Jim Kenworthy
     Division Chief - Fire Prevention

 

My name is Jim Kenworthy and I am the Fire Marshal / Division Chief - Prevention for Klamath County Fire District No. 1. I began my employment with the Fire District on August 29, 2003. I have an Associate of Science Degree from Chemeketa Community College in Building Inspection Technology as well as several professional certifications from the State Building Codes Division and the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Prior to being employed by Fire District No. 1, I was employed in a variety of different positions. I have worked as a carpenter, Building Official/Assistant Fire Marshal for Tualatin Fire District, Building Inspection Technology Program Chairman/Lead Instructor at Chemeketa Community College where I also taught courses in the Fire Science, Civil/Structural Engineering, Real Estate and Land Use Planning Associate Degree programs, Building Official for the City of Beaverton, Private Code Consultant and Senior Plans Examiner for the Klamath County Building Department. I have been employed in the Fire Service full time for eight years and in a limited capacity for an additional ten years. I have lived in Klamath Falls since September of 2000.

As the Fire Marshal for Fire District No. 1, I am responsible for the management and administration of the District’s Fire Prevention Division and the supervision of three Deputy Fire Marshals. I report directly to the Fire Chief. I am one of seven Chief Officers of the Fire District that are collectively responsible for the overall management and administration of the Fire District. View the Organizational Chart for Fire District No. 1

I absolutely love my job and I especially enjoy the interaction with our professional Firefighters/Paramedics, members of the general public and representatives of our fire service partner agencies.

Responsibilities of the Position

The Fire Prevention Division provides support to the District’s Operations Division, Training Division and Administrative Support personnel. The Fire Prevention Division also provides direct services to the citizens of the District and works closely with, and in support of, the City of Klamath Falls, Klamath County, local and state law enforcement agencies, the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office and other Fire Service Agencies.

Fire prevention programs and activities include:

• Fire Investigation. Data is gathered regarding the original cause and circumstances of fires that is reported to the State Fire Marshal’s Office who compiles the data on a statewide basis and the collective data is published in an annual report by the Oregon State Fire Marshal. Fire Prevention personnel work closely with local and state law enforcement personnel to solve and prepare criminal cases against persons that commit crimes of arson and reckless burning. The Fire Marshal or one of the Deputy Fire Marshals are “on call” twenty-four (24) hours a day, every day, to investigate fires in addition to working a minimum forty (40) hour work week.

• Juvenile Fire Setter Intervention. Fire Prevention personnel work closely with local juvenile authorities and local law enforcement personnel to provide intervention services involving juvenile fire setters. Fire Prevention personnel are trained and certified by the State Fire Marshal to work with juveniles to promote positive behavioral changes in youth that are known to have started fires. Visit the Oregon State Fire Marshal's web site for more resources on juvenile fire setter intervention.

• Public Education. Fire Prevention personnel provide fire safety education to citizens through the schools, press releases, “hands on” fire extinguisher training, media interviews and special events. Two of the major annual special events are provided during the Klamath County Fair and an annual “open house”  The open house is held at one of the District’s fire stations during the National Fire Prevention Week, typically in October of each year. Interactive activities and demonstrations are included in these special events that are well attended by the public. For detailed information on these services and more, click here.

• Fire Safety Inspections. Fire Prevention personnel routinely conduct fire safety inspections of existing buildings for the enforcement of the Oregon Fire Code, as adopted by the Oregon State Fire Marshal. The purpose of these inspections is to reduce or eliminate conditions that could cause a fire, or increase the severity of a fire, and to prevent the loss of property, life loss or injury from fire. Additionally, the specific information gathered from these inspections, regarding the building construction and materials within the building, is used to promote the safety of our Firefighters by informing them of specific safety hazards that they may encounter during a fire in the subject building.

• Plan Review. Fire Prevention personnel routinely review plans related to land use applications and provide input to the City of Klamath Falls and Klamath County Planning Departments regarding the Oregon Fire Code requirements for fire apparatus access and water supplies for firefighting purposes.  From May of 2005 through August of 2006 more than 8,000 new residential building lots were created through the City and County’s land use approval processes. The current level of growth is unprecedented in the history of the Fire District and represents a huge demand on the Fire Prevention Division.

• Inter-governmental Agreement. In April of 2006 the Fire District and Klamath County entered into an Inter-governmental Agreement (IGA) for use of appropriate certified Fire District personnel to conduct structural, fire & life safety and mechanical plan reviews for the Klamath County Building Department. During the first five (5) months following the effective date of the IGA, the District reviewed in excess of $32,000,000 worth of new commercial construction.