San Mateo County Grand Jury
• 2018-2019
Fire Safety Inspection Programs on the Road to Recovery Issue | Summary | Background | Discussion | Findings |
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Findings and Recommendations 18 findings
F1
California Health & Safety Code Sections 13146.2, 13146.3 and 17921(b) and regulations require fire departments to conduct annual inspections of all public and private schools, hotels, motels, lodging houses, and apartments in their jurisdictions (mandated annual inspections).
No recommendations for this finding
F2
From 2015 through 2018, the following three fire departments conducted inspections of over 90 percent of the mandated buildings in their jurisdictions, as shown in Table 1: Menlo Park Fire Protection District North County Fire Authority Woodside Fire Protection District
No recommendations for this finding
F3
The disorganization and incompleteness of the data submitted by the San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department for 2015 through 2017 (which it inherited from its predecessor fire departments) was such that it could not be analyzed by the Grand Jury. However, data submitted by SMCFD for 2018 was well organized and showed 100 percent of schools and 82 percent of the apartments, condominiums, hotels and motels within its jurisdiction were inspected that year.
No recommendations for this finding
F4
Each of the fire departments is developing more robust inspection programs by, for example: implementing database management systems. adding prevention staff. using iPads or tablets to document inspections.
No recommendations for this finding
F5
SB 1205 does not specify what the content of Annual Reports to fire departments’ administrative authorities should be regarding mandated annual inspections School Inspections:
Related Recommendations (3)
R2
By no later than November 30, 2019, each fire department should submit a proposal to its administering authority setting forth the content of the annual report as required under Section 13146.4 of the California Health & Safety Code (former SB 1205) (the “Annual Report”), which at a minimum should propose the inclusion of the following information in the Annual Report: The total number of buildings within the fire department’s jurisdiction in each category of building (referred to as a “occupancy type”) subject to mandated annual inspections that year. The number of each occupancy type inspected during the year; The number of each occupancy type, if any, not inspected that year and the reason such inspection did not take place, and The number of each occupancy type, if any, not inspected for two or more consecutive years.
R3
By no later than January 31, 2020, the administering authority for each fire department should review the proposal for the content of the Annual Report submitted by its fire chief and provide written instructions regarding the required content and due date for submission of the Annual Report.
R4
By no later than February 28, 2020 (and annually thereafter), the administering authority for each fire department should instruct the fire chief to publish the fire department’s Annual Report on the fire department’s public website.
F6
In 2015, 2016, and 2018 Central County Fire Department failed to perform annual inspections of at least 90 percent of the schools within its jurisdiction although it completed 96 percent of school inspections in 2017 as shown on Table 1.
No recommendations for this finding
F7
From 2015 through 2017 the following four fire departments failed to perform annual inspections of at least 90 percent of the schools within their jurisdiction, though all showed substantial improvement in 2018 as shown on Table l: Coastside Fire District increased inspections from 36 percent in 2017 to 91 percent in 2018. Redwood City Fire Department increased from 15 percent in 2017 to 85 percent in 2018 and is on track to complete all schools by the end of its fiscal year. San Bruno Fire Department increased inspections from 86 percent in 2017 to 100 percent in 2018. South San Francisco increased inspections from 50 percent in 2016 and 2017 to 100 percent in 2018.
No recommendations for this finding
F8
From 2015 through 2018 Colma Fire District completed 100 percent of school inspections. Apartment/Condominium/Hotel/Motel Inspections:
No recommendations for this finding
F9
From 2015 through 2018, the following four fire departments failed to perform annual inspections of at least 90 percent of the apartments, condominiums, hotels and motels within their jurisdiction. as shown on Table 1: Coastside Fire Protection District; Colma Fire District; San Bruno Fire Department; and South San Francisco Fire Department.
No recommendations for this finding
F10
From 2015 through 2017 Redwood City Fire Department failed to perform annual inspections of at least 90 percent of the apartments, hotels and motels within its jurisdiction, though the department showed substantial improvement in 2018 as shown on Table 1: Redwood City Fire Department improved from a low of 48 percent in 2016 to 77 percent in 2018 and is on track to complete all inspections by the end of its fiscal year.
No recommendations for this finding
F11
In 2016 Central County Fire Department failed to perform annual inspections of at least 90 percent of the apartments, condominiums, hotels and motels within its jurisdiction. The department inspected over 90 percent of these structures in 2017 and 2018. The Department could not provide data for 2015. Record-Keeping & Data Retrieval
No recommendations for this finding
F12
The following five fire departments currently have data management systems that allow them to readily track and report on the completion of their mandated annual inspections: Central County Fire Department, Menlo Park Fire Protection District, North County Fire Authority, San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department, and Woodside Fire Protection District.
No recommendations for this finding
F13
The following two departments plan to implement database systems that will allow them to readily track and report on the completion of their mandated annual inspections: San Bruno Fire Department and Redwood City Fire Department.
No recommendations for this finding
F14
The following three fire departments need to assess their data management systems to allow them to readily track and report on the completion of their mandated annual inspections: Coastside Fire Protection District, Colma Fire District, and South San Francisco Fire Department. Inspection Process & Staffing
No recommendations for this finding
F15
The following three fire departments reported the need for additional prevention staff to complete all of their mandated annual inspections: Redwood City Fire Department, San Bruno Fire Department, and San Mateo Consolidated Fire Departments.
No recommendations for this finding
F16
Coastside Fire Protection District and South San Francisco Fire Department reported they need to assess the sufficiency of their prevention staffing. Written Policies & Procedures
No recommendations for this finding
F17
The following four fire departments reported they do not have written policies and procedures in place governing their mandated annual inspection programs: Coastside Fire Protection District, Colma Fire District, San Bruno Fire Department, and San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
By no later than January 31, 2020, each fire department within the county should put in place a written policy that sets forth the process for (1) maintaining a comprehensive list of all buildings within its jurisdiction for which annual inspections required under Sections 13146.2 and 13146.3 of the California Health & Safety Code are to be performed, (2) keeping such a list updated on an annual basis, and (3) completing and reporting on all mandated annual inspections.
F18
None of the ten departments’ policies and procedures specified how they will report to their administering authorities under SB 1205 (2018).
Related Recommendations (3)
R2
By no later than November 30, 2019, each fire department should submit a proposal to its administering authority setting forth the content of the annual report as required under Section 13146.4 of the California Health & Safety Code (former SB 1205) (the “Annual Report”), which at a minimum should propose the inclusion of the following information in the Annual Report: The total number of buildings within the fire department’s jurisdiction in each category of building (referred to as a “occupancy type”) subject to mandated annual inspections that year. The number of each occupancy type inspected during the year; The number of each occupancy type, if any, not inspected that year and the reason such inspection did not take place, and The number of each occupancy type, if any, not inspected for two or more consecutive years.
R3
By no later than January 31, 2020, the administering authority for each fire department should review the proposal for the content of the Annual Report submitted by its fire chief and provide written instructions regarding the required content and due date for submission of the Annual Report.
R4
By no later than February 28, 2020 (and annually thereafter), the administering authority for each fire department should instruct the fire chief to publish the fire department’s Annual Report on the fire department’s public website.
No Responses Found 2
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
Belmont Fire Protection District
Fire District
San Mateo County Board of Supervisors
Elected County Office