By Jordan VanBerkum
Hello, my name is Jordan VanBerkum. I’m the District 5 deputy based out of Bismarck. Having started in August, I wanted to share a little about my background and what brought me to the North Dakota State Fire Marshal's office. I started my fire protection journey working for a fire sprinkler contractor in South Dakota. While with that company, I wore many different hats. From laborer to journeyman to sales/estimator. I then transitioned to another fire protection company specializing in clean agent systems, kitchen systems, extinguishers, and fire alarms. My experience in fire protection has been beneficial. I understand that most people do their best to follow the rules, but sometimes things get missed. It is essential to recognize those problems and plan to correct them.
One of my favorite parts of working for the fire marshal’s office is helping people ensure their fire safety is up to current standards.
This month, we are focusing on having an escape plan for a fire.
An evacuation plan will give you the best chance of getting your patrons or family out of a fire.
Section 405.2 in IFC reads, “… emergency fire and evacuation drills shall involve the actual evacuation of occupants to a selected assembly point and shall provide occupants with experience in exiting through required exits.”
Section 1032 talks about maintaining your exit ways.
1032.2 Reliability. Required exit accesses, exits, and exit discharges shall be continuously maintained free from obstructions or impediments to full instant use in the case of fire or other emergency where the building area served by the means of egress is occupied. An exit or exit passageway shall not be used for any other purpose that interferes with a means of egress. Having clear exits are a staple when trying to evacuate a building. If items block the pathway, it can cause a chain reaction, slowing people down, like when a car is stopped on the interstate.
If you have any questions or concerns, please get in touch with the office. Thanks for everything!