New Jersey Administrative Code › Title 5 - COMMUNITY AFFAIRS › Chapter 71 - FIRE CODE ENFORCEMENT › Subchapter 3 - ORGANIZATION, ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT › Section 5:71-3.3 - Duties of fire officials and fire inspectors

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 14, July 15, 2024
(a) The fire official
				shall enforce the code and the regulations and shall:
1. Maintain certification with the Division
				pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:71-4;
2. Ensure that notices of violations are served
				whenever inspections reveal violations;
3. Provide that permit applications are available
				and assist the public on preparing them when necessary;
4. Review all permit applications for completeness
				as to form;
5. Ensure that the
				inspection required for the issuance of a permit is performed in a timely
				manner;
6. Ensure that no activity or
				use which requires a permit is carried out without one;
7. Ensure that all life hazard uses are
				registered;
8. Assist the Division, when
				requested, with any registration application;
9. Coordinate with the fire subcode official where
				work to be done to comply with the Fire Code requires a construction
				permit;
10. Collect all fees and
				penalties due the local enforcing agency and ensure that they are properly accounted
				for;
11. Ensure that all requests for
				variances are properly prepared, documented and approved or denied in a timely
				manner;
12. Ensure that all persons
				seeking to appeal are promptly referred to the Construction Code Board of
				Appeals;
13. Record all notices of
				violation and determine the amount of all penalties for non-compliance;
14. Ensure that a report of every inspection is
				completed and properly filed;
15. Take
				reasonable measures to determine when imminent hazards exist and enforce the law as
				provided for by the Code;
16. File such
				reports, forms and certifications as the Division may require;
17. Supervise the work of any assigned inspectors
				or enforcement personnel to ensure compliance with the Code, completeness and
				accuracy;
18. Ensure that any agency
				staff members requiring certification have been certified;
19. Ensure that the procedures of the local
				enforcing agency conform to the requirements of the Code and the
				regulations;
20. Prepare and obtain
				reports required by the regulations;
21.
				Attend meetings and hearings as required by the Code and the regulations;
22. Coordinate the activities of the local
				enforcing agency with other Code enforcement agencies and State agencies having a
				related interest or responsibility;
23.
				Carry out such other functions as are necessary and appropriate to the position of
				fire officials including coordinating transition to a successor fire
				official;
24. Respond to and cause to be
				investigated any complaints brought under the Code;
25. Investigate, or cause to be investigated,
				every reported fire or explosion occurring within the jurisdiction that involves the
				loss of life or serious injury or causes destruction or damage to property. Such
				investigation shall be initiated immediately upon the occurrence of such fire or
				explosion; and if it appears that such an occurrence is of a suspicious nature, the
				fire official shall take charge immediately of the physical evidence, and in order
				to preserve any physical evidence relating to the cause or origin of such fire or
				explosion, take means to prevent access by any person or persons to such building,
				structure or premises until such persons designated by law to pursue investigations
				into such matters become involved and shall further cooperate with such authorities
				in the collection of evidence and prosecution of the case; and
26. Contact a local or county juvenile firesetter
				intervention program if, upon determination by an investigative authority having
				jurisdiction, a juvenile has been involved in a fire setting incident or has
				exhibited inappropriate behavior involving the misuse of fire or fire safety
				equipment.