COLUMBUS, Ind. – The Columbus Fire Department (CFD) has added a Fire Inspector within its Fire Investigation and Inspection Division. Drew Baldwin becomes CFD’s first civilian Fire Inspector and will join the department’s two sworn inspectors to conduct fire and life safety building inspections within the city.
Baldwin, 31, joined CFD on March 17. He is undergoing department familiarization training and will be accompanying current inspectors at occupancies within the community for a brief period before being released to conduct inspections.
As a Fire Inspector, he will inspect buildings to detect fire hazards, recommend prevention measures, ensure compliance with state and local fire regulations, and provide education to enhance safety within the community.
Baldwin obtained a Fire Inspector certification in 2023 and worked part-time as a Fire Inspector with the Greenwood Fire Department before joining CFD. Previously, he worked as a sworn Firefighter with the Shelbyville Fire Department. The new inspector, a 2011 graduate of Whiteland Community High School and a 2014 graduate of Ivy Tech Community College with an Associate’s Degree in Fire Science, holds a Fire Investigator certification.
According to CFD data, Columbus had 1869 occupancies in 2024 that required fire and life safety inspections. They included schools, commercial properties, manufacturing facilities, residential facilities, businesses, and restaurants. Inspectors are also required to examine new construction and remodels of existing buildings within the city.
The Columbus Fire Department currently has three inspection frequency categories for fire and life safety inspections: annual, biennial, and triennial. High fire-risk and high-occupancy properties are typically placed within the annual inspection category, while a low-risk occupancy may receive a triennial inspection.
Columbus Fire Chief Andy Lay said that adding another inspector was needed to keep up with growth within the community and ensure safety within the built environment. “Our inspectors’ efforts to keep workplaces, gathering spaces, and retail centers safe are the first line of defense to reduce fire risk and preventable injury within buildings in our community,” said Chief Lay.
In 2024, the Fire Investigation and Inspection Division conducted 952 on-site inspection visits, which included 201 fire and life safety inspections of established occupancies and 284 building inspections of new construction or remodels of properties.
