Salisbury Township firefighters responding to a fire in a building they are unfamiliar with may become a thing of the past.

That's because a fire code and inspection program for commercial buildings by certified firefighter inspectors may be in the offing for Salisbury.

Township officials and firefighters are advocating for the program, saying it would ensure the safety of residents, building owners and firefighters.

It may require the hiring of a certified fire inspector, most likely on a part-time or freelance basis.

The fire inspector, or inspectors, could be members of the volunteer fire departments: Eastern Salisbury Fire Company and Western Salisbury Fire Company.

The inspection program would probably require introduction of and a vote on a township fire code ordinance, which the township lacks.

Cost of the program is estimated at $24,000 annually if inspections are done by a third-party, or outside consultant. The cost is expected to be less if a township firefighter certified as a fire inspector did the inspections.

The annual estimate is calculated at 400 man hours per year for inspection at a cost of $60 per hour.

There are 88 commercial buildings of 2.1 million square feet in Salisbury. These include Lehigh Valley Hospital - Cedar Crest, the South Mall, churches, restaurants, gas stations and apartment complexes of three units or more.

Inspections would cover items such as alarm systems, restaurant kitchen hood suppression units and sprinkler systems.

Apartments of two units and single-family dwellings would be exempt.

Recently, Lower Macungie Township approved a fire inspection code.

Salisbury Township Building Code Official & Code Enforcement Officer Sandy Nicolo presented three options for the fire inspection program to commissioners at the Aug. 8 township meeting, attended by about six volunteer firemen.

Some buildings, including LVH, are inspected by the state. Township officials say these would also be inspected by the township.

Nicolo said he gets few complaints that lead to inspections. He said when violations are found, property owners are cooperative and rectify the problem. "We do have enforcement powers," Nicolo said.

"Why do we have to wait for something to happen?" worried commissioner President James Brown.

"It's like a lot of codes. We have to wait for something to happen," Salisbury Township Solicitor Atty. John W. Ashley confirmed.

"You have to have a systematic code in place. You would have to have a procedure in place," Ashley said.

"What we have now is a reactionary system, which does not work," Dev Kannan, assistant fire chief, certified fire inspector, Western Salisbury Fire Department said.

"There are many other things that need to be addressed," Joshua Wells, fire chief, Western Salisbury Fire Department said.

"It's not being enforced. And there are businesses that are years behind," said Salisbury Township Police Officer and Township Fire Marshall Sgt. Don Sabo, who investigates fires after the fact and does not do inspections.

"There's no fire code," Kannan said.

"Do you think doing this can save lives and make it safer for residents?" Commissioner Joanne Ackerman asked.

"Yes," both Wells and Kannan said. They said the township never adopted a fire code and it should have been adopted.

"You would get regular inspections and it would give you folks the lay of the land," commissioner Vice President Robert Martucci Jr. said.

"If they're [township firefighters] dealing with inspections, they'd be familiar with the buildings," Nicolo said.

"Right now we have no jurisdiction to show up at any property," Kannan said.

"I didn't know we didn't have this," Commissioner Debra Brinton said of the lack of a township fire code and building inspection program.

"I think we all agree that something has to be done," Martucci said.

"It makes sense that you guys should inspect and enforce it," Brinton said.

"I'm going to have to be the one to have to enforce it," Nicolo said.

"They [firefighters] would be the witnesses. Sandy [Nicolo] would enforce it," Ashley said.

"Usually it takes a warning letter. They [businesses, property owners] don't want to get shut down," Nicolo said. "They comply almost immediately."

"I would like to see a feasibility study," Martucci said.

"I just want to make this happen without talking about it for 10 years," Brinton said.

The firefighters said they would make a presentation at the Aug. 22 township meeting, probably during the workshop. A fire code and building inspection program could be adopted by year's end.

Here are the options presented by Nicolo:

Option 1 - The owner-operator of the establishment is responsible for public safety. Violations are handed by township code enforcement on a complaint basis. This is the system now in place in Salisbury.

Option 2 - Adopt the International Fire Code. This requires amending the Uniform Construction Code that includes a hearing or hearings with the Pennsylvania License and Inspections Department for approval of the ordinance. (The township already enforces sections of IFC for new construction.) A state-Certified Fire Inspector is required.

Option 3 - Adopt the International Property Maintenance Code. Adoption of the ordinance would not require L&I approval. A state CFI is not required.

The IFC addresses fire prevention, fire protection, life safety and safe storage and use of hazardous materials. The IFC requires an adequate water supply for fire-fighting and access to a building for emergency responders. The IFC regulates refrigeration systems, application of flammable finishes and the fueling of motor vehicles.

In a letter presented to Salisbury Township Manager Randy Soriano and Nicolo, the Salisbury Township Fire Chiefs Association recommended adoption of the IPMC.

The township fire chiefs, based on a meeting held with Soriano and Nicolo, also recommended:

- An annual fire inspection program for buildings.

- Inspections should be done by a state-certified inspector. There are two CFIs on township fire departments staff. The CFIs would become part-time township employees.

- No third-party agency should conduct fire inspections.

- Charge $40 an hour per fire inspection, with $25 per hour of that going to the inspector and $15 to the township for administrative costs.

"We'd like to see Option 2 or Option 3," Wells said. "We want someone in the township or department to do it. We don't want it third party."

After the Aug. 8 meeting, firefighters told a reporter for Salisbury Press they have advocated a township fire code and building inspection program for more than a decade. They cited changes in township and fire departments administrations for the delays.

The township fire chiefs' letter to Soriano and Nicolo stated: "We are aware that no fire inspections are being conducted in the township and are concerned for the life safety for ourselves and the occupants of buildings."

The fire chiefs' letter was signed by Joshua Wells, fire chief, Western Salisbury Fire Department; Clinton Ballek, fire chief, Eastern Salisbury Fire Department; Dave Tomcics, assistant fire chief, Eastern Salisbury Fire Department; Kyle Mertl, assistant fire chief, Eastern Salisbury Fire Department; Dev Kannan, assistant fire chief, CFI, Western Salisbury Fire Department; Dennis Takacs, deputy chief, Eastern Salisbury Fire Department; and Jason Faryniak, deputy chief, Western Salisbury Fire Department.