To Whom It May Concern:

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the updates to the Statewide Fire Prevention Code. My name is Joseph A. Cardello and I am the Fire Chief of the Stafford County Fire and Rescue Department. As an advocate for the safety of all Virginians, I would like to add my name to the comments made by the Virginia Fire Prevention Association and the Virginia Fire Chiefs Association.

Stafford County is committed to protecting our residents, businesses and visitors from the devastating consequences from fires, explosions and hazardous materials.  Enforcing a Fire Prevention Code that is consistent with and follows the intent of the national model codes is critical to not only the future safety of our community but also to the sustainability of our economic development.  In fact, Virginia Code is section 27-97 requires that, “In formulating the Fire Prevention Code, the Board shall have due regard for generally accepted standards as recommended by nationally recognized organizations including, but not limited to, standards of the International Code Council, the National Fire Protection Association, and recognized organizations issuing standards for the protection of the public from the hazards of explosives and blasting agents.”  The hundreds of non-consensus changes proposed for the 2015 Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code do not seem to espouse those principals and legislative directives.

Stafford County Fire and Rescue is committed to participating and supporting the good work that continues to be underway to methodically and appropriately revise these regulations, however we urge that the Board of Housing and Community Development move forward with only the consensus-based changes while the remaining code development work continues into the next code development cycle.

Sincerely,

Joseph A. Cardello

County Fire Chief

Stafford County Fire and Rescue Department