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TextAbout the Fire MarshalOVERVIEW & MISSION
Successful implementation of the Fire Marshal’s mission is accomplished by over 100 Fairfax County employees who are trained and certified to enforce a variety of fire prevention regulations including portions of the Uniform Statewide Building Code. In addition to services provided during regular business hours, on-duty fire investigators provide coverage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to respond to and investigate fire and hazardous materials incidents. In addition, a fire inspector is on-call after regular business hours to investigate reports of life-threatening or dangerous fire code violations and to respond to buildings with out-of-service fire protection systems to ensure that the systems are repaired and fire protection is maintained.
The cumulative efforts of the Fire Marshal help to ensure lower property insurance costs, foster economic development, lower the number and severity of firefighter injuries, and increase the quality of life in Fairfax County. The Fairfax County Office of the Fire Marshal is recognized as one of the most innovative in the United States, and is one of the most thorough in its inspection work. This is reflected in the Insurance Services Office’s (ISO) statistical rating of Fairfax County as having one of the lowest ratios of total dollars lost to total dollars protected in the state of Virginia. Commercial insurance rates also reflect the County’s high standards in fire prevention. For example, a dollar’s worth of commercial insurance in Fairfax County costs about 60 cents. By comparison, a dollar’s worth of commercial insurance in the City of Richmond cost about $1.29. Read more about ISO ratings in Fairfax County ...
Mission: To prevent the inception or recurrence of fire and hazardous conditions by providing fire prevention and hazardous materials-related educational, enforcement, inspection, investigative, plans review, and technical services to the businesses, industries, residents, and visitors of Fairfax County and the towns of Clifton, Herndon, and Vienna.
Motto: "Pride in Prevention"
Vision: Successful community and industry partnerships to eliminate loss of life and property due to fire and environmental hazards.
COMMAND & ORGANIZATION
The Office of the Fire Marshal, which is the Fire Prevention Division of the Fire & Rescue Department’s Business Services Bureau, functions under the leadership of a Deputy Fire Chief, who is responsible for oversight of all aspects of the Office of the Fire Marshal's mission. This oversight includes supervision of the Fire Prevention Services (FPS) and Hazardous Materials & Investigative Services (HMIS) sections, each commanded by a Battalion Fire Chief.
FIRE PREVENTION SERVICES |
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS & INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES |
The Deputy Fire Chief of the Fire Prevention Division, also known as the Deputy County Fire Marshal, reports directly to the Assistant Fire Chief of the Business Services Bureau who, in turn, reports directly to the Fire Chief. The Fire Chief also serves as the County Fire Marshal, which is a position appointed by the County Executive with the approval of the Board of Supervisors pursuant to §62-2-1 of the Fairfax County Code. All sworn Fire Marshals under the Deputy Fire Marshal are considered Assistant Fire Marshals.
AGENT FOR THE FAIRFAX COUNTY BUILDING OFFICIAL
The Fairfax County Fire Marshal is authorized to act on behalf of the Fairfax County Building Official (DPWES) regarding enforcement of the Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC). The Fire Marshal provides primary USBC enforcement in the area of fire protection systems and supplemental USBC enforcement in areas including, but not limited to, hazardous materials storage and means of egress. The scope of services provided on behalf of DPWES includes plans review, processing and issuing construction permits, and inspections. The Office of the Fire Marshal is responsible for the final approval of fire protection equipment and systems.
This authorization falls within the Building Official's authority to delegate duties and powers in accordance with Section 106.2 of the USBC and is in furtherance of the Fire Marshal's enforcement powers set forth in Chapters 61 and 62 of the Fairfax County Code. The Building Official retains ultimate responsibility for assuring that delegated duties and powers are carried out in accordance with the USBC.
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL
In accordance with §27-99 and §9.1-208 of the Code of Virginia, the Virginia Department of Fire Programs (VDFP), which includes the State Fire Marshal, is authorized to enter into an agreement with Fairfax County for services relating to the administration and enforcement of regulations affecting fire safety in public buildings. Therefore, pursuant to a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Virginia State Fire Marshal and the Fairfax County Fire Marshal, the County Fire Marshal has the authority as a representative of the State Fire Marshal to respond to calls of complaint for violation of the Statewide Fire Prevention Code (SFPC) at state-owned facilities that constitute an imminent hazard to the occupants, such as chained or blocked exit doors, improper storage of flammable liquids, the use of flammable decorative materials, and overcrowding.
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Office of the Fire Marshal
About the Fire Marshal 10700 Page Avenue Fairfax, Virginia 22030 Telephone: 703-246-4800 Fax: 703-691-0209 |
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