Hempfield hires a fire inspector

Sean Hearn is the new fire inspector for Hempfield .

Hearn, whose salary will be $60,000, will be responsible for inspecting commercial properties to ensure there are no fire related issues. According to township manager Jason Winters, Hearn will also focus on fire prevention and inspections with township businesses in an effort to be proactive.

Hearn currently works as a code enforcement officer in Wilkinsburg and was previously a firefighter in Swissvale. Winters noted Hearn has experience with the volunteer fire service.

Hempfield supervisors first announced their intention to hire a fire inspector in March when they voted to advertise the position. Hearn was unanimously approved at the July 26 meeting.

Creation of the position comes as township leaders are working to improve their ISO rating, a review by New Jersey-based Insurance Services Office Inc. The rating is based on several factors, including emergency response times and staffing, and it influences homeowner insurance rates.

Several changes have been made over the years to improve the rating, but most recently efforts have centered around having each of the township’s 11 stations fall under one department. In doing that, township leaders are working to have the stations become chartered members, and have hired a paid fire chief, Tony Kovacic, and deputy fire chief, John Storey.

Hearn will be a township employee and will report to Kovacic.