Irwin firefighters propose fire safety inspections

Irwin’s fire department wants borough officials to consider giving their stamp of approval to developing a fire safety inspection program. It’s an initiative that will improve safety in town and give the fire department a better rating, leading to lower insurance premiums, the fire chief said.

Irwin Council is expected to vote Wednesday on a resolution to develop a fire inspection program by the newly formed fire department committee, with input from the community and stakeholders.

A fire safety inspection program is needed, Justin Mochar, chief of the volunteer fire department, told Irwin Council this week.

“We’ve seen a large deficit in the safety of properties in general,” Mochar said. Firefighters have gone into Main Street structures where in some cases, the building lacks smoke detectors.

“They make a large difference, sometimes life or death,” Mochar said.

He noted that the department has had a program to give residents smoke detectors.

Mochar told council he envisions the fire department creating an entity legally separate from the fire department to operate the fire safety inspection program. The scheduling and billing for the services would not fall upon the borough’s administrative staff.

A fee structure for the inspections would have to be developed. The chief said he would be open to sharing the inspection fees with the borough.

“This is in the infant stage. It’s not going to be an overnight process,” Mochar told council, adding that a committee of fire department representatives and the borough can discuss the proposal.

The program would not replace the work of Matt Sever, the borough’s code enforcement officer, but could support his efforts by making him aware of potential code violations, Mochar said.

The firefighters in the Irwin fire department are certified to conduct the safety inspections, Mochar said.

“The last thing I want is one of my (volunteer) firefighters getting hurt helping someone else,” Mochar said.

The properties that would be subject to the fire safety inspections and the frequency of those inspections was not discussed at the meeting.

A fire safety inspection is something that could be done when a property changes ownership, Council President Rick Burdelski said following the meeting.

Developing a fire safety inspection initiative will take a lot of money and a lot of time, Mochar said. An ordinance would have to be drafted by the borough and approved by council.

“It’s a ton of work to put in,” Mochar said.

Other fire departments in Westmoreland and Allegheny counties do conduct fire safety inspections, Mochar said.

The Jeannette fire department conducts fire safety inspections under an ordinance passed in 2016. The ordinance requires a fire safety inspection by the fire department on all non-owner occupied residential buildings and a rental unit occupancy permit before a person can occupy the unit.

The fire safety report calls for inspections for carbon monoxide detectors, smoke detectors that must be wired to the house’s electrical system, requiring bedrooms to meet building code requirements and exits, aisles, hallways and corridors free from obstructions.

Electrical systems must have all light fixtures and switches in good working order as well as GFI outlets. Vegetation like shrubs and trees must not touch the building.

Jeannette charges $100 per unit for one-to-three unit per building for inspections before a new tenant moves into a residence and every 10 years. For four or more units in the same building, the city requires an annual inspection by the fire department for a fee of $50 per unit.

Chief William Frye could not be reached for comment.

Greensburg has a requirement for a fire inspection report for all commercial and rental properties, once every two years. Buildings in Greensburg with three or more units are considered commercial.

Steven Kohl, a city planning department employee who conducts the fire safety inspections, could not be reached for comment Friday.