Certificate of Use Inspections
Plans Review Section
New Construction Section
Fire Investigation Section
Water Supply Section
Special Events Section
Specialty Inspectors

The Fire Prevention Bureau was started on January1, 1923 under Assistant Chief E. A. Westra and one assigned fire inspector. The rapid growth of the City of Miami followed, and by World War II a total force of 10 inspectors was assigned to the bureau. However, it was not until 1966 when ten people died in a residential fire involving an overturned portable kerosene heater that the City Administration passed a fire code. Ordinance 7431 became “the fire protection chapter”. We now enforce extensive state and local fire and life safety codes.

Although never as glamorous or visible as Fire Suppression, the efforts of the Fire Prevention Division are more widely recognized as the Fire Service continuous to evolve. The Fire Marshall has the tremendous responsibility for prevention of death, injuries, and property loss caused by fire. This is accomplished through the strict enforcement of complex Building, Fire and Life Safety Codes.

The importance of these efforts and the significant life safety improvements that have been made over the last few decades were brought to national attention with the tragic events of September 11th. Both World Trade Center towers withstood the initial impact of a catastrophic event, well beyond what the buildings were designed to handle. Modern building codes, public education, and life safety systems all worked together to allow countless people to evacuate safely.

The City of Miami Fire Prevention Division consists of a Fire Marshall, Deputy Fire Marshall, Assistant to the Fire Marshall, Water Supply Officer, Special Events Officer, Arson Coordinator and three Fire Investigators, two District Supervisors, numerous fire inspectors, specialty inspectors, new construction inspectors, and plans reviewers. Fire Inspectors handle countless referrals from Fire Companies, Hazard Warning Tags, and other Departments and provide the public with Fire Prevention and Life Safety information. Additionally, the Fire Prevention Bureau administers the Certificate of Use Renewal program. The program provides for an annual inspection of all existing buildings for the required life safety code violations.

Certificate of Use Inspections
Tens of thousands of Certificate of Use inspections are conducted throughout the City on a yearly basis. These actions generate significant reoccurring and new revenue for the City. Moreover, these inspections also ensure the safety of the citizens, owners, employees, and the firefighters of the City of Miami.

Plans Review Section
The Fire Plans Examiners review sets of plans for remodeling and new construction throughout the City of Miami. These plans include high rise buildings, large scale preliminary reviews, and special consultation reviews.
New Construction Section
New Construction conducts highly technical inspections, ensuring that all phases of buildings under construction meet the required Fire and Life Safety Codes. This section has brought to completion major projects such as : the American Airlines Arena, the Ritz Carlton Condominiums, the NAP Telecommunications Center, the Performing Arts Center, and numerous other projects during the City’s building boom of the late 1990’s and early millennium.

Fire Investigation Section
This section is dispatched to property fires and conduct follow-up investigations on other types of classified fires. Our investigators act as liaisons with various law enforcement and investigative agencies. They train new officers and recruits in origin and cause determination as well as scene preservation. They are responsible for proper evidence collection and chain of custody, make contact and follow-up with insurance company representatives in relation to fires, prepare for pre-file conferences and depositions on criminal and civil cases, and prosecute all criminal cases to the full extent of the law.

Water Supply Section
The Water Supply Officer is primarily responsible for ensuring that adequate water flow is available by enforcement of the Dade County Fire Flow Ordinance. Duties encompass reviewing building plans and conducting water flow tests prior to the issuing of a building permit. In addition to monitoring these yearly flow tests, placing new hydrants in service, conducting water main improvement projects, water main plan reviews, and plat and street reviews, the Water Supply Officers developed an updated Hydrant Map Bok.

Special Events Section
The Special Events Officer is the Fire Department liaison with all event promoters. He works from the “idea” stage to the inception of all special events held within the City of Miami such as Calle Ocho, Goombay, America’s Birthday Bash, American Airlines Arena events, Performing Arts Center events, Ultra Festival, and Art Basel. He is responsible for the proper assignment of all necessary fire and rescue units and inspectors at these events.

Specialty Inspectors
This section performs more complex inspections involving hazardous materials, hospital and correctional institutions, assisted living facilities, City facilities, schools, Code Enforcement cases, as well as code research and training. These inspectors have highly specialized job duties and more technical job knowledge and experience.