Shifting Costs

Fire Departments in a handful of Rhode Island communities are using a new online database to catalogue inspections of fire alarm boxes, sprinklers and other safety equipment. But the private company that created the system is charging $20 per form, for a service the municipalities used to perform for free. Jim Hummel speaks with one fire alarm inspector who takes issue with the fees  – and hears from local fire chiefs about how the system has changed the way they keep track of inspections.

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