City of Manassas Fire and Rescue Department
INTRODUCTION TO THE
MISSION AND OPERATION
OF THE
OFFICE OF THE FIRE MARSHAL
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The mission of the Office of the Fire Marshal
is to protect the lives and property of the
citizens of the City of Manassas:
Through fire safety education,
Through the enforcement of the Fire Prevention Code and arson laws,
Through a comprehensive fire safety inspection program,
Through the diligent investigation of fires, bombings, and enviornmental
crimes,
Through the arrest and conviction of those guilty of arson and related laws,
Through membership in professional organizations,
Through continuing education and training,
And by keeping to the highest levels of courage, integrity, and professionalism.
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Office of the Fire Marshal
The Code of Virginia Chapter 27 grants
authority to localities to appoint a Fire Marshal.
The Manassas City Council established the
Office of the Fire Marshal in Chapter 62- Fire Protection
of the Code of the City of Manassas.
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The Office of the Fire Marshal is part of the
Manassas City Fire and Rescue Department
which became operational on July 1, 2008.
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Office of the Fire Marshal
Duties, Responsibilities, and Authority
Primary Fire Prevention Agency for the City
The duty to investigate and prosecute all offenses
involving hazardous materials, fires, fire bombings,
bombings, attempts or threats to commit such
offenses, environmental crimes, manufacture of
explosive devices, and malicious false alarms.
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Office of the Fire Marshal
The duty to protect life and property through the
enforcement of the Fire Prevention Code in commercial
occupancies and in residences where certain hazardous
conditions exist.
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Office of the Fire Marshal
•
Responsible for the review of construction plans and issue permits
for the installation of fire protection systems and equipment.
•
Responsible for the testing of fire protection
systems and equipment in new and existing buildings.
•
Responsible for the regulation of hazardous
operations and issue over 200
annual Fire Prevention Code Permits
•
Responsible for the establishment
and enforcement of fire lanes.
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Office of the Fire Marshal
Selection and Qualification Criteria
Fire Marshals must successfully complete:
- Medical Examination
- Background Check
- Psychological Testing and Evaluation
- Polygraph
NFPA Firefighter II Certification
or Civilian Entry Certification
and
HazMat Awareness
Fire Inspector II
Property Maintenance Inspector
Fire Investigator II
Fire Protection Plans Examiner
Fire Protection (General) Inspector
Bi-Annual Firearms Qualification
Fire Marshal Academy - Law Enforcement for Fire Marshals
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Office of the Fire Marshal
Training and Certification Levels for Fire Marshals
Fire Inspector II
Basic level for Fire Marshals for code enforcement
Summons powers for fire code violations
Requires certification as a firefighter and HazMat Awareness Level, or
May enter as a civilian thru the VFMA Civilian Entry Program
Requires 16 hours of recert training every two years.
Fire Investigator II
Basic level for fire investigation
Requires certification as a firefighter, HazMat Awareness Level,
and Fire Inspector II
Requires 40 hours of recert training every two years.
Law Enforcement Fire Marshal
Highest level of certification
Requires certification as a firefighter, HazMat Awareness Level,
Fire Inspector II and Fire Investigator II
Requires graduation from the VFMA LE Course
Requires 40 hours of recert training every two years.
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Commonwealth of Virginia
Department of Fire Programs
Training and Certification Levels for Fire Marshals
Firefighter
certified
Civilian Entry
Program
Civilian Entry Examination
Fire Marshal
Fire Inspector
Code Enforcement
Fire Marshal
Fire Investigator
Origin and Cause
Fire Marshal
Law Enforcement
Criminal Activity
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Authority Granted to the
Fire Marshal
Code Enforcement
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Office of the Fire Marshal
The Code of Virginia section 27-34.2 and the Code of the City of
Manassas grant the Fire Marshal the power to arrest, to procure and
serve warrants and to issue summons for the violation of fire
prevention and fire safety laws. (Fire Prevention Code)
Fire Marshals must successfully complete
training and examination as prescribed by the
Virginia Department of Fire Programs, the
Department of Housing and Community Development,
and the Department of Criminal Justice Services to
be certified as a Fire Inspector II and may be
granted summons powers by their jurisdiction.
A violation of the Fire Prevention Code is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
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Office of the Fire Marshal
Fire Marshals enforce the Statewide Fire Prevention Code
and portions of the Uniform Statewide Building Code,
- Conduct fire inspections in commercial occupancies.
- Issue Fire Prevention Code permits for hazardous operations.
- Review plans for the installation of fire protection systems.
- Inspect and test fire protection systems.
- Regulate blasting and pyrotechnic sale and displays.
- Obtain Fire Inspection Warrant.
- Issue a Virginia Uniform Summons for code violations.
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Authority Granted to the
Fire Marshal
Law Enforcement
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Office of the Fire Marshal
The Code of Virginia section 27-34.2:1 and the Code of the City
of Manassas grant Fire Marshals the same police powers as a
sheriff, police officer or law-enforcement officer.
Fire Marshals must successfully complete the
Virginia Fire Marshal Academy - Law Enforcement Course
as prescribed by the Department of Fire Programs and
the Department of Criminal Justice Services to
be granted police powers.
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Office of the Fire Marshal
Fire Marshal Training
Training includes:
Fire cause and origin.
Constitutional, federal, state, and local laws.
Arson, explosive, and environmental laws.
Forensic analysis, fire science, fire behavior,
and evidence collection.
Interview and interrogation.
Fire and post-blast scene reconstruction.
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Office of the Fire Marshal
Fire Marshal Training
Fire Marshals are trained in arrest procedures,
defensive tactics, felony stops, firearms,
emergency vehicle operations, surveillance,
and officer safety by instructors from the Virginia State Police.
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Office of the Fire Marshal
Fire Marshal Training
Fire Marshals specialize in fire-related law enforcement.
Fire Marshals receive limited training in the types of crimes
that Police Officers respond to and investigate such as:
Robbery, Rape, Larceny, Drugs, Domestic Violence
Fire Marshals do not enforce traffic laws or operate radar.
Unexploded "shape charge" found by workers cleaning
out a storage room at BAE Systems was determined to
be an inert hoax device.
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Office of the Fire Marshal
Fire Marshals work to determine the cause and origin of fires to prevent
accidental re-occurrence, identify defective equipment, improve building
and fire prevention standards, and prosecute arson.
FMs determined a faulty HVAC unit caused this fire that
destroyed one townhouse and damaged two others.
A fire occurred in the engine of this experimental airplane
as it was preparing for take-off at the Manassas Airport.
A two-alarm fire at a strip shopping center destroyed
two city businesses and did $500,000 damage.
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Office of the Fire Marshal
Fire Marshals track local and national fire-occurrence trends in
order to help educate the public on how to live a fire-safe life style.
An unattended candle caused a fire in a townhouse
that seriously injured two residents and destroyed
the structure on Speedwell Court.
Use of an artifical flower pot as an ashtray caused a
two-alarm fire that burned through the roof of an
apartment building on Devonshire Court.
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Office of the Fire Marshal
When To Call For a Fire Marshal
Any type of fire
structure, vehicle, large area of brush, open burning, serial dumpsters, airplane, etc.
Fire Fatality or Burn Injury to civilian and public safety personnel
Bombs, Explosives, Illegal Fireworks, and Hazardous Material spills.
Illegal dumping and unapproved use of city fire hydrants and sewer, gas leaks.
Exceeding Occupant Load in Assembly Use Group buildings.
Threats to destroy or injure by fire or bombing.
Blocked exits, malfunctioning fire alarm,
Tampering with fire protection equipment,
Malicious false alarms.
Hoarding cases.
FMs investigate why a natural gas line was cut by
a contractor and disrupted service to our citizens.
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"When in doubt, turn 'em out!"
There is a Fire Marshal on-call
24 hours a day, everyday of the year.
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Office of the Fire Marshal
Who we are:
Francis J. Teevan
Fire Marshal
Certified Firefighter II, Law Enforcement Fire Marshal, Fire Inspector, Fire Investigator
Certified Fire Official, Certified Building Maintenance Official
Certified Fire Protection Plans Examiner, Certified Property Maintenance Inspector
James T. Hartnett
Deputy Fire Marshal
Certified Fire Official, Fire Inspector II, Fire Investigator II, Law
Enforcement Fire Marshal
Richard C. Boyd, Jr.
Assistant Fire Marshal
Certified Firefighter II, Law Enforcement Fire Marshal, Fire Inspector, Fire Investigator
Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator
Certified Fire Official, Certified Building Maintenance Official
Certified Fire Protection Plans Examiner, Certified Property Maintenance Inspector
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Office of the Fire Marshal
We are active members of several professional
organizations:
National Board on Fire
Service Professional
Qualifications
Virginia Fire Prevention
Association
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Office of the Fire Marshal
Questions?
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This presenation is a production of the
City of Manassas Fire and Rescue Department
Office of the Fire Marshal
Questions or comments should be directed to
firemarshal@manassasva.gov or 703-257-8458
Francis J. Teevan, CFO, CBMO
Fire Marshal
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