The Brookhaven Fire Marshal is responsible for conducting fire safety inspections, investigating fire incidents to determine their causes, enforcing fire codes, identifying potential fire hazards, educating the public on fire safety, developing fire plan and ensuring compliance with all relevant fire safety regulations across buildings and properties within our Borough. The Fire Marshal position is the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) of the borough.
Brookhaven Borough follows the 2021 (IFC) International Fire Code
This code recognizes the need for a modern, up-to-date fire code addressing conditions hazardous to life and property from fire, explosion, handling or use of hazardous materials and the use and occupancy of buildings and premises. The IFC that the borough follows is designed to meet these needs through model code regulations that safeguard the public.
Key Responsibilities of the Brookhaven Fire Marshal
- Fire Inspections (inspecting buildings to identify any hazards, identifying safety equipment needs e.g., sprinklers, alarms and extinguishers)
- Fire Investigation (identifying causes and origin of fires, collecting evidence, and determining sources of fire)
- Code Enforcement (enforcing codes and regulations, issuing citations, and taking necessary actions to correct violations)
- Risk Assessment (performing assessments to identify potential hazards and develop mitigating strategies)
- Public Education (educating on fire safety practices, evacuation procedures, fire extinguisher use)
- Training and Drills (conducting fire safety programs for building occupants and staff, including drills and emergency response procedures)
- Plan Review (reviewing and approving fire safety plans for new construction projects)
- Reporting (maintaining detailed records of inspections, fire incidents, and corrective actions taken)
- Collaboration (working with building inspectors, fire department to coordinate fire safety initiatives)
Charles Leslie currently holds the position of Brookhaven Fire Marshal
Charles has been a member of the Brookhaven Fire Department since October 1981 where he held the positions of Engineer, Lieutenant, Captain, and currently Assistant Chief. He was sworn in as Fire Marshal/Fire Inspector in October 2008.