Randolph Superintendent Sees Bias in Fire Marshal's Report - State Journal

ELKINS -- The State Fire Marshal's Office, members of the state Board of Education and the Randolph County Board of Education gathered at the renovated Elkins Middle School for a final fire inspection, Tuesday morning.

But Assistant State Fire Marshal Edsel Smith found several more code violations during the visit.

"We have some penetrations that need to be sealed and some walls that need to be extended and completed," said Smith.

During his last inspection in November, Smith found several other code violations, including some doors that needed to be replaced.

Randolph County Superintendent Jim Phares said Smith didn't note those doors during an inspection in October, and said Smith's lack of specificity makes him believe he doesn't want to let students back in.

"I felt like there was some bias here. That some of the things he was doing was delaying the project on purpose. That's why I was relieved to see as many fire marshals as were here," said Phares.

Phares said he's planning to send a letter to the state Board of Education's office expressing his concerns with Smith, and that he plans to include a statement from an Elkins firefighter who said Smith told him he would keep students out of the school until at least February.

"I never said that," Smith said.

Smith didn't pass the school during Tuesday's inspection, but did give the school board permission to move furniture back into the building.

The board of education said it will fix the remaining fire code violations during the next couple of weeks while the school's furniture is moved back in.

The final fire inspection is now set for Jan. 4.

I do realize the importance of his work. I have been in the Fire Service for 29 years, attended several NFPA Courses, and have inspected many large buildings over the years. However, there are two ways to do the job. The first is to be thourough the first time and not waste everyones time and money. The second is his method which is to show eveyone just how much power he has by not identifying evrything the first time and then making a game out of it. He is one of those public servants that has a need to show everyone he is in charge. He did brag in front of me one time how he knows more than "those stupid architects" and how many buildings he had delayed opening. Just look at the video, he carries a gun in a school. I have worked with several of the other Assistant State Fire Marshals and he is a disgrace to the office in my opinion. He even brags about the complaints against him and puts his co-workers down.

Bravo Fire Marshal Smith. I have known FM Smith for many years professionally. He is a man of the utmost integrity, honesty and character. If he has an issue with the contractors performance you can bet it is valid. It is important to remember that schools, areas of assembly and nursing homes require a watchful eye to ensure that these buildings are constructed and maintained with fire safety in mind. Too often contractors get in a hurry with penalty clauses and cost overruns and pass the imperfections on to the property owner. I am sure that the fellow FM's that inspected the school were every bit as diligent as FM Smith was. Shame on the Elkins FF for speaking out of turn on a topic he knows little or nothing about and has no responsibility for.Realizing that the State FM's Office is responsible for their inspectors and held accountable should something arise, they are no doubt proud to have a man like FM Smith in their employ.

Edsel Smith is a bad as all of the other Fire Marshals are good. He has also bragged in front of me on how many buildings he has delayed opening. He never finds everything on one visit so that you can fix it and be done. He seems to find something different every time. I can't understand how Sterling Lewis has kept him this long.