Deputy Fire Chief Brian Chapman says he has called off inspections by firefighters of St. John restaurants and nightclubs for compliance on the number of people permitted in a space, the number of exits and other safety regulations.
Instead, he's going to do the inspecting himself.
Chapman said he started sending his firefighters to check on various businesses earlier this month, but after the first few visits he began having second thoughts. "The inspections started," he said, but in terms of what regulations apply, "I'm going to have to be the one to decide if it's stricter or looser."
Now Chapman says he will conduct the inspections, sometime in April.
Already, he said, business owners have been approaching him in anticipation of an inspection, asking what they must do to meet the safety regulations. He said regulations differ, depending on whether an area is enclosed, partially enclosed, or located on patios and galleries where a quick escape in an emergency would be relatively easy.
To help businesses compy with their safety requirements, Chapman said, he will put together packets of printed information that is available at the Licensing and Consumer Affairs Department office in Cruz Bay. The information should be available sometime next week, he said. Meanwhile, V.I. Fire Services personnel on St. John are continuing to put up markers on utility poles with identification numbers to be used by residents in summoning help. Chapman said portions of Rock Ridge Road and Gifft Hill remain to be completed. When fires break out, emergency crews are sometimes given directions that are confusing and can lead them somewhere else, he noted. The tagging of the poles with code numbers is intended to help safety services personnel quickly target the location of a fire or other emergency.
