Fire Prevention

Fire Prevention is the inspection, education, engineering and enforcement section Fire Rescue.  The bureau provides life safety services through code enforcement and inspections for new businesses, general fire inspections, as well as the operating and special use permitting and complaint investigations. 

Fire Prevention Bureau Contact Information:

• • Phone:(954) 828-6370
  • Fax:(954) 828-5338
  • Email: Fire Prevention
  • Fire Marshal: Jeff Lucas
  • Acting Assistant Fire Marshal: Jason Miller 
  • Prevent fire injuries, property loss and deaths.
  • Visit our Fire Prevention Safety Tips page.

Keeping the City Safe

The Fire Prevention Bureau enforces the life safety and fire protection requirements of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Florida Fire Prevention Code, the Florida Building Code and the City of Fort Lauderdale Municipal Code of Ordinances. 

All of our Fire Inspectors are State of Florida Certified Firefighters and State of Florida and Broward County Certified Fire Inspectors.

We review all new commercial building plans prior to permits being issued and work with Building Department plan reviewers to ensure all building plans comply with national, state and local codes.

We inspect construction sites to ensure that the final product reflects the design criteria on approved plans, and test all fire protection, smoke evacuation and fire alarm systems to ensure they are functional and code compliant.  

A certificate of occupancy (CO) or completion is only issued once fire and building inspections have passed. Once a CO has been issued, Fire Inspectors continue to conduct annual inspections to ensure compliance is maintained.

 Fire investigation is an essential function of the Fire Prevention Bureau. The Fire Investigation Unit or FIU is comprised of eight on-call Fire Investigators who respond to fire and/or hazardous incidents when called out by an on-scene Incident Commander (IC), including:

• Fires believed to be intentionally set
• Fires involving juveniles (includes gang activity)
• Fires that require additional alarm response
• Fires involving a fatality or injury to civilians and/or firefighters.
• Fires involving high dollar loss.
• Acts of terrorism (e.g., bombings, structural sabotage, etc.)
• Hazardous conditions that threaten life safety, such as:

• Assembly overcrowding
• Blocked exits
• Building collapse
• Compromised fire protection and detection systems, etc.
• Other related hazards when requested by an IC.

(At Left: House fires like this can be avoided. Find out how to secure your home with Community Risk Reduction here.)

The Fire Investigation Unit must be ready and available to respond to any incident.

Investigators are assigned to callout status using a one-week rotation cycle and a secondary member is also assigned to “back up status” when incidents overlap.

The fire investigators are required to attend continuing education classes to stay informed about changes and advancements in their field. Investigators also hold a variety of memberships in professional organizations, such as the International Association of Arson Investigators, the National Association of Fire Investigators, and the Florida Advisory Committee on Arson Prevention (FACAP).

Unit members must meet the Professional Qualifications for a Fire Investigator set by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 1033). Each investigator is a member of the National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI) and a Certified Fire & Explosion Investigator (CFEI). All fire investigations follow the guidelines In NFPA 921: Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations.

One Part of a Team of Experts

 FIU members often work closely with arson detectives from the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. FLPD detectives train with FIU investigators and often attend common fire investigation seminars, strengthening the relationship between the two departments.

FIU members often work closely with arson detectives from the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. FLPD detectives train with FIU investigators and often attend common fire investigation seminars, strengthening the relationship between the two departments.

The FIU also works with the Florida State Fire Marshal's Office, the Bureau of Fire/Arson Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) whenever required. 

During the post-fire environment, the FIU coordinates with the American Red Cross, the City of Ft. Lauderdale Emergency Management Office, and the City of Ft. Lauderdale Building Services.

The Unit and these other agencies work together to help displaced families find lodging and to return affected properties back to a habitable condition.

• Please note that Fort Lauderdale fire investigators do not conduct private fire investigations
• All fire investigations are conducted according to Florida State Statutes and Fort Lauderdale Fire Department policy and procedures
• The Fire Prevention Bureau is organized under the Fire Rescue Department

•  Check out our organizational chart here to see how this bureau functions