MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

State Fire Marshal Division

Jerry Rosendahl, Director Background
The Office of State Fire Marshal (SFM) was created in 1905 and charged with the responsibility of investigating the origin, cause and circumstances of fires, and maintaining fire incident reports submitted by local fire departments. Division responsibilities now include the development and adoption of the Minnesota State Fire Code, fire safety inspections, public fire safety education, data analysis, licensing and certification programs, and a variety of other duties.

January 2013

Mission
The mission of the State Fire Marshal Division (SFM) is to protect lives and property by fostering a fire safe environment through investigation, enforcement, regulation, emergency response, data collection, and public education.

Funding
The State Fire Marshal Division is funded (FY13) by a mix of Special Revenue Accounts, including the Fire Safety Account and accounts for fire safety inspection programs in hotels and motels, day care facilities, public and charter schools, and daycare facilities. Federal funds are received for the health care facility inspection program,

Programs
Explosives Licensing and Permit Program The SFM issues licenses to those persons who manufacture, assemble, warehouse or store explosives or blasting agents for purposes of wholesale or retail sale. Those who use explosives or blasting agents are required to be licensed or obtain a permit issued by the local sheriff or chief of police. A total of 33 licenses were issued during 2012. Fire Code Development, Adoption and Training The SFM develops and adopts a comprehensive state-wide fire code, on a three-year cycle, to ensure conformance with the latest nationally recognized fire prevention standards. Interpretation and enforcement training is provided to local fire authorities in an effort to achieve consistent state-wide application and enforcement of code requirements. Fire Incident Reporting More than 235,000 fire incident and burn injury reports are analyzed annually. An internet based system is used to gather fire incident data from reporting fire departments. Information gathered is used to improve the states fire code, increase public fire safety awareness, and effectively focus state and local resources on fire safety issues. Fire Inspection In 2012 twenty-one SFM inspectors conducted 3,228 initial and 1,876 follow up inspections of hotels, motels, daycare centers, schools, hospitals, nursing homes, group homes, foster care facilities, correctional facilities, sprinkler installations and places of assembly. Inspectors provide fire safety consultation and training to fire

445 Minnesota Street, Suite 145, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101-5145 Phone: 651/201-7200 Fax: 651/215-0525 TTY: 651/282-6555 Web site: www.dps.state.mn.us

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officials, architects, engineers, contractors, building inspectors, government officials, building owners and operators, and the general public. Fire Investigation and Training Investigators assist local fire and law enforcement agencies with the origin and cause investigation of fatal fires, obvious arson fires, fires of suspicious nature, multiple injury and large dollar loss fires. In 2012, 426 investigations and 35 consultations were conducted by 11 investigators. Comprehensive fire investigation training is provided to local fire and law enforcement personnel. Continuing education programs are conducted for individual county and regional fire investigation teams, and in conjunction with various state conferences and fire schools. Fire Protection Systems The SFM regulates the fire protection industry through licensing of contractors and certification of sprinkler fitters. Staff conducts system plan reviews to ensure that contractors and designers are correctly designing fire sprinkler systems. The field inspection program ensures that systems are properly installed. 450 plan reviews were conducted in 2012. Fire Standard Compliant Cigarette Program (FSC) The (FSC) Program ensures that all cigarettes sold in Minnesota are in compliance with the FSC standards established in statute. These standards are designed to reduce the ignition propensity of cigarettes so they will self-extinguish when not actively smoked, thereby reducing the likelihood of accidental fires. 1,000 brand styles were certified in 2012. Fireworks Operator Certification The SFM enforces state law regarding public fireworks display safety and the certification of public display fireworks operators. Certified operators submit a report for each display conducted identifying the certified operator and any assistants. Operators also provide information about property damage, injuries, and product defects which may have occurred during the display. 320 operators were certified in 2012. Minnesota Board of Fire Fighter Training and Education (MBFTE) The MBFTE is charged with reimbursing fire departments for a portion of firefighter training costs, qualifying fire service instructors and curriculum, and licensing of firefighters. During 2012 approximately $2.3 million in training funds were made available to Minnesotas 785 fire departments. More than 4,700 career and paid oncall firefighters are licensed by the Board. Public Fire Education and Youth Firesetter Intervention The Public Fire Education Program works with local fire authorities, state professional organizations and other state agencies to reduce the devastating impacts of fire. The program serves as an information clearinghouse, facilitates fire prevention activities, and provides fire safety training in conjunction with state conferences and fire schools. The Youth Firesetter Intervention Program works with families and children, fire and law enforcement, mental health associations, and the juvenile justice system to reduce fire setting behavior of juveniles and to promote fire safety. Shared Services Program The Shared Fire & Rescue Services Program provides grants to fire departments for feasibility studies identifying ways to reduce costs and/or improve efficiency and effectiveness by sharing equipment, training, and other resources among multiple departments. $200,000 was awarded to 8 applicants during 2012. Nearly $400,000 was requested from 13 applicants.
Current (2012) Staffing: Fire Safety Inspectors Fire/Arson Investigators/Trainer Fire Code Training & Development Fire Code Specialist 21 12 1 1 Fire Protection Systems Public Fire Educator Youth Fire Setter Interventionist Fire Service Support Specialist Support Staff / Data Management Administration 4 1 1 1 8 3

445 Minnesota Street, Suite 145, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101-5145 Phone: 651/201-7200 Fax: 651/215-0525 TTY: 651/282-6555 Web site: www.dps.state.mn.us

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Total Staff 53 Bob Dahm Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal Robert.Dahm@state.mn.us 651-201-7202 Contacts: Jerry Rosendahl State Fire Marshal Jerry.Rosendahl@state.mn.us 651-201-7201

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Bruce West Executive Director Minnesota Board of Firefighter Training and Education 651-201-7258

445 Minnesota Street, Suite 145, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101-5145 Phone: 651/201-7200 Fax: 651/215-0525 TTY: 651/282-6555 Web site: www.dps.state.mn.us