Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

LAS VEGAS CITY HALL:

Audit critical of oversight of fire code inspectors

As Las Vegas firefighters prepare for their hot and busy season, an auditor’s report has questioned whether inspectors charged with making sure structures meet fire code regulations are being properly managed.

The Fire Prevention Division, within the city’s Fire & Rescue Department, inspects businesses, construction sites and even some homes to make sure they adhere to the city’s fire code. That’s supposed to include strong internal oversight to make sure the division’s 20 inspectors are doing their jobs properly.

An April 3 audit of the division by the city auditor’s office found insufficient “quality control” measures within the $4.5 million unit.

“Without a formal and organized quality control program, there is an increased risk of inconsistencies or deficiencies in how inspectors and engineers are enforcing and applying the fire code,” the audit found.

This could be remedied in part by adopting procedures to monitor how well inspectors are performing their jobs, auditors said. That might include having supervisors accompany inspectors on inspections, or have them visit the same sites afterward to evaluate performance.

Inadequate quality control was one of 10 criticisms auditors made. Other concerns included the length of time it takes inspectors to file notice of discovered hazardous materials; the failure to adequately study commercial fires to see whether fire code regulations were being complied with; and tracking whether division employees are engaged in outside work — which city policy mandates to prevent conflicts of interest.

The Fire Prevention Division is overseen by Fire Marshal Robert Bell, who was appointed to the post a year ago. He oversees two subdivisions, including the code enforcement unit, which includes two deputy fire marshals, a supervisor and the 20 inspectors.

Inspectors examine new construction sites, including apartment complexes and condominiums, strip malls, office buildings and any other structure equipped with fire suppression systems such as sprinklers or alarms. This can include residences.

All businesses are inspected annually, and when new business license applications are filed. Inspectors operate out of the city’s fire stations to be closer to the businesses they inspect.

In fiscal year 2008, city inspectors conducted 26,594 inspections, according to the audit.

A city spokeswoman said Bell was out of the office, and neither he nor anyone else in the division would be made available for comment.

In their response to the audit, however, division leaders wrote that they are working to rectify the alleged deficiencies raised by auditors.

For example, regarding the hazardous materials program, division leaders have promised to create a “Special Hazards Unit” to conduct inspections of high-risk and hazardous materials, and more quickly input the information into a database where it can be accessed by firefighters.

A plan to create such a unit was scheduled to be completed by May 1; it is unclear whether that goal was met. According to other city officials, the division has made some headway on improving its post-fire evaluations.

Five people, including two City Council members, serve on the Audit Oversight Committee, which discussed the audit report at an April 23 meeting.

Councilwoman Lois Tarkanian could not be reached for this story; Councilman Steve Wolfson declined to comment. Of the three outside committee members, only Paul Workman, an executive with City National Bank, could be reached.

City inspectors have a good reputation for competence and acting ethically, Workman said. He said he is optimistic that Bell and Las Vegas Fire & Rescue Chief Greg Gammon would work diligently to implement the audit’s suggestions.

“These fire guys are very attentive,” Workman said. “I was impressed with both of them.”

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