NORFOLK, VA – Norfolk Fire-Rescue (NFR) stops fires before they start thanks to the tireless work of its fire marshals.
NFR deploys a 15-person team of fire inspectors. Businesses in Norfolk undergo inspections for adherence to the state fire prevention code. Inspectors look for extinguishers and lighted exit signs as well as extension cords, hood ventilation systems and whether building exits are easily accessible.
This effort is designed to prevent fires, as well as to increase the likelihood of survival should a blaze occur.
Information about the thousands of inspections this hard-working team conducts each year is now available through the city’s portal, Norfolk Open Data, along with a story, “An Ounce of Prevention,” that helps describe their work and the data.
It may not be the first thing a resident thinks of upon entering a restaurant or other business, said Battalion Chief Nicholas Nelson. But fire inspections are crucial to fire safety.
“It’s a sense of reassurance,” Nelson said. “An ounce of prevention goes a long way.”
Dataphiles can now find statewide data with one click through Norfolk’s Open Data portal in the “featured content” section. State data includes links to Virginia’s response to COVID-19 as well as the opioid crisis.
Norfolk’s new police data hub, with five years of police data including personnel, citizen complaints, and use-of-force, is also available.
Feel free to view, download and analyze any of the data in this portal. The City of Norfolk provides this data as an affirmation of commitment to transparency and community collaboration. This commitment, as well as the work of teams throughout the city to use data to make the best decisions and make the most efficient use of resources, led to Norfolk’s Silver Level Certification from What Works Cities. This group helps local governments improve residents' lives by using data and evidence effectively to tackle pressing challenges.
We hope that you will use this data to improve your community, spark a business idea or just satisfy your curiosity. Have a question about Norfolk Open Data? Contact us at 757-664-4007 or email opendata@norfolk.gov.