Our mission is to help reduce fire injuries and fire deaths within our community by creating public awareness and providing effective programs in different areas that pertain to fire and life safety.

We accomplish this by presenting effective fire and life safety education programs, conducting effective fire inspections and follow up fire inspections to help minimize fire hazards, and performing final inspections for new construction projects that are built within the Bayou Cane Fire Protection District to verify code compliance. The Fire Prevention staff also work together with our Suppression staff to keep our pre-fire plans up to date with the most current information. We also conduct fire investigations for fire cause determination. This asset also allows us to identify problems and trends that are related to fire causation and assist the public in the areas of fire and life safety.

Our vision is to operate as a team, together with the community in order to provide the most professional and efficient customer oriented service possible.

ABOUT THE DIVISION

The Bayou Cane Fire Prevention Division was formally created in 2000. The Fire Prevention Division is currently operated under the care and direction of Deputy Fire Chief Gregory Boudreaux. Since the formal creation of the Fire Prevention Division, several Inspectors worked for Bayou Cane, but have since left the division. The Division currently has two full-time Inspectors. Inspector Liz Fuselier and Inspector/Investigator Ken Himel conduct our Fire Inspections within our District. Both are experienced and Certified Firefighters. Inspector/Investigator Himel worked with several local Fire Departments over the years as well as with the State Fire Marshal’s Office prior to becoming a member of the Bayou Cane Team. Inspector/Investigator Himel is also P.O.S.T. certified as well as being a certified Fire Investigator. Our agency works closely with the State Fire Marshal’s Office in every aspect of Fire Safety Inspections and Investigations.

Areas of Responsibility

Our Fire Prevention staff is responsible for many different areas as listed below.

• Public education programs
  • We have established a priority concerning fire safety. That is educating our children concerning fire safety. We go to elementary schools pre K through the fifth grade and any organization that requests our presence inside the Bayou Cane Fire Protection District. Every year we teach hundreds of young children about fire safety. We utilize Pluggie, the Fireplug Robot, and Sparky, the Fire Dog to emphasize fire safety and utilizing the 911 system.
  • We all win when we educate our children concerning fire safety. This has already paid off earlier in 2009 when the life of female citizen was saved by the quick actions of a couple young pre-teen ladies who called 911 and alerted us of a house on fire where an elderly lady was unable to get out.
  • We also go to many different businesses and civic organizations throughout the year in our community and speak to them concerning fire safety.
• Courtesy home fire inspections
  • When requested by the property owner, one of our Fire Inspector’s will inspect the residential property and make recommendations concerning fire safety in the home.
• Annual fire inspections
  • These inspections are conducted in Commercial Businesses and Multi-Family buildings according to the annual schedule. The Fire Prevention staff and the appropriate NFPA code establishes the criteria for the Inspection format.
  • Review documents and conduct site inspections
  • Indoor uses include concerts, special programs
• Certificate of occupancy (final) inspections for new businesses that open in the Bayou Cane Fire Protection District
  • This is a fire inspection that is required prior to occupancy.
• Plan reviews
  • Prior to construction and part of the permitting process we review plans for emergency vehicle access and adequate water supplies. The State Fire Marshal reviews the plans for formal NFPA code compliance.
• New construction and final inspections for new construction projects that are built are conducted to ensure compliance with current Fire and Life Safety codes.
  • The owner of the property or the representative of the owner must call for this inspection. (This is usually the contractor or architect)
  • Inspectors that conduct these inspections are certified by the Louisiana State Fire Marshal's Office as Inspector II. The Louisiana State Fire Marshal's office requires this, since we conduct the final inspections within our response area that pertain to the plans they have reviewed.
• Fire investigations to determine cause of fires
  • We have a P.O.S.T. certified Fire Investigator that meets or exceeds state requirements for training and certification
• Fire watch details
  • When a fire alarm or sprinkler system has to be shut down for more than four hours.
• Complaint investigations concerning public fire safety
  • From the public when they feel there is a fire safety concern.
  • From Fire Department employee that feels there is a public fire safety concern.
  • All complaints are handled promptly. If complaint deals with critical life safety issues, they are handled immediately.
• Burn permit & site inspections
  • There is normally no burning allowed in Bayou Cane, however there are a few exceptions and a guideline for burning in Bayou Cane is provided.
  • This is normally for land clearing prior to the new construction project being started.
  • Our Inspector’s shall conduct a site inspection for pit burns or larger burns prior to the permit being issued or the burn approved. If any of the guidelines are violated, the burn permit is immediately revoked.
  • If we receive excessive smoke complaints, the permit will be revoked.
• Smoke detector installations/battery replacements
  • We are currently working on adopting a smoke detector program for Bayou Cane.
  • When we are contacted we will install a working smoke detector in any home that does not have a working smoke detector.
  • We do not normally install them in rental units as it is the responsibility of the property owner collecting the rent (by law) to have and maintain a working smoke detector for the occupants in those properties. Exceptions to our installation policy can be made if needed for public safety reasons.
  • Provide information to the public and answer questions dealing with Fire Prevention and the Fire Service.
• Fire safety talks with children and parents. (Usually a short fire safety video is included.)
  • As parents or legal guardians contact us and request a talk.
  • After a fire incident has happened and a Fire Prevention employee requests the parents to bring the child or children involved into our office to speak to them concerning fire safety.

As you can see, Fire Prevention has a lot to accomplish. Currently, our Fire Prevention staff distributes customer satisfaction surveys (postage paid) after all of their Fire Safety Inspections. So far, we have had satisfactory results from those who have filled them out and mailed them to us. We are constantly reviewing our practices to ensure the best service we can deliver to you, our customers.

We welcome you and are thankful for your visit to our web site.

Please take a few minutes today to talk to your family concerning fire safety.

Remember to check that detector, change your battery at least once semi-annually, and be fire safe.

We thank you for the opportunity to serve and protect you!

Please Click Here to download Fire Department Ordinances.