Local fire codes require updating

The City of Bloomington Fire Department presented the City Council last week with a recommendation to upgrade the city’s fire regulations. \nThe original policy was developed in 1976, and since then has undergone slight revisions in 1997 and 2002, said Danny Lopez, communications director at the Mayor’s office. After reviewing the fire code, the Bloomington Fire Department recommended two alterations including modifying the fine structure and expanding on various procedure protocols. \nThe intention of these changes is to make the current fire regulations more consistent with the state’s. In order to do that, the Bloomington Fire Department worked in conjunction with the Bloomington Police Department, the State Fire Marshall and the State of Indiana Excise Police to review the current fire code. \n“We’re confident that making simple modifications to the fire code ... will have extensive effects in protecting the public’s well-being,” City of Bloomington Fire Chief Roger Kerr said in a press release. \nLopez said the previous fine structure was “arbitrary in terms of severity of violation.” \nIn other words, many less serious offenses such as emergency lights not working may have cost the same as a more serious offense like a broken fire detector. The new fire code will increase fines as high as $2,500 and a list of the recommended fine structure can be found on the Bloomington Fire Department Web site. \nAnother goal of the new fire code would be to “spell out exact (inspection) procedures” and clear up any ambiguity, said Lopez. \nThe state requires the local fire departments to be responsible for periodic inspections. As a result, a clear outline of inspection procedures will allow businesses to be more aware of necessary fire safety precautions. \n“If there’s a safer way to do (something) then we want to change,” said Micahaela Conner, day-shift manager of Kilroy’s Sports Bar. “We’re all about safety and cooperation.” \nLopez also mentioned that there has been constant contact with local businesses in order to help prepare them for the upcoming changes. \nHe emphasized that such upgrades would benefit the patrons and help businesses to protect their own assets. \n“We’re doing this with the business in mind,” said Lopez. \n“Fire prevention is the most efficient way to address public safety issues related to fire, and we will be working hard with businesses to make sure they understand what’s expected of them,” Kerr said.