ADDITIONAL DUTIES

Additional duties that are performed by the Bureau include:

The Bureau has the responsibility to investigate all fire incidents in which an injury results or significant property damage has resulted. This includes all situations in which emergency workers become injured or death results.
The Bureau investigates all complaints received, and assists and coordinates with other township and or other government/private agencies during emergency conditions or incidents. Has lead authority at all fire emergencies within Princeton Township.

Life hazard uses pay an annual registration fee to the Div. of Fire Safety. The State splits the fee 65% to the Local agency 35 % to the State. This is located just before the break point for Local Ordinance and should be deleted from this section.

SMOKE DETECTOR CERTIFICATION

Smoke Detector, Carbon Monoxide and Portable Fire Extinguisher Program

In New Jersey since 1991, all one and two family dwellings prior to sale, lease and or rent, are required to undergo an inspection to ensure that each has properly installed and working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. This assurance is design to enhance the overall occupant and fire safety of all structures that have been constructed prior to any code requirement to that affect, and maintain those that have been constructed after 1977 (the passage of the Uniform Construction Code-NJ). As of November 1, 2005 the requirement to have a portable
2A:10B: C fire extinguisher no larger than 10 lbs. installed within 10" of the kitchen area was added.

In Princeton Township , the Bureau of Fire Prevention has the lead responsibility in the certification of the Smoke Detector, Carbon Monoxide and Fire Extinguisher program. As of March 10, 2008 the Princeton Township Committee passed a revision to the current local ordinance that mandated the Princeton Township Bureau of Fire Prevention is responsible for performing these inspections in one and two single family dwellings as well as multiple family dwellings at the time of sale and or occupancy change. Homeowners / property owners or their assigned agents can no longer certify via affidavit, that the required devices are in place and working properly. Multiple family rental dwellings of four or more attached units that are inspected by an approved agency as identified by the Bureau of Fire Prevention may perform the required inspections. Said agencies must contact the Bureau to gain approval to satisfy the local ordinance requirements. The inspection fee for the Bureau to inspect a dwelling for Smoke Detector, Carbon Monoxide Alarm and Fire Extinguisher certification is based on the time of the application in relationship to the closing date.

The application fee schedule is as follows:
$60 if 10 or more business days from the date of closing or change in occupancy

$95 if between 4 to 9 business days from the date of closing or change in occupancy $150 if 3 or fewer business days from the date of closing or change in occupancy

Application fees for Affordable Housing Units as listed through Princeton Township Affordable Housing as follows:
$35 if 10 or more business days from the date of closing or change in occupancy $70 if between 4 to 9 business days from the date of closing or change in occupancy

$125 if 3 or fewer business days from the date of closing or change in occupancy The certification is usually available at the time of the inspection. If a re-inspection is required the certification will be available at that time.

If the Bureau has to make a return inspection an additional fee of $50.00 will be charged for each re-inspection. The application fee is only charged once per application.

The most significant problem that the Bureau has encountered has been in late requests. Requests are handled in the order in which they are received. Scheduled appointments get first priority, followed by mail in applications. In Princeton Township , local ordinance requires that all residential properties be equipped with working Smoke Detectors and Carbon Monoxide Detectors. This includes rental properties as well.  The Bureau is enforcing the State of New Jersey law that requires a minimum 2-A:10:B-C fire extinguisher be installed within 10' of the kitchen.

Smoke Detector, Carbon Monoxide inspection request form

Smoke Detector, Carbon Monoxide and Fire Extinguisher Instruction Page and Fees

Fire Hydrants

Princeton Township Local Ordinance requires a permit to be secured from the Fire Official and the water company having jurisdiction prior to using any fire hydrant, public or private,  within Princeton Township. Section 8-5.13 Hydrant Approval. Fire Department activities and Water Company personnel are exempt from this permit. Contact the Bureau of Fire Prevention if a permit is needed.

Fire Hydrants have been installed in almost all locations throughout Princeton Township and Borough. Princeton homeowners and business owners enjoy a low fire insurance premium as a result of this. Yes there are a few areas that still lack these simple devices. Fire hydrants are design, intended and utilized for fire protection. BLOCKING, OBSTRUCTING and MIS-USING them is not permitted in any form. The majority of the installations are maintained without any problem. Sometimes there are problems or concerns that involves the Bureau and action we must take to ensure that these devices are 100% ready for action when needed.

Private contractors in new developments, lawn service/care companies typically use the hydrants for a source of free water. The Bureau recognized that work must be completed, but sometimes this work leads to misuse and damage. Damage is typically not reported and is often found when the fire department arrived to use the hydrant for firefighting purposes. A major contributing factor to several large-scale home fires and significant dollar lost has been attributed to damage to fire hydrants.

Fire hydrant that can not be seen are block by vehicles, bushes and or materials all delay the fire department and its operations allowing the fire to burn longer and increase the damage. Increased damage means greater potential for structural elements to fail. This directly increases the hazard to the firefighters that enter the structure.

While physical damage to fire hydrants threads, operating stem and obstruction to access is the major item found during the Bureau involvement, another area that is of concern is the potential backflow from lawn care contractors which use special chemicals in lawn treatment in dispensing tanks. This devices can actually back flow into the hydrant and cause significant contamination damage to the water supply when they direct connect to the hydrant from their tanks.

The Bureau requests that if you see and device connected to a fire hydrant or any hydrant blocked, damaged, obstructed or other wise not ready for use to contact the Bureau right-a-way. Waiting or think about it could be dangerous.