Sagle Fire officials denounce House Bill 202

SANDPOINT — The Sagle Fire District is joining a growing chorus of voices speaking out against a proposed bill which would eliminate the International Fire Code as a minimum standard in Idaho.

The district’s board of commissioners unanimously adopted a resolution last month opposing House Bill 202 because it would limit the code enforcement authority of the state fire marshal’s office and its agents to public buildings only.

Bonner County has resisted adoption of the International Fire Code for years, although Sagle Fire enforces the code on commercial and residential construction on behalf of the fire marshal, as was done last year with a hillside housing project at Morton Slough.

Sagle’s commissioners contend in the resolution that the bill would “effectively reduce fire code requirements, thereby increasing risk of fire and/or physical harm to citizens and firefighters alike.”

“You’re talking about public safety here and it’s a huge step backward,” Sagle Fire Chief Rob Goodyear said. “And believe you me, we will be the laughingstock of the fire-fighting community nationwide if in fact that happens because the code was established to save lives.”

If the bill passes, counties would be free to adopt portions of the code. But Bonner County commissioners have refused to adopt any of the code unless local fire chiefs convince landowners that it’s in their best interest.

“If the county does not adopt the International Fire Code locally, the Sagle Fire District would have very little enforcement power because we can’t pass ordinances,” said Goodyear.

Idaho State Fire Marshal Mark Larson confirms the legislation would diminish Sagle’s enforcement capability. It would also deregulate the design and installation of fire sprinklers statewide.

Under the current rules, the state fire marshal reviews sprinkler systems in public and private buildings. If the proposed bill is approved, the review would be limited to strictly public buildings.

Although the bill would reshape the regulatory landscape, Larson said he has not taken a position on the House Bill 202.

“Our role as a state agency is to enforce the policy and statutes that the legislative body enacts,” Larson said.

“Whatever they come up with, that’s what we’ll deal with.”

The bill cruised through the Idaho House of Representatives in less than a month and slated to be heard by Senate’s Commerce and Human Resources Committee on Tuesday in Boise.

The bill enjoys the support of contractors and real estate developers, but the Association of Idaho Cities and the Idaho Fire Commissioners Association have come out against the legislation.

“Virtually every citizen I have talked to has expressed disbelief that this could be happening,” ISFCA President Tim Vargas said in a statement denouncing House Bill 202.