Tuesday, October 1, 2024 Categories:
Hot Topics Blog

This month, we highlight fire prevention initiatives in North Dakota and look to emerging issues for the fire service.  The Governor’s proclamation of October 6th – 12, 2024, as Fire Prevention Week announced the official theme as “Smoke alarms: make them work for you!”  Visit our website for further information and resources to help you connect this important message with your community.

We have posted our 2023 Annual Statistical Fire Report ahead of Fire Safety Week.  You can check it out on our website here.  No surprise to you all, but fires and incidents continue to trend upward.  The State Fire Marshal’s Office will host a lunch and learn webinar on the topic of haunted houses on October 3rd.  Please visit our community risk reduction upcoming events calendar here to sign up and learn more.

An update to an important issue to many of you regarding the proposed new Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) new rules adoption. The comments period has closed, but there is still time to make your voice heard during and after November 12, 2024.  According to the announcement(link is external):

While the initial comment period has closed, OSHA strongly encourages stakeholders to continue to provide information and data relevant to this question at the public rulemaking hearing scheduled to begin on November 12, 2024, and during the post-hearing comment period. Instructions for how to participate in the hearing are available on the Emergency Response rulemaking webpage, www.osha.gov/emergency-response/rulemaking(link is external).

Another emerging issue is the topic of single-exit stairwells.  This is a topic that has been proposed to multiple state legislatures and jurisdictions to supersede building and fire codes that ensure safety through multiple means of egress.  The National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM), the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) have all developed papers or positions on the topic.  Please read up on the topic and make sure your jurisdiction and our state are prepared for this emerging fire safety concern.

The North Dakota Century Code focus for the month will be 18-04, “Distribution of Insurance Tax to Fire Departments.”  Section 18-04 is the basis for our Certificate of Existence (CoE) program, which is due to our office by October 31st.