Nevada County Grand Jury
• 2019-2020
Fire Inspection in Nevada County What We Don’t Know Can Hurt Us
⚠️ Aviso de traducción: Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 8 findings
F1
Two fire agencies reported that they were not current with mandated school inspections.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
Fire agencies should review and comply with HSC § 13146.3 to conduct the mandated annual school fire inspections within their areas of responsibility.
F2
All fire agencies that reported licensed care facilities in their jurisdictions reported that they were current with the mandated inspections.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
Fire agencies should review and comply with the requirement to conduct the mandated annual licensed care facilities fire inspections within their areas of responsibility.
F3
Two fire agencies reported that they were not current with mandated multi-family unit and temporary residence fire inspections.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
Fire agencies should review and comply with HSC § 13146 to conduct the mandated annual multi-family and temporary residence fire inspections within their areas of responsibility.
F4
One fire agency reported that it was not current with mandated jail inspections.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
Fire agencies should review and comply with the requirement to conduct mandated biennial jail fire inspections within their areas of responsibility.
F5
As of October and November 2019, six fire agencies reported they had completed the annual report required by HSC § 13146.4. The remaining agencies had until December 31, 2019 to meet the requirement to report to their administering authority.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
Fire agencies should review and comply with HSC § 13146.4 requiring every fire department or fire district to report to their administering authority every year on their level of compliance with the inspection mandates.
F6
One volunteer fire agency hired a County fire inspector to perform its required inspections, although it failed to report the results as required by the HSC.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
Higgins, Ophir Hill, Peardale-Chicago Park, and Rough and Ready FPDs, and Washington FD should consider charging for fire inspections and other services to improve their financial position as necessary.
F7
Five fire agencies reported that they did not charge fees for inspections and one did not report whether or not it charged for fire inspections
Related Recommendations (1)
R7
North San Juan FPD should obtain fire inspection data from the County Fire Inspector hired to perform the agency fire inspections and provide it to its administering authority.
F8
The administering authorities of fire agencies may adopt ordinances or policies to include non-mandated fire inspections in their areas of responsibility.
No recommendations for this finding
Conclusions 1
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CL1 Page 10The Jury poses the question: Do citizens assume that places which their families frequent such as restaurants, theaters, and places of worship and public assembly have been inspected regularly and are safe? Public assembly site and building fire inspections are intended to reduce the risk and severity of fire and limit injury or death when fires do occur. The County has eleven fire agencies that work to perform the fire inspections required by the State, and some fire agencies voluntarily provide additional inspection services. The choices made by the various agencies are not consistent, not uniformly performed, or consistently documented. While many inspections mandated by the State are regularly conducted, a great many areas within the County where people congregate for social, civic, or religious activities, and to participate in large public events are not regularly inspected. Ultimately, it is up to the citizens to decide what level of inspection service they want for themselves, their families, and their community. They must be prepared to work with their local and state agencies to adopt ordinances or policies to reflect a higher level of inspection activity and support funding initiatives as necessary to achieve that goal.