Bureau of Fire Prevention / Fire Marshal's Office

Overview

The Bureau of Prevention is dedicated to safeguarding life, property, and public welfare across the City of St. Louis. By proactively addressing fire and explosion hazards, our team ensures the safety of our community. 

The Fire Marshal commands the Bureau of Fire Prevention, which comprises three principal divisions: 

• Code Enforcement/Fire Inspections - Ensuring buildings and businesses comply with the local and operational safety codes. 

• Fire Investigation - Determining the origin and cause of fires within the city. 

• Public Fire and Life Safety Education - Empowering the community with fire safety knowledge and training. 

Code Enforcement/Fire Inspections

The code enforcement division is the regulatory arm of the Bureau. it operates in collaboration with the City of St. Louis Building Division's Fire Safety Unit to enforce the minimal requirements necessary to protect the public from hazardous conditions.

Key Ordinances Enforced:

• City Fire Prevention Ordinance
• Hazardous Material Ordinance

Core Functions and Services:

To support these safety standards, our office routinely conducts: 

• First responder radio operational ability testing
• Review and approval of hazardous materials and operational permit applications. 
• Evacuation and emergency planning
• In conjunction with the Building Division:
  • Plan reviews of fire protection systems and building sites to ensure fire apparatus access, water access for department needs, and fire control center locations and features
  • Life-safety inspections of new and existing structures where required by state law

These functions, as determined by the Fire Chief, represent the minimum requirements essential to safeguard life, property, public welfare, and firefighter safety and health from the hazards associated with fire and explosion, as well as to ensure compliance with the adopted 2018 International Fire Code. 

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Additional Information

The following site pages contain further information on department operations:

• Fire Prevention Permits Information
• Fire Investigation and Fire Reports
• Fire Inspections Unit
• Knox Box Information
• Fire Watch
• Smoke Detectors and Nuisance Alarms

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Contact Information

Kindly contact 314-289-1960 or 314-289-1963 for all inquiries pertaining to the St. Louis Fire Department Bureau of Fire Prevention. Examples of potential inquiries include: 

• Building Inspections:  Where required for safety by state law 
• Evacuation and Emergency Planning:  Guidance for preparedness
• Permits:  Propane, flammable liquid storage tanks, hazardous materials, blasting, or fireworks displays including "cold spark" generators
• Reports:  Copies of incident or fire investigation reports. 
• Education:  Fire safety education and fire extinguisher training
• Code Questions:  General inquiries regarding St. Louis Fire Codes
• Complaints: Reporting a fire hazard or safety concern
• Knox Box:  Assistance in acquiring a lock box for secure entry to facilities by emergency responders
• Nuisance Alarms:  Information regarding fines for false alarms at commercial buildings

Staff