A Bureau of Fire Prevention is hereby established in the village and
shall hereinafter be referred to as the "Bureau."
It shall be the duty of the Bureau to investigate and to recommend such
additional ordinances or amendments to existing ordinances as they may deem
necessary for safeguarding life and property against fire.
The Bureau shall prepare forms for its use and the use of the Fire Marshal
in the reports required by this chapter.
The Bureau of Fire Prevention shall investigate the cause, origin and
circumstances of every fire occurring in the village by which property has
been destroyed or damaged and, so far as possible, shall determine whether
the fire is the result of carelessness or design. Such investigation shall
be begun immediately upon the occurrence of such a fire, and if it appears
to the officers making such investigation that such fire is of suspicious
origin, the Fire Marshal shall be immediately notified of the fact and he
or she shall take charge immediately of the physical evidence, shall notify
the proper authorities designated by law to pursue the investigation of such
matters and shall further cooperate with such authorities in the collection
of evidence and in the prosecution of the case. The report of every fire shall
be made in writing and filed in the office of the Village Clerk-Treasurer
within five days after the occurrence of the same. Such reports shall be in
such form as shall be prescribed by the Bureau and shall contain a statement
relating to the cause, origin and circumstances of such fire, the extent of
damage thereof, the insurance upon such property and other such information
as may be required.
It shall be the duty of the Fire Marshal or duly authorized inspector
or Building Official to enter and inspect all boarding, rooming, tourist or
paying guesthouses whenever it is deemed necessary.
The Fire Marshal shall inspect as often as may be necessary, but not
less than once every three months, all specially hazardous manufacturing processes,
storages or installations of acetylene or other gases, chemicals, oils, explosives
and inflammable materials and all interiors having fire alarms and automatic
sprinkler systems and such other hazards or appliances as the Bureau shall
designate, and such Bureau shall make such orders as may be necessary for
the enforcement of the laws and ordinances governing the same and for the
safeguarding of life and property from fire.
The Village Attorney and Building Official, upon the request of the
Bureau, shall assist the Fire Marshal as aforesaid in the investigation of
any fire which, in the opinion of said Fire Marshal, is of suspicious origin.