TITLE 1: GOVERNMENT
DIVISION 2: EXECUTIVE BRANCH
§ 28022. Division of Fire Prevention and Arson Investigation: Duties and Responsibilities. The Division of Fire Prevention and Arson Investigation shall have the following duties and responsibilities: (a) To enforce the CNMI Fire Safety Code Act [2 CMC §§ 7301-7340], International Fire Code, and National Fire Protection Association standards; (b) To provide and approve fire plan review in conjunction with building safety codes and fire hydrant water distribution systems for fire protection, and approve occupancy loads for commercial structures; (c) To regulate the installation of smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, fire sprinkler systems, and fire hydrants for commercial and industrial use; (d) To conduct arson investigations and make arrests pertaining to such matters; (e) To regulate, and prohibit as deemed necessary, the sale and purchase of firefighting vehicles, firefighting equipment, and tools by government agencies, commercial businesses, or individuals; (f) To regulate, and prohibit as deemed necessary, government agencies, commercial businesses, or individuals from obtaining water from fire hydrants; (g) To regulate and issue permits for open burning, sale and purchase of fireworks, fire code building safety inspections, storage and handling of hazardous materials (any type of chemicals, explosives, fuel and fuel products), and establish fees and fines for such; (h) To enforce and collect applicable fees and fines for fire prevention, protection, and suppression; (i) To manage the Fire Safety Code Revolving Fund where all fees collected shall be deposited into for the specific purpose of regulating and enforcing the provisions of the Department of Fire and EMS and shall not be reprogrammed for any other purpose or to any other agency; (j) All fines collected by the department shall be deposited into the CNMI Government General Fund; (k) To provide operational support to emergency services by engaging in the prevention, control, and extinguishment of fires and responding to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment is at risk; (1) To establish tour of duty schedules based on rotating 24-hour shifts; and (m) To receive and manage all applicable federal grants. Source: PL 18-73 § 3(302) (Jan. 25, 2015), modified. Commission Comment: The Commission inserted commas after the words “code” in subsection (a) and “equipment” in subsection (e) and converted brackets to parentheses in subsection (g) pursuant to 1 CMC § 3806(g).