The Columbus Fire Department (CFD) adds an additional Fire Inspector within the department’s Fire Investigation and  Inspection Division. Drew Baldwin becomes the department’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, 2025. Baldwin will undergo department familiarization training and will be accompanying current inspectors at occupancies within the community for a brief period of time before being release to conduct inspections. As a Fire Inspector, Baldwin 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 (IN) Fire Department before joining CFD. Previously, Baldwin worked as a sworn Firefighter with the Shelbyville (IN) Fire Department. Baldwin also holds a Fire Investigator certification and will eventually participate in fire investigations with the department. Baldwin is 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.

According to Columbus Fire Department data, Columbus had approximately 1869 occupancies in 2024 that required fire and life safety inspections. These occupancies include schools, commercial properties, manufacturing facilities, residential facilities, businesses and restaurants. CFD Fire Inspectors are also required to inspect new construction and remodels of existing buildings within the city. The inspection schedule of existing occupancies are often based on the level of risk for a specific occupancy type as defined by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and local regulations. The Columbus Fire Department currently has three inspection frequency categories for fire and life safety inspections; annual, bi-annual and tri-annual. High fire risk and high occupancy properties are typically placed within the annual inspection category while a low risk occupancy may receive a tri-annual inspection.

Columbus Fire Chief Andy Lay said that adding an additional inspector was a necessity 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 as safe as possible is the first line of defense for the reduction of fire risk and preventable injury within buildings in our community. Increasing our inspection capabilities simply gets us in more doors and if needed, our inspectors can work with property owners to address concerns or code violations,” 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. In some instances, Fire Inspectors may visit a single occupancy multiple times to address code violations or re-inspections requirements. In 2024, CFD Inspectors reported 46 occupancies that required five or more visits from an inspector.