Business Inspections
Over 3000 businesses are inspected on an annual basis within our fire district. Deputy fire marshals and 14 fire companies conduct these fire and life safety inspections to ensure that businesses are in compliance with the Oregon Fire Code.
Fire crews and department personnel conducting inspections look for items such as blocked or locked exits, electrical and mechanical hazards, house keeping and storage issues, as well as ensuring that fire protection systems are in working order. Businesses found in violation of the fire code are given between two weeks and thirty days to correct such violations. Any violation found not corrected may be cited and referred to the district attorney for possible financial penalties.
Fire company inspections are beneficial to both the businesses the fire district serves as well as the firefighters themselves. The businesses reap the benefits of perhaps reducing or eliminating the chance of a fire occurring and the firefighters, when inspecting, become more familiar with the building should an emergency occur.
Common hazards found in commercial & apartment buildings:
- Blocked exits
- Storage under stairwells
- Electrical hazards
- Fire extinguishers, doors, sprinklers and alarm systems needing service
- Click here for a list of fire extinguisher service companies
- Fire lanes blocked
- Address Issues
- Holes in walls and ceilings
In January 2018, Clackamas Fire District # 1 adopted Ordinance 18-01, which enables the Fire District to recover actual costs for non-emergency responses services provided by District personnel.
Cost-based fee for fire code inspections and code enforcement may be imposed for any fire and life safety occupancy inspections; for re-inspections for previously identified fire code violations; or for the documented actual costs of enforcing the fire code to correct previously identified violations as provided in this section. Fees assessed may include any District-incurred costs to obtain necessary inspection warrants, including attorney costs. Such work will be based on the actual cost of conducting such inspections, enforcing the code, or performing any related work and shall be calculated, if applicable, using the rates provided in Appendix A. Requests form contractors or business owners for new construction or maintenance inspections outside normal working hours may result in higher cost recovery fees due to the District’s increased personnel costs for such requests.
At time of ordinance adoption, the rate and fee schedule (Appendix A) identified the method of calculating costs of services as the average or specific cost of providing the service and will include direct costs (apparatus, personnel, and any miscellaneous supplies and services) and indirect costs (administrative costs and overhead). Fire code inspections and enforcement fees will be billed on a per hour basis and include administrative and overhead costs. Fees may be amended by the Board of Directors by resolution as provided for by the Ordinance.
More information may be found in Ordinance 18-01.