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Chelsea Area Fire Authority Hires Assistant Chief Fire Inspector

Courtesy photo. Assistant Chief Fire Inspector Ken Hamilton.

The Chelsea Area Fire Authority (CAFA) Board approved a contract for a new position within the department.

The position is for a part-time Assistant Chief Fire Inspector.  The role is being filled by Ken Hamilton, who has more than 21 years experience in firefighting, as well as experience as a program director for Dorsey College.

This position mainly entails interacting with the businesses in the response area of CAFA – the City of Chelsea, and Lima, Lyndon, and Sylvan townships. His responsibility will be to do annual inspections of the 600+ businesses in our jurisdiction. Inspections are an important part of the fire service. Some of the items that will be looked for are: Fire exit signs properly lit; emergency lighting working correctly in case of a power failure; clearance from sprinkler heads; egress paths; storing of items in precarious areas, etc.

“The inspection business process for CAFA has been neglected and it’s going to stop. We have an obligation to the patrons, owners and the employees at these businesses, as well as the fire personnel that may be in there for an emergent situation,” Arbini said in a press release. 

“It will be my job to teach the employees and owners at the businesses about what we are looking for, not punish them. I anticipate a great relationship with the business community and compliance to the adopted fire code,” Hamilton said.

The City of Chelsea has the International Fire Code of 2006 adopted in their community while Lima, Lyndon, and Sylvan townships have the 2018 NFPA code adopted.

“There is no initial cost to the businesses for an inspection. If there are items that need to be corrected, we will give the businesses some time to get them corrected. If the corrections don’t take place, then a fine may occur. Our goal is to work with the businesses, not against them,” Arbini added.

Once an inspection is completed, CAFA hopes to have the fire personnel arrive to perform a pre-plan walk through of these businesses as well. The pre-plans are for the firefighter’s safety in case of a catastrophic incident.

Familiarity of the floor plans and hazards are paramount to the safety of the first responders.

If there are any further concerns or questions, please feel free to contact Chief Arbini at [email protected] or Inspector Hamilton at [email protected]

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