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Inspections Division

The Fire Inspections Division of the Fire Department coordinates and records the activities of fire prevention and fire inspections. This division reviews plans and works directly with contractors and building inspectors to ensure that structures are safe and in compliance. This division of the Oxford Fire Department also participates in Safe Kids NC, whose mission is to prevent accidental childhood injuries from birth to age 14.

The Oxford Fire Department offered training to multiple organizations during the last year. These classes ranged from simple trips to local schools to all-day training for the industry. We also hosted kitchen safety and fire extinguisher training for daycares and group, homes. In order to offer fire education to people who may not normally receive it, and to showcase our fire department, we also hosted an open house and set up a booth at the Strawberry Festival. Through these efforts, we were able to reach a large number of our citizens.

SELF-FIRE INSPECTION CHECKLIST

Access & Premises

  • Our address numbers for the building clearly visible from the street?
  • Is exterior fire department access unobstructed?
  • Is combustible vegetation removed so as to not create a fire hazard?
  • Is there maintained a minimum 3’ clearance around fire hydrants?
Egress

  • Are the exit ways and doors easily recognizable, unobstructed, and maintained functional?
  • If the main exit door is provided with key-locking hardware as allowed by code, is there a sign above the door that states “THIS DOOR MUST REMAIN UNLOCKED DURING BUSINESS HOURS”.
  • Are the other required exit doors be readily opened from the inside without the use of a key or special knowledge or effort?
  • Are the exits and exit enclosures free from the storage of combustible materials?
  • Are doors with self-closing hinges (Fire Doors) maintained in the closed position (not blocked open)?
Electrical

  • Are all electrical outlets, switches, and junction boxes properly covered with cover plates, and is the electrical system safe from any apparent shock and/or other electrical hazards?
  • Is the area maintained clear at least 30” in front of electrical panel(s)?
  • Are extension cords used only for temporary use?
  • Are extension cord(s) of heavy-duty construction, maintained in good condition, and only used as temporary wiring, or to service small portable appliances?
  • Are extension cord(s) grounded when serving grounded appliances?
  • Are extension cord(s) plugged directly into an approved receptacle, power tap, or multi-plug adapter and, except for approved multi-plug extension cord(s), serve only 1 portable appliance?
  • Is the ampacity of the extension cord(s) greater than the rated capacity of the portable appliance supplied by the cord(s)?
  • If multiple items need to be plugged in, is a power tap utilized with a built-in circuit breaker, and is the power tap plugged directly into a permanently installed receptacle?
 Emergency Lighting

  • If emergency lighting is provided, is it maintained in operable condition?
  • Are the means of egress illuminated when the building or structure is occupied?
 Exit Signs

  • If exit signs are required, are they maintained illuminated or self-luminous?
  • Does the backup battery work (push the test button and the exit sign should illuminate under battery power)?
 Fire Alarm System

  • If the building is equipped with a fire alarm system, has the required annual functional test been performed and a record posted?
 Fire Extinguishers

  • Is there access to fire extinguisher(s) rated minimum 2A-1OBC?
  • Is the travel distance from all portions of the building less than 75’ to a fire extinguisher?
  • Are all fire extinguishers visible and accessible (not blocked)?
  • Have the fire extinguisher(s) been serviced and tagged by a fire extinguisher company within the last 12 months?
  • Are the fire extinguisher(s) properly mounted?
  • (Proper locations-near exit doors where possible, not exceeding maximum trove! distance, properly mounted maximum 5’ high if<40 lbs., maximum 3 ½’ high if>40 lbs. In all cases, minimum 4” above the ground).
 Fire/Smoke Separations

  • Are the fire/smoke separations (automatic smoke doors, fire doors, firewalls, etc.) maintained and in working condition?
 Fire Suppression Systems

  • Is the top of storage maintained a minimum of 18” below head deflectors in fire-sprinklered areas?
  • If the building is equipped with a fire sprinkler system, has the required annual service of the fire sprinkler system been performed in the last year by a qualified sprinkler company?
  • In commercial cooking applications, has the hood suppression system been serviced in the last six months, and is the hood cleaned at intervals to prevent the accumulation of grease?
 Heat Producing Appliances

  • If portable electric heaters are used, are they used safely? Also, are they plugged directly into wall outlets and kept a minimum of3’ away from combustibles?
  • (Open flame unvented heaters are prohibited).
  • Is the clearance between ignition sources, such as light fixtures, heaters, and flame-producing devices, and combustible storage maintained in an approved manner?
Housekeeping

  • Is combustible rubbish that is stored in containers outside of vaults or rooms removed from the building a minimum of once each working day?
  • Are oily rags or similar materials stored in metal, metal-lined, or other approved containers equipped with tight-fitting covers?
  • Are combustible decorations flame retardant?
 Mechanical Hazards

  • Is the venting for exhaust products of combustion intact for gas appliances (like water heaters, furnaces, etc.)?
  • Are safe clearances maintained between gas-fired appliances (such as water heaters, furnaces, etc.) and combustible materials?
 Smoke Detection

  • Where battery-operated smoke detectors are used, have the batteries been replaced at least yearly?
  • If smoke detection is required in common areas such as corridors and basements, have they been functionally tested in the last year?
 Storage of Combustibles

  • Is the storage of combustible materials orderly?
  • Are combustible materials not stored beneath the building or structure?
  • Are rubbish containers over 5 1/3 cubic feet (40 gallons) provided with lids and made of non-combustible construction?
  • Are dumpsters that are 1.5 cubic yards or more not stored inside the building and placed more than 5’ from combustible walls, openings, or combustible roof eave lines?
 Storage of Compressed Gas

  •  If you have compressed gas containers (such as co2, helium, etc.) are they chained to prevent falling?
 Storage of Flammable & Combustible Liquids

  • Are quantities in excess of 10 gallons of flammable and combustible liquids used for maintenance purposes and the operation of equipment stored in liquid storage cabinets or in red metal safety cans, which cannot be stored in an exit egress or basement?
PUBLIC EDUCATION 

Public Education Request 
Thank you for your interest in the City of Oxford Fire Department. We value the opportunity to provide a better understanding of what we do for you. All public education requests are scheduled through the Department's Fire & Life Safety Educator. Please read the following General Guidelines and complete the form below.

General Guidelines
Public Education requests, including fire station tours, require at least a two-week advance notice. Today's fire department is a busy place even when not responding to emergency calls. The day-to-day schedule is very full with the various functions required of a modern fire department. Request with less than a two-week notice may not be scheduled. Although time has been scheduled for your tour or event, we may be called to respond to an emergency. In the event we are called away, we will be happy to reschedule for another day. These programs are provided for educational purposes and we are unable to accommodate any request for birthday parties or other non-educational events.

If you are requesting a Station Tour:

Please remember that you are visiting an active, in-service fire station and you will be briefed on a safe place to gather your group in the event we are called out on an emergency. During station visitations, there are no facilities available for you to serve food/cake to your group. Generally we will provide an age appropriate fire safety presentation and a brief tour of the station, in addition to displaying the various apparatus and equipment. 

If you are requesting a School Visit or Special Event:

At the event, the Fire Apparatus must be located in a position that will facilitate a safe and expedient response in case the apparatus is called to respond to an emergency. We will also need to be able to park on a hard surface (concrete or asphalt). If we are coming to your location and we do not arrive on time, or at all, it is due to call volume. In any event, we can reschedule for you. The event must have a designated time for an educational presentation to occur to a specific audience. We cannot send a fire apparatus to your event just to draw a crowd.

If you are requesting the Jason Brooks Memorial Smoke House

The Jason Brooks Memorial Smoke House is owned and maintained by the Granville County Fireman's Association. It is a converted travel trailer designed for children ages 5-13. We use theatrical smoke at the end of the presentation to simulate the conditions of a real house fire. The smoke is harmless, but anyone who wishes to exit before the smoke is used will be given that opportunity. The Smokehouse is available to all fire departments in Granville County. Its use by the Oxford Fire Department is subject to availability.

If you are requesting Fire Extinguisher Training: 
Oxford Fire Department will provide fire extinguisher training to businesses, school staff, and civic associations. The training includes a classroom presentation followed by a hands-on, opportunity to use fire extinguishers on a controlled fire. The discussion will include types of extinguishers, their proper use, and determining when to use an extinguisher. We supply all training materials except fire extinguishers. Generally, one 10-pound ABC fire extinguisher for every four people participating in the live-fire training is required.

If you are requesting a guest speaker: 
We are always happy to send a Fire Department representative to be a guest speaker at your meetings or gatherings. Please be sure to note on the request form what topics of interest you would like addressed in the presentation and how long you would like the speaker to speak. We welcome your interaction with the Fire Department and will strive to make it memorable for both you and your group. Please understand that the preceding rules are for your safety and will allow the fire crew to accommodate you, as well as tend to their assigned duties, in a safe and efficient manner.

Public Education Request Form 

Please fill out all required information. This helps us effectively serve your needs. Once requests are received, the information provided is verified with our Operations Master Activity Planner to determine availability. An e-mail confirmation will be sent to you once your request is received and being processed. Please allow 2-3 days for us to confirm the event with you. If you have any questions, please contact us at (919) 603-1140 or by email ofd@oxfordnc.org.