By Joe Olvera ©, 2012
“The task of inspecting 600 buildings in the Downtown area is very daunting,” said El Paso
Fire Marshal Calvin Shanks. “But, we are eating this elephant one bite at a time.” With at least 400
structures already inspected, Shanks said that the process should be completed by June 8. “Let me
make it clear that we are not investigating the downtown businesses, but we are conducting risk
assessments to identify the level of risk that is posed to the area. The difference is that we have no
formal complaints pending against many of those businesses and are simply asking their permission
to enter their business to conduct a risk assessment. Any identified violations of the code are addressed
via the appropriate mechanism, which includes official notice to correct hazards to citations to court action,
if needed. These buildings are not being looked at for every exit sign not operating and fire extinguisher tag
being current, but are, instead, being looked at based on several major risk factors.”
The site visits are being conducted as a way to prevent future fires in the Downtown area, such
as the one that consumed an El Paso historic building recently. Built in the 1880s, the old building, which
once housed the office of then-Sheriff John Wesley Hardin, went down in flames. This latest conflagration
at 100 East San Antonio Street prompted the El Paso City Council to order the inspections as a preventative
measure. The intent, based on final reports from the Fire Department, is also to determine the possibility
of strengthening building codes and enforcement.
Some of the findings, thus far, according to Shanks, are that if a violation is uncovered, that
the same violation or the same conditions don’t exist again. “Violations that are found are being
addressed appropriately depending on the level of hazard they represent. Minor violations are issued
official correction notices and are given a period to comply. Major violations are requiring immediate
correction, anywhere from 24 to 48 hours. These result in fines up to $500 per occurrence and will
follow the same citation or court action as any violation if correction is not made.
“If the building represents a major hazard, the building can be shut down via an emergency
action. None have required this action at this time. The items found so far can fall into four separate
categories, including structural concerns, building system concerns (such as electrical), fire load concerns,
and egress concerns. There are a lot of old buildings in this area, some are in bad shape structurally,
others have antiquated electrical systems that are in disrepair, some have excess amounts of storage
that create a heavy fireload, and others have locked or blocked exits from basement and other areas.”
Shanks said that there are presently six teams of firefighters conducting the site visits. “Normal
duties have to be continued in the rest of town so only six teams were formed. The task was very daunting.
600 parcels of property in one month. However, with the good plan developed by the fire lieutenant in
charge of the operation, we are meeting our goal.” The site visits are being conducted by fire personnel
in conjunction with members of building code compliance. This partnership, said Shanks, has existed for
years and is based on who has the enforcement authority based on the adopted ordinances.
“There are no undercover teams conducting the inspections,” Shanks said. “All personnel
involved in the inspection process have to follow established policies regarding maintaining a
professional appearance. They are all in Fire Department uniforms. No long hair, unless female, and
strict rules regarding facial hair. As for the $100,000 donated by building owner Jerry Rubin to the Fire
Department, Shanks said that has no bearing on the outcome of the risk assessment. “I have no idea
what the interest of Mr. Rubin was in making his donation. If hazards are identified in a building,
they are being addressed through the code provisions. This is applicable whether the building
is general use or historic, and regardless of the owner or property management group. The goal is
to reduce risk and that is the sole focus of these efforts.”
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