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Fire Officials Warn of Inspection Scam

[Source: http://www.recordnet.com | November 04, 2008]

Fire officials are warning area businesses about a scam in which a group is charging for fire inspections.

Tracy Fire Chief Chris Bosch warned of Fire Systems Inspections of USA charging businesses $400 for inspections that its employees claimed would qualify as the businesses' annual fire inspection.

Bosch said the city of Tracy does not contract out with private companies to conduct fire inspections.

"All inspections are done by city of Tracy (Fire Department) personnel," Bosch said of inspections in Tracy. "Our firefighters are trained regarding the application and enforcement of specific state and local building and fire codes, as well as our own local code amendments."

The public should never pay for such inspections, Bosch said.

Bosch said he has received several letters from fire departments throughout the state warning of the scam, including a warning that the group may be using gang members to conduct the inspections. A Tracy business recently contacted the Tracy Fire Department after becoming a victim of the scam, Bosch said. Legitimate fire inspections should be scheduled through local fire departments.

The Tracy Fire Department also offers free home inspections through its Smoke Alarms For Every Home Project.

[Original Release: http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081104/A_NEWS02/81103017/-1/A_NEWS]