Deputy Chief Harmon
Head, Fire Prevention Bureau
513-785-7506 or 513-785-7507
The goal of the Hamilton Fire Prevention Bureau is to reduce the loss of life and property due to fire through fire prevention activities.
The Fire Prevention Bureau’s basic responsibilities include:
- Public education
- Enforcement of the Fire Prevention Codes
- Reviewing Plat Plans and Building Plans for new construction and performing acceptance inspections for new fire protection installations
- Investigates suspicious and large loss and incendiary fires and all fire deaths
- Maintains fire inspection and fire investigation records
Code Enforcement
The Fire Prevention Bureau enforces the City of Hamilton Fire Prevention Code, the Ohio Fire Code, and the Ohio Basic Building Code as it relates to fire prevention. These codes provide the tools necessary to achieve a fire safe environment in the regulated occupancies. Maintaining safe exits, emergency lighting, fire protection systems (such as alarm and sprinkler systems), and other general precautions against fire are addressed.
In the City of Hamilton engine and truck company personnel perform most of the inspections. All members of the Hamilton Fire Department are required to be Ohio State Certified Fire Safety Inspectors. The Standard Operating Procedure, Company Inspections, developed in 1998 is used as a guide for the performance of company inspections.
Fire Prevention Bureau personnel become involved when violations found are not resolved at the engine and truck company level or in response to referrals or complaints.
In conjunction with the Construction Services Department, the Fire Prevention Bureau reviews building plans for fire protection and life safety concerns. Fire Prevention personnel assist Construction Service inspectors in performing inspections of new or modified structures.
Arson Investigation
All fires in the City of Hamilton are investigated to determine the cause and origin. If suspicious or incendiary, further investigation is made with the goal being arrest and prosecution.
The Hamilton Fire Department’s lead investigator is Tom Angst. Shift investigator’s Ed Avery, Jerry Cope and Phil Kreke assist. Fire Prevention Deputy Chief Steven Dawson supervises the unit.
Since arson is not a problem that acknowledges geographical boundary lines, the Fire Prevention Bureau participates in the activities of the Butler County Fire Investigation team. This group shares information, conducts training, and investigates fires for Butler County fire departments.
Juvenile Fire Setter Program
Each year in the United States, millions of dollars of property is destroyed, thousands of people are burned and hundreds of people die because of juvenile fire setters. The Juvenile Fire Setter Program is dedicated to assisting children, youth and their families with the issues related to fire curiosity, fire experimentation and fire setting.
Who are juvenile fire setters and why do they set fires?
Children and youth set fires for many reasons:
- Curiosity/Experimentation: Children want to see how things like matches and lighters work and how things burn.
- Imitating Behavior: Children imitate their parents, other family members and important people in their lives.
- Peer Pressure: Their friends pressure some children and youth into setting fires.
- Crisis: Some children may be experiencing a recent crisis or trauma and use fire setting as a way to cope, as a cry for help or out of anger.
- Risk Taking: Some children use fire to add an element of risk to their activities.
- Some use fire as a way to threaten and intimidate others.
- Children may use fire during other illegal activities as a way to cover up their crimes and destroy evidence.
Whatever the reason, the Hamilton Fire Department’s Juvenile Fire Setters Program is available for assistance.
The Juvenile Fire-setter Program is a nationally recognized program involving behavior intervention. The strategy is to identify the reasons for fire starting behavior and then to educate, or if necessary, make referrals for appropriate counseling. The Hamilton Fire Department receives referrals from the court system, schools, and concerned parents.
Fire Safety House
Hamilton Firefighter’s and the Kiwanis Club of Hamilton joined together in 1992 to construct a realistic, hands-on fire safety learning experience for children. Firefighter Joe Lorance provided the leadership and construction knowledge to oversee the project. Once initiated, the project received a large donation from the Kiwanis Club of Hamilton and needed support, cooperation and financial contributions from other area groups and businesses. Hamilton firefighters constructed the Fire Safety House. The Fire Safety House was dedicated on June 26, 1993. This project represents a cooperative venture between the public and private sectors. It is our goal to make safety a vital part of everyone’s life, especially the children of our community.
The Children’s Fire Self-Rescue Education Program teaches children fire safety, fire prevention, emergency procedures and how to escape a fire in their home should one occur. The fire safety house has a living room, kitchen, control room and a second floor bedroom. It is equipped to demonstrate kitchen fire safety, smoke detectors, what to do if the child finds matches or lighters and personal safety procedures such as stop, drop and roll, crawl low in smoke, two ways out, feeling doors before opening, emergency exiting by crawling, emergency evacuation via windows by escape chain ladders and down a straight ladder. The children are taught to go to a designated meeting place outside the structure. We also allow them to call 911 from outside the structure. Theatrical smoke fills the structure and is used to simulate actual smoke conditions. Children are provided fire prevention packets to take home to their parents. The program is for kindergarten through third grade. The Children’s Fire Self-Rescue Education Program is provided to 20 public and parochial schools.