The Centralia Fire Department has started inspections of businesses now that the city council has approved the updated International Code Council codes for businesses, residential, and mechanical systems such as HVAC.
Captain Blake Perez says the goal is to inspect each business every year. He says they want to provide education and eliminate any problem areas. The first inspections have pointed out problems that could be easily fixed such as expired fire extinguishers and a non-working exit door.
Perez says there will be four inspectors once training is completed. They include Perez, Fire Chief Jeff Day, recently trained Lieutenant Jordan Parson, and Captain Scott Wiesen who is completing the training process.
Perez says they will look at expanding inspections to some residential structures next year. He reports the initial effort will be towards vacant structures and property maintenance.
Perez says before the city council approved the three new codes last month the city was utilizing an old version of the code that was outdated.
