KRS 227.220: Duties of state fire marshal and chief state building official relating to fire

loss.

(1) The state fire marshal shall enforce or aid in the enforcement of all laws,

administrative regulations, and ordinances of the state and its political subd ivisions

relating to fire loss as defined in KRS 227.200:

(a) The prevention or reduction of loss by fire or by other hazard or risk insured

by property or casualty insurance companies doing business in this state,

except as to disability insurance and wor kers' compensation, and shall enforce

any other regulations or methods adopted for the prevention of loss from such

hazards or risks in order to promote the safety of persons or property;

(b) The manufacture, transportation, storage, sale, or use of combus tibles,

explosives, and hazardous materials or equipment;

(c) The design, construction, and maintenance of property which has a direct

bearing on safety to life and property;

(d) The construction, installation, maintenance, or equipment of fire alarm

systems, fire protection and extinguishing equipment, and fire escapes and

other means of access to or exit from property; and

(e) Arson and related offenses.

(2) The chief state building official shall enforce and administer all applicable

provisions of the Kentucky Building Code, including all the provisions designed for

the prevention of fire loss, and shall have all the powers and duties awarded by KRS

Chapter 198B and the Kentucky Building Code.

(3) The state fire marshal is authorized to:

(a) Investigate the cause, origin, and circumstances of fires and explosions for the

purpose of detecting and suppressing arson and related offenses, or for the

purpose of minimizing or preventing fire loss;

(b) Supervise and make periodic inspections of all property withi n the state, and

assist cities having fire departments in making like periodic inspections of all

property in cities, except occupied private dwellings;

(c) Issue and enforce reasonable emergency orders and orders in accordance with

KRS 227.330 for the pre vention of fire loss, and for the adoption, approval,

and installation of safety measures, remodeling, and equipment as will

minimize fire loss;

(d) Provide technical and engineering advice and assistance to state and local

governmental agencies in relation to fire prevention or fire protection;

(e) Direct and assist owners of educational institutions, places of public assembly,

institutional buildings, public buildings, factories, business buildings, or other

places where persons congregate, in the instruc tion of fire prevention, and the

holding of fire drills;

(f) Conduct fire prevention and educational campaigns;

(g) Conduct examinations into the cause, origin, or circumstances of fire losses;

(h) Hold administrative hearings in accordance with the KRS Chapter 13B, as

may be required by law or deemed by the state fire marshal necessary or

desirable as to any matter within the scope of this chapter. All administrative

hearings shall be public, unless the state fire marshal, or an authorized

designee, determines that a private hearing would be in the public interest, in

which case, and only with the consent of all parties to the hearing, the hearing

shall be private;

(i) Direct research in the field of fire protection and accept gifts and grants for

these purposes;

(j) Appoint deputy fire marshals to be fire investigators; and

(k) Recommend curricula for advanced courses and seminars in fire science

training in colleges and institutions of higher education.

(4) The state fire marshal shall head the Division of Fire Prevention in the department.