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SECTION E -- PUBLIC SAFETY
FIRE DEPARTMENT
FIRE PREVENTION, CODE ENFORCEMENT, INVESTIGATIONS AND
EDUCATION PROGRAM
PROGRAM MISSION: To reduce threats to life, property and the environment through
education, inspection, enforcement, and community service.
This program enforces the Fire
Prevention Code; enforces requirements in the County code in order to insure
public building safety; educates the public, investigates the causes of fires,
explosions and environmental crimes and renders safe all identified hazardous
devices. These functions will be
accomplished through comprehensive Fire Prevention Code inspections and ongoing
training in the community.
Investigations are conducted to determine origin and cause of fires or
explosions and determine the circumstances or person responsible for spills,
leaks and/or clean up of environmental incidents. In addition, this program provides fire safety education to the
community which includes civic associations, school children, businesses,
organizations, hotels, motels, medical facilities, and municipal employees. Additionally, the Public Education Program
evaluates evacuation plans, which include organizing fire brigades for
high-rise buildings, coordinating fire safety programs between fire stations
and public schools and coordinating car safety seat inspections/installations
with the Fire/Emergency Medical Services Operations Program.
The proposed budget provides
funding to continue inspections of places of assembly during hours of peak
activity, continue the tests of high-rise buildings fire protection systems, expanded
code enforcement activities by Shift Fire Marshals, continuing "Operation Fire
Safe" (the smoke detector give away and installation program) supported by fire
operations units, continuation of the "Risk Watch Program" in County Schools at
a rate of one school per year, and the "Remembering When Program" for all
seniors living in Arlington.
The Code Enforcement, Investigations and Education Program, previously a separate Division within the Fire Department, was incorporated into the Support Services Division in FY 2005.
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Fire Prevention,
Code Enforcement, Investigations and Education Program
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FY 2004
Actual
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FY 2005
Adopted
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FY 2006
Proposed
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% Change:
'05 to '06
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Personnel
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$1,065,886
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$1,066,825
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$1,097,039
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3%
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Non-Personnel
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83,059
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124,305
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124,305
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-
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Total Expenditures
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1,148,945
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1,191,130
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1,221,344
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3%
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Revenues
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107,433
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169,401
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230,618
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36%
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Net Tax Support
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$1,041,512
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$1,021,729
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$990,726
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-3%
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Authorized FTEs
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12.0
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12.0
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12.0
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Funded FTEs
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12.0
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12.0
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12.0
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Significant
Program Highlights: The budget
for the Code Enforcement, Investigations and Education Program reflects:
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Revenues increased due to an increase in Falls Church
billing ($61,217).
PERFORMANCE MEASURES:
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FY 2002 Actual
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FY 2003
Actual
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FY 2004 Actual
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FY 2005 Estimate
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FY 2006 Estimate
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FY 2006 Goal
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Mission Outcome Measure
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Violations
cited
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700
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670
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923
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950
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950
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950
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Workload Measures
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Inspections conducted
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N/A
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N/A
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1,024
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1,200
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1,200
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1,200
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Systems
tests conducted
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86
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88
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56
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90
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90
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90
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Fires investigated
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129
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136
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158
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160
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160
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160
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Request for information processed
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124
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126
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104
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120
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120
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120
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Environmental crimes investigated
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5
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3
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4
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5
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5
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5
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Fire Prevention Code
permits issued
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720
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820
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730
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750
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750
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750
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The Inspection Program includes all Fire Prevention
Code, fire protection systems, and hazardous materials inspections. Actuals are not available prior to FY 2004.
FUTURE BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS:
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Additional Fire Prevention resources to manage growth
in development and increase the systems testing program.
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Automating operations in the areas of data collection,
electronic file storage and records management in order to enhance service
delivery and deployment.
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As recommended in the TriData report, the public
education unit should be increased by at least one full-time public educator
and one administrative assistant.
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