Fire Marshal 
The Fire Marshal has the primary responsibility for Fire Prevention, Fire and Life Safety Education, Fire Risk Management and Fire Inspection programs and enforcing state and local fire codes in the Hopkins Hill Fire District.  
Whereas other divisions are charged primarily with responding to fire and rescue incidents, the Fire Marshal’s objective is to minimize the possibility of the fire occurring in the first place. With the assistance and support of Fire and Rescue Division personnel, he directs the activities of Hopkins Hill Fire Department in these areas. More details about the duties of the Fire Marshal are listed below bottom. We encourage you to look.
 

 

Fire Education and Prevention 

Of prime importance to the Fire Marshal are education and prevention activities. Exhibiting vehicles and equipment at local businesses, school programs, open house events and other activities are all designed to raise awareness and educate the public on fire safety issues.

Some safety tips and guidelines are available through the links below:

·         Smoke and Carbon Monoxide (CO)  Alarms

·         Hazardous Materials

·         Home Fire Prevention and Safety

·         Consumer Products Safety Commission Recalls

Construction Plans Review

Proper application and enforcement of State and Local laws and ordinances help assure safer, less fire prone structures. To that end, the Fire Marshal is responsible to review and approve building plans for all new construction and additions to and/or remodeling of existing structures.

The following is the process followed in seeking approval of building plans.

·         Information on New Home Construction Plan Approval

·         Information on New Commercial Building Construction or Alterations to Existing Buildings

·         Application for Construction Plans Review

·         Plan Review Fee Schedule

New Home Construction

Construction plans must be reviewed and approved by the Fire Marshal before the building inspector will issue a building permit. Four (4) copies of construction drawings drawn to scale with sufficient clarity and detailed dimensions to show the nature and character of the proposed work plans must be provided. When the plans have been approved, you will be contacted to pick up three copies of the plans. The Fire Marshal will retain one copy until the final inspection of the completed building. You must call the fire station (821-6866) to make an appointment for this inspection. Upon successful completion of the final inspection a certificate will be issued to submit to the building inspector. 

Note: New Homes (built after February 20, 2004) are required to have smoke alarms installed in each bedroom and outside sleeping area. A smoke alarm is required at the bottom of the basement stairs. Heat detectors must be installed in garages. All devices must be hard-wired, have a battery back-up system, and be interconnected. Carbon monoxide alarms are required to be installed near each separate sleeping areas in accordance with manufacturer's instructions. They must also be hard-wired.

Click here to schedule a Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm Inspections

 

New Commercial Construction or Alterations to Existing Buildings

Construction plans must be reviewed and approved by the Fire Marshal before the building inspector will issue a building permit. Four (4) copies of construction drawings drawn to scale with sufficient clarity and detailed dimensions to show the nature and character of the proposed work plans must be provided. 

After the plans have been approved, the Fire Marshal will retain one copy. You will be contacted to pick up the other three sets. 

Periodic on-site inspections will be conducted as the structure is being built. A final inspection will be conducted by the Fire Marshal. Upon successful completion of this inspection, a letter will be sent to the Coventry Building Inspector certifying that all of the provisions of the Rhode Island Fire Prevention Code have been met. At this point the building inspector will conduct a final inspection before issuing a Certificate of Occupancy.

Click here to print an application.

Hazardous Household Material

Occasionally, fire departments are dispatched to a building where a chemical has spilled or the occupant has detected a strange odor, but cannot find the source. Many of these incidents involve household chemicals such as cleaning agents, paints, pesticides, and flammable or combustible liquids.

Problems also occur when products have been used contrary to their instructions, or, by mixing them with other agents that are incompatible. It is important to follow the instructions on a product’s label and to properly dispose of any unwanted contents. Many products should not be discarded with ordinary trash. For more information on where and how to dispose of unwanted chemicals and flammable liquids, visit the RI Resource Recovery Corporation web site.

Fire Site Investigation

It is the Fire Marshal who meticulously goes through the ashes to determine what went wrong. The investigation helps document the incident, add to our knowledge of potential hazards and determine whether the fire was accidental or was arson.