The Fire Prevention division of the Pascoag Fire District is responsible for ensuring that all buildings being built or sold within the District meet all necessary requirements for life safety and fire protection.  This includes compliance with NFPA 101 (the Life Safety Code), NFPA 72 (the National Fire Alarm Code), and other NFPA Codes, as well as RI fire safety codes.

Chief John DeFusco is the District's Fire Marshal, and is state licensed as a RI Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshal (RIADSFM).

The Fire Prevention Division is responsible for the inspection of buildings being built and sold, and is also responsible for the review of all fire safety blueprints for buildings being built or renovated.  Below is a list of requirements for building inspection and plan review.

Building Inspections

The Fire Prevention Division schedules building inspections by appointment only.  This inspection is required before an existing construction can be sold, or before new construction can be habited.  The inspection is primarily for the correct installation, placement, and operation of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, though larger buildings such as multi-family homes may require the inspection of fire sprinkler systems and means of egress.  The following are requirements for smoke and carbon monoxide detector inspections:

1. Someone must be home for the inspection.  This person must know where all detectors are located, and when the home was built.

2. The cost for the inspection is $30.00.  This payment must be in the form of either cash or a check to the order of the Pascoag Fire District.  INSPECTIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL HOME SALES PRIOR TO CLOSING.

3. Buildings constructed prior to June 1976 may have battery operated smoke detectors.  Homes constructed after June 1976 must have hard-wired smoke detectors with battery back-up.  Battery and hard-wired detectors cannot exist together.

4. SMOKE DETECTORS are required on every level of the building.
       a)    In existing homes they are required to be located outside of each bedroom.  If bedrooms are off a common hallway, one (1) detector may cover all bedrooms, as long as they are within twelve (12) feet of each other.  Detectors may also be inside the bedrooms, but this is not required.  if a bedroom is directly off a kitchen, then that bedroom's detector can be located inside of the bedroom.  there must be at least one (1) detector for each floor of living space.
       b)    Ceiling mounted detectors shall be at least four (4) inches from adjoining wall surface.
       c)    Wall mounted detectors shall be mounted between four (4) and twelve (12) inches from the ceiling.
       d)    The location of detectors on peaked or sloped ceilings must be within thirty-six (36) inches of the peak or high side of the slope, but no closer than four (4) inches vertically from an adjoining wall surface.
       e)    In the basement, the location of detectors is required to be on the basement ceiling near the entry to the stairs.  A smoke detector may also be mounted at the top of the stairs, but is not required.

5. CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS are required on each floor of living space.  They are required to be located outside of each sleeping area.  Bedrooms off a hallway can be covered by one (1) detector, as long as the distance is no greater than twelve (12) feet away.  Carbon monoxide detectors are recommended in the basement, but not required unless there is an obvious provision for sleeping or in a finished room.

6. COMBINATION SMOKE AND CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS are acceptable in all locations.

7. Plug-in carbon monoxide detectors are acceptable but must be secured in place by a bracket or nylon zip-tie so detector cannot be displaced.

8. CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS shall be wall or ceiling mounted, within twelve (12) inches of an adjoining wall surface or per manufacturer's recommendations.

Construction Plan Reviews

The State of Rhode Island requires that all building plans for new construction, building additions, and building renovations be reviewed prior to the start of construction.  Three (3) sets of these plans, including basement plans, must be submitted at the Fire Station for plan review.  Upon the completion of plan review, two (2) sets of plans will be returned.  One (1) of these sets is kept by the building owner, and the other must be submitted to the Building Inspector of the Town of Burrillville for permit acquisition.

In accordance with RIGL 23-28.2-26 (effective 7/16/93), a plan review fee has been established based on the cost of the project for all plans reviewed under the provisions of the State Fire Safety Code, to be paid by the applicant in advance by check or money order, payable to the (Pascoag Fire District).

Applications for RI State Fire Code Plan Review are available at the Main Street Fire Station.

The Fire Prevention Division is also responsible for providing safety seminars at public buildings throughout the district.  Several times a year, firefighters make fire prevention presentations at Father Holland School, Community Christian School, Tri-Town Day Care, and Bradford Court housing complex, as well as presentations at the Main Street Fire Station for visiting groups, including the local Boy Scout troop.

Download Jim Weicherding's Fire Prevention Coloring Book!

Click here to download in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format

Mr. Jim Weicherding is a local artist who has created several cartoon characters to help teach children about varied aspects of public safety. Please visit his website to learn more about him and his work.