For AI agents: read the machine-readable documentation index at /llms.txt or the single-file full reference at /llms-full.txt.
Form a Business

INSPECTIONS FOR FIRE HAZARDS; REMOVAL OF COMBUSTIBLES

Columbus City Codes tit. 19, ch. 1925
in effect

Columbus City Codes § 1925.01 Bureau of Fire Prevention.

1925.01 - Bureau of Fire Prevention. There is hereby established a Bureau of Fire Prevention in the division of fire which shall have as its primary duty the enforcement of the Fire Prevention Code. The chief of the division of fire is authorized and directed to assign to the Bureau of Fire Prevention such members or employees to work under the direction of the chief of the division of fire as the chief of the division of fire may decide, one of whom shall be designated as the Chief of the Bureau of Fire Prevention, and while so assigned shall be designated as the Fire Marshal of the City of Columbus. Under the direction of the chief of the division of fire, the Chief of the Bureau of Fire Prevention shall have control of all fire prevention inspection and fire investigation activities within the City of Columbus. In the absence of the Chief of the Bureau of Fire Prevention, one other member or employee shall be assigned by the chief of the division of fire to act as alternate during the absence of the Chief of the Bureau of Fire Prevention. Other members or employees of the division of fire assigned to the Bureau shall be known as either Fire Prevention Inspectors or Fire Investigators. (Ord. 40-85; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)

Columbus City Codes § 1925.02 Fire prevention inspectors.

1925.02 - Fire prevention inspectors. (a) All other members of the Bureau of Fire Prevention or employees of the division of fire, as may be assigned to conduct fire prevention inspections by the chief of the division of fire shall work under the direction of the Chief of Fire Prevention and while so assigned shall be known as fire prevention inspectors and be members of the Bureau of Fire Prevention. (b) Under the direction of the Chief of the Bureau of Fire Prevention, fire prevention inspectors are authorized to enforce the provisions of the Fire Prevention Code and for such purposes they shall have the powers of a police officer. (Ord. 40-85.)

Columbus City Codes § 1925.03 Fire investigators.

1925.03 - Fire investigators. (a) All other members of the Bureau of Fire Prevention or employees of the division of fire, as may be assigned to conduct fire investigations by the chief of the division of fire, shall work under the direction of the Chief of the Bureau of Fire Prevention and while so assigned shall be known as fire investigators and be members of the Bureau of Fire Prevention. (b) Under the direction of the Chief of the Bureau of Fire Prevention, fire investigators are authorized to be present at fires, investigate the cause thereof, examine witnesses, compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of books and papers, and to do and perform all other acts necessary to the effective discharge of such duties. In the performance of these duties a fire investigator, at any time day or night, may enter upon and examine any building or premises where a fire has occurred, and other buildings and promises adjoining or near thereto. (c) Fire investigators are authorized and directed to enforce all Ohio Revised Code and City Code sections relating to arson and other related crimes. (d) While performing their duties, as set forth above, and any other assigned duties, fire investigators shall have the powers of a police officer. (Ord. 40-85.)

Columbus City Codes § 1925.04 Investigation of cause of fire.

1925.04 - Investigation of cause of fire. (a) The chief of the division of fire or designee shall investigate the cause, origin and circumstances of every fire or explosion occurring in the municipality, as determined by the rules of the chief of the division of fire, by which property has been destroyed or damaged, and shall make an investigation to determine whether the fire or explosion was the result of accident, carelessness or design. Such investigation shall begin immediately upon the occurrence of such a fire or explosion. (b) Every fire shall be reported in writing to the Bureau of Fire Prevention within two days after the occurrence of the same, by the division of fire officer in whose jurisdiction such a fire has occurred. Such report shall be in such form as shall be prescribed by the chief of the division of fire and shall contain a statement of facts relating to the cause, origin and circumstances of such fire, injury to persons, and extent of the damage thereof, and the insurance upon such property, and such other information as may be required. (c) Fire investigators shall investigate the cause, origin and circumstances of every fire occurring in the municipality which is of a suspicious nature or which involves loss of life or in which a substantial amount of property has been damaged or destroyed. In these situations the fire investigator shall immediately be notified of the facts: the division of fire officer in whose jurisdiction such a fire occurred shall immediately take charge of the physical evidence and, in order to preserve such physical evidence, shall take means to prevent access by any person to such building, structure or premises until such evidence has been properly processed or until the arrival of the fire investigator. The division of fire officer in whose jurisdiction such a fire has occurred shall assist the fire investigator in the investigation of the incident and shall cooperate with the fire investigator in the collection of evidence and in the prosecution of the case. (d) The division of police, upon request of the chief of the division of fire, shall assist the fire investigators in the investigation of any fire which, in the fire investigators opinion, is of suspicious origin. (Ord. 40-85; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)

Columbus City Codes § 1925.05 Power to compel attendance of witnesses.

1925.05 - Power to compel attendance of witnesses. The chief of the division of fire, designee, or a fire investigator may summon and compel the attendance of witnesses to testify in relation to any matter which is a proper subject of inquiry and investigation, and may require the production of any book, paper, or document. (Ord. 40-85; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)

Columbus City Codes § 1925.07 Taking of testimony.

1925.07 - Taking of testimony. If in the opinion of the chief of the division of fire, designee, or a fire investigator further investigation is necessary, the chief of the division of fire, designee, or a fire investigator shall take or cause to be taken the testimony on an oath of any person supposed to be cognizant of any fact, or to have means of knowledge in relation to the matter concerning which an examination is required to be made, and cause such testimony to be reduced to writing. (Ord. 40-85; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)

Columbus City Codes § 1925.08 Investigation may be private.

1925.08 - Investigation may be private. Investigation by or under the direction of the Chief of the Division, designee, or a fire investigator may be private. Said officers may exclude from the place where such investigation is held all persons other than those required to be present, and witnesses may be kept separate from each other and not allowed to communicate with each other until they have been examined. (Ord. 40-85; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)

Columbus City Codes § 1925.09 Arrest of suspect.

1925.09 - Arrest of suspect. If the chief of the division of fire, designee, or a fire investigator is of the opinion that there is evidence sufficient to charge a person with arson or a similar crime, or with carelessly causing a fire, the chief of the division of fire, his designee, or a fire investigator may arrest such person or cause the person to be arrested or charged on a summons with such offense. Said officer shall furnish the prosecuting attorney such evidence, with the names of witnesses, and a copy of material testimony taken in the case. (Ord. 40-85; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)

Columbus City Codes § 1925.11 Fire records.

1925.11 - Fire records. The chief of the division of fire shall keep, in the office of the Bureau of Fire Prevention, a record of all fires and of all the facts concerning the same, including statistics as to the extent of such fires and the damages caused thereby, and whether such losses were covered by insurance, and if so, in what amount. Such record shall be made daily from the reports made by the Fire Department officers and inspectors. All such records shall be public. (Ord. 40-85; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)
Source: City of Columbus, City Codes and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/oh/columbus/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT19POFIDICO_CH1925INFIHARECOFetched: 10/27/2026

Starting a business in Ohio? Ohio LLC guide: costs and requirements