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Fire Prevention Bureau
The Fire Prevention Bureau provides the highest level of fire prevention services through comprehensive inspections and code enforcement, plan review and engineering services, public education, fire investigations, and community risk reduction services to ensure properties are properly constructed in accordance with local and state codes.
The Fire Prevention Bureau provides fire prevention services to our citizens who live and/or work in the City of Hibbing including the unincorporated communities of Kitzville, Kelly Lake, Leetonia, Kerr and Flowerville.
Under the direction of the Fire Marshal, the Fire Prevention Bureau has five main divisions:
- Code Enforcement and Inspection
- Engineering and Plan Review
- Public Education
- Fire Investigation
- Community Risk Reduction
The Code Enforcement and Inspection Division
Primarily responsible for inspecting existing occupancies for compliance with MN State Fire Code, MN State Building Code, Hibbing City Codes, NFPA Fire & Life Safety standards and other applicable NFPA standards.
There are approximately 450 occupancies assigned to the bureau for inspections to ensure compliance with MN Fire Code, City ordinances for Operational Permit requirements or to inspect based on a statutory requirement to conduct annual life safety inspections in certain occupancy types.
Those occupancies include:
- Hotels, motels
- Child care & Foster care homes
- Daycare Centers
- Rehabilitation Facilities
- Treatment Facilities
- Adult day/foster care centers
Due to staffing restrictions of the Bureau, DHS inspections in the City are currently being conducted by the MN State Fire Marshal's Office. Depending on the availability of our department staff, we will conduct these inspections in conjunction with the DHS State Inspector.
Our future goals will be to conduct these inspections through the Bureau once staffing levels can accommodate these type of inspections.
The Engineering and Plan Review Division
Primarily responsible for plan review, new construction inspections, and fire and life safety systems acceptance testing to ensure compliance with the MN State Fire and Building Codes, Hibbing City Code, and applicable NFPA standards.
These plan reviews are performed in conjunction with the Building Official for the City of Hibbing.
Plan review services are provided through traditional plan submittal and review processes, as well as, “over the counter” plan review of minor projects and small fire protection system modifications.
The Public Education Division
Provides a long list of valuable programs to the public to promote and teach fire safety to all ages through a variety of delivery methods.
The Division’s programs range from teaching kindergarteners the sounds of a smoke alarm & home escape plans to assisting senior citizens how to recognize and eliminate hazards in their home.
The education content we provide is based off NFPA's Public Safety Division to ensure that we are always teaching accurate information that is based off data that is collected both state and nationwide in mandatory fire reporting systems. This data is then analyzed and tested by experts in the field of fire science and education.
Content is chosen based off our Community Risk Analysis and Reduction program.
The Fire Investigation Division
This Division is responsible for determining origin and cause of all fire incidents of both criminal and accidental at the direction of the Fire Chief, pursuant to the mandate for fire origin and cause determination as outlined in the MN State Statute.
The Division works closely with other law enforcement personnel from our City and County agencies, the MN State Fire Marshal's Office, and private investigators hired by insurance companies to effect the successful investigation, arrest, prosecution, and conviction of arsonists.
Community Risk Reduction Division
Community Risk Reduction (CRR) is a process to identify and prioritize local risks, followed by the integrated and strategic investment of resources to reduce their occurrence and impact.
CCR allows us to build customized programs for our communities' unique needs and risks. This Division must work closely with our Emergency Medical Services Division, Police Department and other local stakeholders.
An example of a program development based off CCR is the partnership between the Fire Department and American Red Cross to install free smoke alarms in homes throughout the city.