Fire safety across Hillsborough County is the mission of the Fire Prevention Division.
The Fire Prevention Division plays a critical role in keeping people in Hillsborough County safe. This includes residents, businesses, visitors, and the first responders who fight fires and handle medical calls.
The division is staffed with a team of 30 inspectors, five fire investigators, one public relations officer, two public education techs, one deputy fire marshal, the fire marshal, and three administrative support staff.
The prevention division handles everything inspection-related in unincorporated Hillsborough County, including routine inspections of existing businesses, complex plan reviews for new construction projects, new construction inspections of buildings once construction begins, licensing inspections, complaints, and Company Officer inspection requests. The division has authority to inspect businesses and commercial properties. The inspections are conducted to ensure compliance with Florida Fire Codes and safety standards.
The mission is simple but vital: save lives and protect property. Every code that the division enforces helps to ensure people can evacuate safely and firefighters can get in and out safely during a fire or other life-safety emergency. Inspection of exits, fire alarm systems, fire sprinkler systems, smoke alarms, and related systems is crucial to ensuring early notification and a safe escape.
- Fire inspectors conduct a wide range of checks, including:
- Routine inspections to verify fire alarms, extinguishers, and exits are maintained and unobstructed
- New construction inspections, starting from fire department access to underground fire lines, alarms, and fire sprinkler installations
- License inspections for child care and health care facilities
- Plan reviews, now fully digital for all commercial projects
The Fire Investigations Unit is another key part of the division. They perform an analysis after a fire to determine origin and cause. If it is determined to be arson, the investigators conduct a thorough investigation and reach a conclusion. Fire investigators have full law enforcement training and certification, which gives them the power to make arrests when needed.