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Fire Prevention Investigation Codes

The Fire Prevention/Investigation and Codes Division are under the direction of Deputy Chief Raymond Kalendeck.

Fire Investigation: It is the Department's job to find the cause and origin of all fires in the City of Albany. Since January 1, 2006, 108 structural fires have been investigated, with 5 of those being judged incendiary.

Fire Prevention: Each year units from throughout the City go to schools for prevention demonstrations. Visits to firehouses by Scout Troops, day care centers and schools, as well as adult education put this Department in contact with several thousand persons per year.

During the course of a year this group of Firefighters travel all over the City with their videos, firefighting equipment, and workbooks to educate the public in fire safety around the home and work place.
Depending on the group or situation, field units will accompany the Fire Prevention Division to assist them with the presentation.

Codes: The Department has become the Code inspectors for the City. It was very logical that this took place because of the Department's personnel pool and it familiarizes firefighters with the type of structures they may have to enter in an emergency.

We are currently inspecting the rental property under the Rental Registry Ordinance as well as re-inspections, complaint inspections and vacant lot inspections. During 2006 the department made 28,221 of these inspections.

Members of the Fire Prevention Division inspect large rental properties, or trouble areas.

Buildings: In 2001 the City’s Building Department was moved "under the wing" of the Public Safety Department. Once again this must be looked at as a very logical progression and allows for Department input and a better knowledge of current construction in the City. During 2006 this section made 16,525 code inspections and 18,043 building inspections. This resulted in the collection of over $1,256,671.94 in fees for permits.

Test your smoke detector often!!!