The township's Fire Prevention program is the responsibility of the Fire Official/Fire Marshal, who also serves as the township's Fire Inspector.  The Fire Prevention program is mandated by state law.  The Fire Prevention Program is intended to protect the building, its occupants and firefighters.

In Long Hill Township, the Fire Official has four major responsibilities.

• Residential Smoke Detector Inspection
• Commercial Fire Prevention Inspections
• Investigation Of Fires
• Fire Safety Education

Any time there is a change of occupancy of a 1 or 2 family house (that is, if you intend to sell, lease or rent), you must have a Smoke Detector Compliance Inspection.
 

If you have no smoke detectors, you must install them prior to the change of occupancy.	For 1 and 2 family residences, these can be battery-operated detectors, available at local hardware stores. Obtain the Smoke Detector handout at Town Hall or read it here.  If you have questions, ask the Fire Code Official for additional guidance. Purchase and install the smoke detectors in the recommended locations in the house. Follow the last 4 steps below.
If you have existing battery-powered smoke detectors.	Follow the 4 steps below.
If you have (or ever before had) wired smoke detectors.  (This is a system where all smoke detectors sound at once if any one one detects smoke.  You may have wired smoke detectors if the house was built after 1977 or if the wired system was required during a remodeling or expansion.)	The wired smoke detectors MUST BE operational.  If you removed them or replaced them (with battery-powered smoke detectors) for any reason, call an electrician, and get them back into service.  Once wired smoke detectors have been installed, the house must forever be protected by wired smoke detectors. Follow the last 4 steps below.
If you have a central station fire / smoke / security alarm.  (This is a system that automatically sounds an alarm at an alarm company.)	You must have the instruction manual handy, the person who admits the Fire Inspector must have a working knowledge of how the system operates (so it doesn't send a false alarm when it is tested), and there must be ready access to the control panel. Follow the last 4 steps below.
Install fresh batteries. Contact the Receptionist at Town Hall (908-647-9000 ext 210) to schedule an inspection and PAY THE INSPECTION FEE.  Inspections are conducted ANY TIME on Fridays ONLY.  (A reminder: you also need a Sump Pump (freshwater runoff) Compliance inspection.  Apply at the same time.) Be sure that someone is home to admit the inspector.  If the inspector cannot gain access, you FAIL THE INSPECTION and will have to re-schedule. The inspector will give you a Compliance Certificate, which the attorneys will require at the closing.

The Fire Code Official regularly inspects all commercial buildings and multi-tenant housing, AND when requested by the Police or a citizen's complaint.  These inspections cover such items as:
 

Unobstructed Access to all exits	Storage of flammable waste
Unobstructed Access to the sprinkler system controls and standpipe	Access to the fire and smoke alarm control panel
Sprinkler heads not obstructed	Proper working of the fire and smoke alarm systems
Proper number and type of fire extinguishers - and current inspection	Post and check occupancy levels at halls, restaurants and schools

Repeated violations are subject to fines up to $5000.

The Fire Code Official investigates all fires and explosions in the Township.

To contact the Fire Marshal to report a violation, call 908-647-8000, ext. 307.

To schedule an inspection, call 908-647-8000, ext. 210 and talk to the Receptionist.  She will schedule the inspection.  You must pay the $25.00 fee by cash or personal check before the inspection can be performed.