During a recent city council meeting, Hamilton Fire Chief Thomas Eichelberger presented proposed changes to Chapter 1505 of the fire prevention code aimed at enhancing local enforcement of fire safety regulations. Currently, the city follows the Ohio fire code and conducts inspections of local businesses. When violations are found, businesses are given a 30-day period to address these issues. However, if violations remain unresolved, the city must refer the matter to the state of Ohio, a process that is often lengthy and resource-intensive.

Eichelberger's proposal seeks to streamline this process by allowing the city to handle citations for unresolved violations locally. This change is intended to provide a more assertive and efficient approach to fire safety enforcement, enabling quicker resolution of issues and ultimately enhancing public safety. The chief emphasized that while the local citation process would be introduced, the option to escalate matters to the state would still remain available.

The council members were invited to ask questions regarding the proposal, indicating a collaborative approach to the discussion. The proposed changes reflect a commitment to improving safety measures within the community by ensuring that fire code violations are addressed promptly and effectively.