In the coming year Fire Chief/Fire Marshal Larry Black and Deputy Marshal Doug Halliwell will be making an effort to visit every location they are required by state statute to annually inspect.

"Due to Deputy Halliwell having to attend certification training throughout most of last year, and not becoming certified until late November, we were not able to check some of the buildings we are required to look at once a year," stated Chief Black. "Now that he is certified we will be making an effort to inspect all the locations we are mandated to look at."

The Fire Marshal's office is responsible for the enforcement of the Connecticut Fire Safety Code (CFSC) in all businesses, educational facilities, churches, retail stores, farms and homes housing three families or more (to name a few). The office is not responsible for the inspection of industrial facilities, unless a complaint has been filed, as the Connecticut Department of Labor holds the responsibility for these inspections. The office also reviews all plans for the above mentioned facilities and investigates all incidents of fire, etc.

"We will be working with the owners of all the facilities we inspect," stated Chief Black. "It is not our intention to cause a hardship on anyone. It is our intention to see that our community is as safe as it may possibly be and we will work toward that goal. We thank the people of Watertown and Oakville for their cooperation as we move through this process."