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HomeMy WebLinkAboutUPDATE re Office of the Fire Marshal JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST TO: Board of County Commissioners Josh Peters, County Administrator FROM: Jeremy Williammee, Community Development Director Brian Tracer, Deputy Fire Marshal DATE: March 9, 2026 SUBJECT: Jefferson County Fire Marshal Update STATEMENT OF ISSUE: The Board of County Commissioners will receive a briefing on the structure, statutory authority, current operations, and 2026 implementation direction of the Jefferson County Fire Marshal program. ANALYSIS: Jefferson County Code designates the Director of Community Development, or designee, as County Fire Marshal (JCC 2.40), with responsibility for fire and life-safety inspections,plan review, fire investigations, burn restrictions, and enforcement of the International Fire Code. In 2026,the department is implementing a structured, risk-based inspection model for commercial occupancies and Short-Term Rentals consistent with JCC 15.05.046 and adopted fire standards. The department will also seek to develop interlocal agreement frameworks to formalize regional coordination while maintaining statutory Fire Marshal authority with the County. This workshop provides an operational update and an opportunity for the Board to provide policy direction, if desired. FISCAL IMPACT/COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS: Fire Marshal operations are supported through a combination of General Fund resources and authorized cost-recovery inspection fees. The 2026 operational approach is structured to function within existing budget parameters.No fiscal action is requested at this time. • RECOMMENDATION: Receive the briefing and provide any policy direction, as appropriate. REVIEWED BY: 01;. &Xi !lA 3/3/26 Jo D. Peters, County Administrator Date 1 ATTACHMENT 1 Presentation: Fire Marshal 2026 Update 2 1:S15 N - (,,- ./(1A .' W `% Fire Marshal Update ��� �o Department of Community Development PIING it,,\,,,_"\ (,„, vitri4; ' %. Jeremy Williammee, Director Brian Tracer, Deputy Fire Marshal • - 'AL MARCH 9, 2026 Today's Agenda 1111 1. Community Development & Public Safety (1141111 gili 2. Fire Marshal Roles & Responsibilities 3. Current Operations & Staffing 1 4. Commercial Inspection Program 5. Short-Term Rental Program • 6. Partnerships & Interlocal Agreements 7. Moving Forward OiV Community • PI nni Development & a ng vo Public Safety• Guides where• growth occurs • Roads, access, land use )14 Community ,. _ Outcome It O. 4111111114 no _____ 6 Fire Marshal :: 1 :: m Building • Fire prevention & Safe homes, .usintsses, • Ensures structures inspections and neighborhoods are built safely • Investigations & burn • Construction inspections restrictions • Safe occupancy _ \0" County Fire Marshal Authority & 2 Responsibilities HIGH %% 0 MODERATE VERY HIGH LOW EXTREME / • OO Fire & Life Safety Fire Investigation & Fire Danger & Seasonal Administration & Oversight Prevention Safety Coordination • Fire safety inspections • Declare high fire hazard conditions • Enforce County fire safety regulations • Fire investigations • Fire code plan review • Implement burn restrictions and • Regional coordination with fire districts • Prevention&public outreach • Safe building occupancy • Coordinate with fire districts,insurance, safety measures • Develop policies and interlocal • Address&road naming and law enforcement agreements *Fire Marshal authority established by Jefferson County Code(JCC 2.40.020 and JCC 15.05.020). Current Fire Marshal Organization Community Development Director* Deputy Fire Marshal Building/Fire Inspector County Fire Marshal (per JCC 2.40) (0.8 FTE) (Clerk Hire) • Statutory Authority & Program Oversight • Fire Inspections • Inspection Assistance • Interagency & Regional Coordination • Fire Investigations • Field Support • Fire Code Enforcement • Administrative Coordination • Coordination with Fire Districts & Sheriff *Director currently serving as Fire Marshal to ensure continuity of statutory responsibilities. Fire Type Actvity Summary 2025 © ldteal' �� �` © Residential/Wldland j�,,, ,+. Fire Safety Inspections& Plan Review © Suspic os ' # : A� ; • 24• 14 fi commercialan reviewsinspections(alarms, sprinklers) #^_'► Wodlard 24 ` ' '�- ► • �._ • 78 address permits ., • .A ,4• ,: s. • 29 Short Term Rentals (20+ in progress) •- �� +;, 11 • Fire &Arson Investigations ! j '' '4 .•i • 31 fire investigations _ ,k • .�di m , 6A, , • 22 structure fires - including 1 fatality ., ` ' '".0. l 01.. 4', f , Al ;, I _ • 9 wildland fire investigations r - s,: 1 Burn Restrictions &Seasonal Safety ��,- i - �.�, / +� :• •1,. 'h F.� • Monitored fire danger levels :iii c `; , Folir �,, • Implemented burn restrictions • • Fireworks & burn safety outreach 7,' ,• , ` ` •• ` • •• /- ��1,i ` • 5 calls for service —July 4th i ` / �T i ` f.v1+1~ • Coordination &Administration ; ` % P • 18 code compliance cases a, _� W -.._—, . West End • 30+ public records requests processed �' ;� • Interdepartmental Program & Grant Support w -' �� _ �1 11 +0 '� `f P,, . O Energy Efficiency - ' _ '" • • Housing Stock Plans x .. • Coordinated Water System Plan / - ' "' t t Fire Safety Inspection Program 0 Tier 1— Highest Risk Program Experience to Date Annual Inspections • Commercial inspection program established by County Code Examples: (iCC 15.05.046) ja Assembly occupancies(restaurants,bars,event venues) • Voluntary participation has resulted in limited coverage drh Schools and childcare • Estimated 300+ commercial properties ailLarge public gathering spaces ci Hazardous materials occupancies Operational Principle Highest occupant risk receives highest inspection frequency. • Inspections must be regular and schedulable to be sustainable 0 Tier 2—Moderate Risk within existing staffing levels Periodic Inspections(2 year cycle) Examples: • Scheduled inspection program replaces prior voluntary VP/Commercial kitchens participation to achieve consistent countywide coverage Multi-tenant commercial buildings Lodging uses/Short-Term Rentals(life-safety focus) Fiscal Reality r Industrial or manufacturing uses • Commercial inspections and Short-Term Rental inspections are O Tier 3— Lower Risk the primary cost-recoverable Fire Marshal activities ,as Capacity Allows • Core life-safety functions (investigations, burn restrictions, Small offices education) are general fund-supported public safety W Retail storefronts responsibilities MILow-occupancy commercial uses Rased on VIRSR guidelines) Program Experience to Date • Program established by Ordinance No. 43-0407-25R and Short-Term Rental regulations incorporated into code ()CC 18.20.210) • Initial implementation relied primarily on voluntary Program compliance • Participation levels have remained low relative to estimated STR activity countywide Operational Principle • Support fair, consistent, enforcement countywide .,„a,. • Align STR inspections with commercial life-safety a,;',e.,. • standards m „ I O • GP ..,o ouM � • Fiscal Reality ym • STR inspections are one the few Fire Marshal functions 1 D•dg, ,MM•N,-, . , l 02141.,.....7,,....:L.:.:—" authorize for cost recovery "'B ` • Cost recovery support life-safety inspectation capacity cm ` °.w:, °°�°° within exisiting general fund resources "1► ', � Q a u<smnw o<..°.•w nmuse•aroom CrJ Partnership & Interlocal Agreements Purpose Operational Framework • Strengthen coordination between County, fire • County Fire Marshal retains statutory authority districts, and regional partners under County Code and State Fire Code • Support consistent fire and life-safety delivery • ILAs support service delivery but do not transfer • Formalize cooperation already occuring operationally regulatory authority • Provide mutual aid and professional coverage when • Agreements emphasize exchange of services and needed mutual support Areas of Cooperation060 , Financial Approach • Fire investigation coverage and backup support . Current priority is cooperative, like-for-like service Jaw • Incident communication and coordination protocols agreements to support regional capacity rather • Training opportunities and professional._ - --- - than fee-for-service contracting .. _`- : - development ---- _ -r- — - __ -~ -- • Joint public eduction and prevention outreach --•= • Technical consultation and operational suppo .=. - — -- -.. Life-Safety Authority & Services 0\ �. Risk-Based Inspection Program MARSHAL Regional Interlocal Agreements Fire Marshal Services in 2026 Fiscal Discipline & Cost Recovery