Sardis Fire Department adopts policies
Published 1:43 pm Wednesday, January 2, 2019
By Myra Bean
The Town of Sardis Mayor and Board of Alderman clarified some information with the Sardis Fire Department in a special called meeting Thursday, Dec. 20.
Fire chief Mitchell Daughtry answered questions about the policies of the fire department.
The board has adopted policies for the fire department based on the national standards from NFPA. There was a question at the last board meeting about what the policies said about who was in charge at a fire when there was a death.
Daughtry clarified that the sheriff, police chief and/or state fire marshal will be called in those situations. The fire chief is not in charge of overseeing fire deaths.
Fire inspector Chris Clark outlined his job duties for the board and had his fee set for inspecting commercial and industrial buildings only.
The board will charge $50 for the initial inspection of a new business which has obtained a privilege license. A $30 fee will be assessed to each existing business for a yearly inspection.
Also included in the policies are fines which will be enforced by the municipal court system.
Code violation and fees for commercial and industrial only include:
Street address/business address not posted, $50
Street address not visible, $50
Breach in fire wall/fire stop, $50
Fire exit door inoperable, $150
Sprinkler or fire alarm inoperable, $175
Sprinkler or standpipe not complying with code, $50
Sprinkler head(s) blocked or covered, $50
Overcrowding, $250
Maximum occupancy load certification, not posted $50
Storage in or on fire escape, $150
Block stairwells, $250
Block means of egress, $300
Required exit signs not posted or working, $75
Locked exit door, $100
All other code violations, $50.
Fire Investigator Coda Medlin’s fee was set for each fire he is called to investigate including residential, commercial, automobile and grass. A call will pay up to $125 and request for reports are $150.
Daughtry made a report on the brush truck, Engine 2, which has been out of commission for two months. There has been a leak in the fuel injectors, and the estimated costs to repair is $1,000 per injector, the chief reported. This is the same truck the department has had trouble with several times this year.
Daughtry presented costs for a replacement used truck which can also double as a rescue unit at approximately $80,000. A new truck will cost about $150,000. Because 80 percent of the calls for the brush truck are outside of the city limits, Daughtry plans to approach the county board to help on the cost.
Daughtry said he can outfit the rescue truck and add storage if unable to purchase a brush truck
“Trying to retrofit is costly,” he said.
The board tabled the discussion until a mechanic can appear before the board with a cost estimate to repair the truck compared to the approximate cost of replacement.