Operations committee refers draft 2024 International Fire Code to fire chiefs for review

The operations committee referred a proposed local adoption of the 2024 International Fire Code to the county fire commission and local fire chiefs for review, county staff said. Jeremy Wade, the county fire marshal, explained the county currently lacks a locally adopted fire code for unincorporated areas and proposed adopting the 2024 code with county amendments to align with recent state changes.

"What we have before you would be a local adoption of fire code... we're looking at adopting the 2024 version of the international fire code with some amendments," Jeremy Wade (S8), the county fire marshal, told the committee. He said the draft includes amendments intended to align with state minimums and that the county's process would include filing the draft with the county clerk for a 90-day public review period before full-commission consideration in November.

Commissioners pressed for review by municipal and volunteer fire chiefs; Wade said the full ordinance draft had not yet been circulated to all chiefs and welcomed referral to the fire commission so they could provide feedback during the 90-day review period. Wade also described implementation elements: phased inspections, outreach and training for volunteer departments, use of the BZA as an appeals body for decisions by the fire marshal, and the practical challenges of compliance for older buildings.

After discussion about timing and the benefit of chief review, the committee voted to send the draft to the fire commission for chiefs to examine and to return it to the full commission following the 90-day review. No final adoption occurred at this meeting; the referral begins the administrative posting and review process.