Fire Department

Fire Prevention

Effective January 1, 2012 there will be no new grant applications accepted for the Downtown Fire Sprinkler Grant program due to the Governor's action to dissolve Local Redevelopment Agencies and the removal of funds. We are in the process of evaluating applications that were submitted prior to that date. If you have any questions, please call the Fire Marshals' Office at 778-4389.

FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU
The Fire Prevention Bureau exists to provide the highest level of fire prevention through public education, inspection and code enforcement and detailed plan review to ensure that properties and buildings are properly constructed in accordance with local and state requirements. Fire Prevention Bureau personnel strive to provide the communities we serve with the most updated information available to safely maintain your home or place of business from fire and hazards.
At Petaluma Fire Department, we see prevention as a team effort. We work with you to make our community safer for everyone. Our firefighters spend untold hours each year at schools or talking with field trip classes about fire and life safety. The community's excellent safety record can also be attributed to an aggressive fire code inspection program. Our inspectors work with contractors to ensure that new buildings are built to the strictest fire and life safety standards. They work with Petaluma business owners to help eliminate conditions that threaten the safety of the buildings occupants or impede our ability to efficiently assist in an emergency.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US AT (707) 778-4389 IF WE CAN BE OF SERVICE TO YOU.

THE FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU
Under the direction of the Fire Marshal, the Fire Prevention Bureau has five main responsibilities: Fire Investigation, Code Enforcement and Inspection, Plan Review, Public Education, and Weed Abatement.

• PLAN REVIEW is staffed with two part-time plan review contractors. Plan review is conducted for proposed new construction projects, building remodels and land development projects throughout the City, including the review of fire and life safety systems and their intended use and installation. Plan review also ensures that all new construction complies with the City’s
FIRE SPRINKLER ORDINANCE.

• CODE ENFORCEMENT AND INSPECTION is staffed with one full time Fire Inspector who is responsible for inspecting existing businesses and properties for fire code violations and to educate occupants on the safe handling, use, and proper of HAZARDOUS MATERIALS per the California Fire Code and other State laws. Code Enforcement and Inspection also conducts testing of fire and life safety systems, such as fire sprinkler and fire alarm, and conducts inspections of special events such as fairs, carnivals and fireworks displays.

• WEED ABATEMENT is staffed with one part-time seasonal inspector who inspects both public and private properties for unabated hazardous and/or combustible fuels which would allow a fire to travel from property to property or to structures. Weed Abatement insures that property owners maintain a “defensible space” around their property that would allow firefighters to effectively stop fires from spreading from open space areas to homes and properties. These areas can be viewed on the FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE MAP.

• PUBLIC EDUCATION is staffed by the one full-time Fire Inspector. Public Education provides numerous programs intended to promote and teach fire safety to all ages. Our Public Education personnel is trained to provide a large range of programs from teaching kindergarteners how to “Stop, Drop and Roll” to assisting senior citizens how to recognize and eliminate hazards in their home. Our Public Education program also provides intervention for children and families on how to curb juvenile fire setting behavior.

• FIRE INVESTIGATION is staffed by the Fire Marshal and the full-time Fire Inspector who are responsible for determining the origin and cause of fires and the investigations of fire related incidents.

DOCUMENTS AND fORMS

Contact Information

Larry B. Anderson, Fire Chief

Jeff Schach,
Battalion Chief - Administration & EMS Division

Cary Fergus
Fire Marshal

Phil Sutsos,
Battalion Chief - Support Services Division

Jeff Holden,
Battalion Chief - Operations & Training

Russ Rasmussen,
Battalion Chief - Communications & Technology

Petaluma Fire Department Location:
198 ‘D’ St.
Petaluma, CA 94952
phone: 707.778.4390
alternative emergency phone:
707.762.4545
fax: 707.762.4547
email:
firedept@ci.petaluma.ca.us

Fire Prevention Bureau Location:
22 Bassett Street
Cary Fergus
Fire Marshal
phone: 707.778.4389
fax: 707.776.3642
mailing address:
11 English Street
Petaluma, CA 94952

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