Fire Dept. Inspections

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This article appeared in todays Sun news here in Myrtle Beach

Most fire agencies not inspected

By Rick Brundrett - McClatchy Newspapers

COLUMBIA --State regulators have conducted fewer than 60 safety inspections of South Carolina's 540 fire departments over the past 10 years, an investigation by McClatchy Newspapers has found.

Of those inspections, only six were "random," not prompted by a firefighter's complaint, an accident or a referral from another agency.

Fines for serious violations averaged less than $300, the study found, and often were reduced by more than half.

The deaths of nine Charleston firemen killed in a June furniture store fire have focused attention on firefighting techniques and procedures and the safety regulations designed to protect them.

David Daniels, safety representative on the board of directors of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, believes U.S. firefighter deaths would drop if fire department inspections were conducted more regularly as they are in other countries, such as England.

"The U.S. loses more firefighters in the line of duty than all other countries combined," said Daniels, the fire chief in Renton, Wash.

"For whatever reason, folks here have determined that fire protection is not really all that important until it happens to them."

Last year, 89 U.S. firefighters died on duty, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

Jim Knight, spokesman for the state occupational safety office, defended the agency's overall inspection record of fire departments, saying there aren't enough inspectors to do regular inspections of all of the state's private and public employers.

As for the relatively low fines, Knight said his agency would rather see fire departments spend money to correct serious violations than pay fines.

"Even in the private sector, OSHA's purpose is not to put huge pots of money in the state treasury," he said.