Fire Prevention & Fire Investigation
Purpose: Shall develop relationships between the appropriate government agencies and the Association and work to see that the needs of the fire service are met.
Chairman: Gregg Cleveland, La Crosse Fire Dept.
Members: Pat Weber, Eagle River Fire Dept.
Board Member Liaison: Ed King, Town of Neenah Fire Dept.
June 2012 Report
Dear WSFCA Members:
The fire prevention committee dealt with only a few important topics in 2011/12. A major reason why it was quiet during the past year was because of the recall elections for representatives, senators, and governor.
One bill that the WSFCA saw a great deal of action was Senate Bill 32. Senate Bill 32 would have created the commercial building code as a min-maxi code, thus not allowing a local community/fire department to pass local ordinances to address local fire prevention issues or concerns. This bill was introduced by Senator Moulton and had/has the support of the builders and contractors. The WSFCA fire prevention committee and the Legislative Liaison worked with our fire safety partners to provide options, alternatives, or amendments to the bill to minimize its impact to the fire service; however, none were acceptable to the builders. The bill never came up for a vote in committee thus killing the bill. I am anticipating that this bill will come up during the fall legislative session and WSFCA will need to engage in the process again.
The DSPS 314 Committee (formerly the COMM 14) did not have much activity because we had recently completed the adoption of NFPA 1 to the 2009 edition. With the change in governor, fire safety was transferred to the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS). Secretary Ross has changed the process for membership to this and all committees and representatives for selected member agencies now must apply for membership and be approved by Governor Walker's office. One of the primary goals of the Committee will be to provide guidance to DSPS on current problem areas in the code as well as to review the changes in NFPA 1 for adoption of the 2012 edition as Wisconsin's Fire Code.
As the former Chairman of the COMM 14 Committee I have contacted Secretary Ross to get information regarding the news DSPS 314 Committee. So far no information has come forward concerning the make-up of the committee, the number of members, number of members per organization, etc. When this information becomes available to the WSFCA we will be in a much better position to participate on the committee. Depending on the fall elections I am sure that the fire prevention committee will be busy.
If any member has any questions, they should feel free to contact me at 608-789-7261.
Gregg A. Cleveland, Fire Chief, EFO, MPA
City of La Crosse Fire Department
5th Avenue South
La Crosse, WI 54601
608-789-7261 - Office
clevelandg@cityoflacrosse.org