIGNS. CONTINUED IN-SERVICE TRAINING FOR DEPUTIES ON FIRE PREVENTION INSPECTIONS AND FIRE INVESTIGATIONS. INSPECTED ALL BARS AND NIGHT CLUBS IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA INSPECTED ALL RESTAURANTS IN THE CITY OF COLUMBIA. CONDUCTED THE FIRST EVER SMOKE ALARM DOOR TO DOOR INSTALLATION CAMPAIGN. CONDUCTED THE FIRST EVER CARBON MONOXIDE DOOR TO DOOR INSTALLATION CAMPAIGN. REINSTITUTED FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY INSPECTIONS OF ALL SCHOOLS IN THE CITY LIMIT. PARTICIPATED IN REAL MEN READ AT SAINT ANDREWS MIDDLE SCHOOL. SCORED 5.46 OUT OF 5.5 POINTS IN COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION FOR ISO (HIGHEST IN THE STATE OF SC.). HOSTED FIRE PREVENTION POSTER CONTEST HOSTED A FIRE PREVENTION AND RECRUITMENT BOOTH AT THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE FAIR.
Fire prevention inspections are the single, most important non-firefighting activity performed by fire departments. Fire inspections are conducted of all existing commercial, retail and office establishments, and new constructions.
Annual Inspections 2781 Conformance 1797 Business License 447 Complaints 47 Life Safety 413 Fire Protection 439 Permits/Hazmat 112 Certificate of Occupancy 71 Final 96 Courtesy 93 Total 6,296
Final Courtesy Permit/Hazmat Cert.of Occupancy Fire Protection Life Safety Complaint Businesse License Conformance Annuals 2013 2014 2015 0 1000 2000 3000
The Fire Plan Review and New Construction section interacts with developers, architects, and engineers to meet fire protection and lifesafety requirements for buildings and developments constructed in the jurisdictions served by the City of Columbia by evaluating these projects through the plan review and inspection process.
Fire Alarm 17 74 97 Site Sprinkler Encroachments 112 171 Certificate of Occupacy Other
600 500 400 300 200 100 0 2013 2014 2015
SPECIAL EVENTS In addition to conducting fire inspections, public fire education, fire investigation and plan review we provide some fire service to some of the larger and unique special events. These events include: The University of South Carolina Football and Basketball Games, Presidential Candidacy debate, South Carolina State Fair Grounds- State Fair, Various Shows ( Boat, Gun & Knife ) etc.., Oyster and Chili cook off, AKA ball, Christmas and Spring Classics, Various Festivals in City of Columbia- Italian Festival, Blues Festival, Crawfish Festival, Oyster Festival, Pride Festival, Chili Cook-off, Summer Concert in the Park Series, Famously Hot, Soda City, and Bark in the Park to name a few.
December November October Sepember August July June May April March February January 0 10 20 30
Number of Smoke Alarm Installed 518 Number of CO Alarms Installed 86 Number of batteries changed in Smoke alarms 21 Number of Station Tours 58 Number of Career Day Presentation 19 Number of Fire Drills 5 Number of Home Fire Safety Surveys 21 Number of Demo and Presentation 239
The Fire Prevention Division also provides fire and life safety education to the general public. The goal of this education is to reduce the number of preventable fires and injuries. The Public Fire Education Officer presents fire and life safety classes to Columbia area schools, community groups, and industry.
Fire Investigation The Fire Prevention Division investigated 15 fires during 2015, resulting in approximately 4.5 million dollars in losses to buildings and contents. 11 of these fires were determined to be accidental in nature, three were the result of arson and one was undetermined. The fire investigation team was comprised of six members.
Undetermined Arson playing with matches Heating related Electrical Series 3 Series 2 Series 1 Smoking Materials Cooking 0 1 2 3 4 5 Note: Heated related fire resulted in a fatality.
A false fire alarm is the activation of any fire alarm system not caused by heat, smoke or fire and results in a response by the fire department. A nuisance fire alarm is the activation of any fire alarm system caused by mechanical failure, malfunction, improper installation, lack of proper maintenance or for any other undetermined cause of activation resulting in a response by the fire department.
City ordinance states that when four false alarms have occurred at one location within a year, a user fee of $100.00 for service for false alarm response shall be billed to the property owner. Each additional false alarm within the year shall require the billing of an additional fee of $100.00. There were 2, 358 false fire alarms in 2015, resulting in 52.4% processed for a total of 14,000 dollars.
Columbia Fire Prevention deliveries good customer service
Number of complaints received 26 Number of permits issued 39 Number of phone calls received 762 Number of municipal citations issued 34 Number of code violation letters issued 309 Number of fire inspections requested 311
January February March April May June July August September October November December Fire Prevention Calls Per Month 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0