The Fire Prevention Division is the single most important non-fire fighting activity performed by Fire Rescue. The purpose of Fire Prevention is to highlight the important factors which contribute to the occurrence and spread of the fire, the physical hazard, the occupational hazard and the moral hazard. Hillsborough County Fire Rescue's fire prevention program includes public fire safety education, inspection and code enforcement, plan examinations, fire investigation and record keeping.

The Fire Prevention Division consists of the Fire Marshal, Deputy Fire Marshal, eleven field Fire Inspectors, five Fire Investigators, one Public Education Officer, two part-time Public Education Training Technicians, two Plans Examiners and two clerical personnel. Our public education coordinator schedules and coordinates public education programming and implementation with suppression personnel to help perform public fire and life safety programs to schools, clubs, and businesses in the community. Our fire safety program touches the lives of more than 100,000 children annually. Additionally, our Juvenile Fire Setter program consults with children who are implicated in setting a fire.

For the latest information on how to keep you and your family safe, visit the Home Safety Council website.

Fire inspectors inspect commercial structures and places of public occupancy to insure compliance with the fire prevention and life safety codes. In 2002, we conducted over 15,714 fire safety inspections and correct approximately 12,000 code violations. Last year we invoiced over $692,783 and collected $772,461. Fire investigators, who are sworn Law Enforcement Officers with full arrest powers, determine origin and cause, which aids fire prevention efforts by indicating problem areas that may require corrective educational efforts, inspection emphasis or legislation and arrest of individuals who intentionally set fires. Last year, we investigated 445 fires, closed 234 cases, and made 41 arrests.