A Fort Wayne city audit has revealed that some high-risk buildings did not get annual fire inspections last year.
Fort Wayne Fire Chief Amy Biggs says it's because of a lack of funding and limited staffing.
The Internal Audit Department randomly picked fifteen high-risk buildings from the Fire Department's list- And found nine were not inspected last year.
Chief Biggs says the fire department has already taken steps to improve procedures.
High rises, hospitals, and assembly halls- the Fort Wayne Fire Department labels these 'high-risk' for public fire safety.
City auditors discovered last year, many of these buildings did not get an annual fire inspection.
A report released this week says auditors picked fifteen of these buildings from the fire departments list- And found only six had been inspected.
Biggs says it's because of budget cuts.
"So over the course of the, I'd say the last six to eight years, there has been a loss in personnel in that division due to economic cuts that we've had to make," Biggs says.
Biggs says the state doesn't require annual inspections; the fire department set the goal on its own- and the inspections are done for free.
She says the city has grown, but the inspection budget has not.
"Then as a result of that, there have been businesses that unfortunately did not fall within that standard of that annual inspection due to not having enough manpower to do that," Biggs says.
She says they've already made changes.
Inspectors used to oversee different parts of the city.
Now, they are focusing on specific types of buildings- like schools, hospitals, or high rises.
She says it's already working.
Six inspectors checked out 8500 buildings last year.
She expects more this year.
"We do feel that we're making far greater strides in in 2012 than what we were able to accomplish in 2011 due to how we look at and function in that particular role," Biggs says.
"It's not uncommon to find things that can be improved, just like any other business or organization in a community. You're always looking for ways to improve what you're doing. The internal audit department helps us do that," says City of Fort Wayne Public Information Officer John Perlich.
Biggs did not say which 'high-risk' buildings went uninspected, but says the new process makes missed inspections less likely in the future.
Biggs also says they're making it easier for people to request the free fire inspections.
She says people can call the city at 311 to move up the list.
Fort Wayne Fire Chief Amy Biggs says it's because of a lack of funding and limited staffing.
The Internal Audit Department randomly picked fifteen high-risk buildings from the Fire Department's list- And found nine were not inspected last year.
Chief Biggs says the fire department has already taken steps to improve procedures.
High rises, hospitals, and assembly halls- the Fort Wayne Fire Department labels these 'high-risk' for public fire safety.
City auditors discovered last year, many of these buildings did not get an annual fire inspection.
A report released this week says auditors picked fifteen of these buildings from the fire departments list- And found only six had been inspected.
Biggs says it's because of budget cuts.
"So over the course of the, I'd say the last six to eight years, there has been a loss in personnel in that division due to economic cuts that we've had to make," Biggs says.
Biggs says the state doesn't require annual inspections; the fire department set the goal on its own- and the inspections are done for free.
She says the city has grown, but the inspection budget has not.
"Then as a result of that, there have been businesses that unfortunately did not fall within that standard of that annual inspection due to not having enough manpower to do that," Biggs says.
She says they've already made changes.
Inspectors used to oversee different parts of the city.
Now, they are focusing on specific types of buildings- like schools, hospitals, or high rises.
She says it's already working.
Six inspectors checked out 8500 buildings last year.
She expects more this year.
"We do feel that we're making far greater strides in in 2012 than what we were able to accomplish in 2011 due to how we look at and function in that particular role," Biggs says.
"It's not uncommon to find things that can be improved, just like any other business or organization in a community. You're always looking for ways to improve what you're doing. The internal audit department helps us do that," says City of Fort Wayne Public Information Officer John Perlich.
Biggs did not say which 'high-risk' buildings went uninspected, but says the new process makes missed inspections less likely in the future.
Biggs also says they're making it easier for people to request the free fire inspections.
She says people can call the city at 311 to move up the list.
