COUNTY FIRE PREVENTION ASSOCIATION MEETINGS

DIVISION UPDATES – November 2009

• The proposed fire suppression requirements for the 20012 edition of the IRC were approved at the ICC Code Development Hearings in Baltimore. The IRC committee itself voted 7 to 4 to retain the requirements in the code, and a floor motion by the National Association of Home Builders to delete the provisions was soundly defeated by an overwhelming majority.  The adoption must now be approved by New Jersey. 

The proposed amendments to the Uniform Construction Code published in the New Jersey Register September 8th includes adoption of the IRC 2009 and retains the requirements for installation of automatic fire suppression in one and two family dwellings with an effective date of January 1, 2012. The proposal can be viewed at http://www.nj.gov/dca/codes/ruleproposals/sept8_09_njregister_41njr3140a.pdf. Comments supporting the adoption of these requirements must be submitted no later than November 7^th, 2009. Comments can be submitted by mail, fax, or e-mail to DCA.

• New Jersey’s H1N1 Public Information Initiative
  In an effort to provide critical information to the public, New Jersey created a Find a Flu Shot Locator, an H1N1 Resource Center website, and a toll-free hotline.  These resources will help ensure residents and health care providers have access to information and can obtain accurate responses to their questions.  
  The State established an H1N1 Resource Center website that includes important information and timely updates on H1N1 flu in New Jersey.  The website can be found at www.nj.gov/health. Additional information on H1N1 flu is available at the federal website, www.flu.gov.
  The Find a Flu Shot Locator can be accessed at www.nj.gov/health.  Residents can find where H1N1 flu clinics are being held throughout the State.  Not all clinics are included on this list because some are being offered to very specific target populations, such as school-based efforts and private doctors’ offices.  Public flu clinics will be posted on this site as soon as they are scheduled.  Additional public health clinics will be scheduled as more vaccine arrives. Also, please view the H1N1 Alert on the DFS Website at www.state.nj.us/dca/dfs.

• The “Fire Focus” fall edition is available on the DFS Website at www...state.nj.us/dca/dfs.

• If you would like to be added to receive the monthly NJ State Fire Marshal message, please email fireprevention@dca.state.nj.is.

• Details on the 2009-2010 fire safety poster contest may be found on the Division Website at www.state.nj.us/dca/dfs.

• The Fire Inspector Fire Official Retreat is November 5 & 6 at the Middlesex County Fire Academy.

• The 7^th annual Juvenile Firesetter Conference is December 3 & 4 at the Middlesex County Fire Academy, Sayerville. For registration details please visit the DFS Website at www.state.nj.us/dca/dfs.

• Be advised the DFS has a power point slideshow on “Solar Power & Its Impact on the Fire Service”. Please visit the DFS Website at www.state.nj.us/dca/dfs.

· The next meeting of the New Jersey Fire Safety Commission will take place at 10 AM on Wednesday, November 18, 2009. It will be held at the Atlantic City Convention Center (Exhibit Hall A) in Atlantic City.

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Division Updates

November - 2009

• Be advised that the following company All-American Fire Protection is a non-permitted entity presently operating in the South Jersey area. It has been reported that they walk into a business to service portable fire extinguishers under the guise that they are under contract to do such work. The tags have no address and an out of service telephone number (215-744-0601). They request cash payment upon completion of work which appears to be the replacement of a tag only. This is all the information we presently have on the contractor. Please advise the Contractor Certification and Emblems Unit of any dealings with this contractor at 609-324-3560. All work done by them is not acceptable.

• As you know November 3, 2009 is a Statewide Election Day with a large voter turnout predicted. As many fire stations are utilized as polling places during elections, the Division of Fire Safety is providing the following recommendations to ensure security. If the area to be used is not on the apparatus bay floor, ensure that access is restricted to the apparatus. If this is not possible consider stationing a uniformed firefighter in the area to prevent access. If the area to be used is on the apparatus bay floor remove all preplans, keys to buildings, access pad numbers, portables radio’s, etc. or otherwise ensure that these items are secure from the public. Turnout gear, uniforms, etc., should be moved to an area not accessible to the public. Remove all bulletins, security notices of a non-public nature, telephone rosters of membership, radio frequency listings, SOP/SOG’s, etc. from public view. If apparatus must be left outside a uniformed firefighter should be assigned to the station for the hours of polling operation. If this is not possible, the local police should be made aware that the apparatus is not secured and request extra patrol of the fire station. Consider coordinating with neighboring fire departments to share members who can roam from station to station in lieu of every department attempting to man their individual station(s). Inform the poll workers what areas are open to them and the public and what areas are not. Provide them with emergency numbers should there be a problem. These are some general precautions. Certainly there are others that will be specific to your department’s situation. Assess you stations and take whatever precautions you can to avert assisting any possible terrorist act.

• The DFS is working with OIT to enable us to transfer our outstanding debt to the Division of Revenue for collection.  We hope to have this in place by the end of the year at the very latest.    At that time we will cease sending out Third Notice bills.  All unpaid bill records will be transferred to Division of Revenue 45 days after the 2nd Notice, Order to Pay bill is issued, unless they are on Hold status.  This shortening of the billing cycle and the involvement of the State's collection agency will hopefully translate to the Fire Officials getting their registration fees sooner.

· Please remember that anytime there is a change in LEA information, complete and forward a LEA Survey form.  Local Assistance Reps. can provide you with the form or it may be obtained from the DFS Web site. Many LEA’s have not sent their 2009 LEA Survey in yet. Please complete the survey and remit it to Marylain Kemp at mkemp@dca.state.nj.us.

· The Division has established a section on the DFS Website at www.state.nj.us/dca/dfs where 2006 IFC code questions can be submitted to DFS staff for answers. Please look for the 2006 code book, click on http://fs6.formsite.com/dca_dfs/InternationalFireCode/index.html and submit your questions.