A hearing involving the above-captioned property was conducted on Tuesday, January 28, 2025 before the Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal and Review [hereinafter the Board], pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws [RIGL] sections 23-28.3-5, 42-35-9 and 42-46-3. 
 
In attendance at the hearing were the following: 
COMMISSIONERS: Chairperson Blackburn, Vice-Chairperson Thornton and Commissioners Walker, ODonnell, Walsh & Mancini. 
AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION [AHJ]: State Fire Marshal Will Maher of the Pawtucket Fire Marshals Office. 
APPELLANT: Paul Guevremont. 
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: W. Keith Burlingame, Esq. 
 
TRAVEL OF THE CASE 
 
1.	This is an Application for Appeal submitted under RIGL chapter 23-28.3, entitled Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal and Review, and the Administrative Regulations promulgated thereunder. 
2.	The Application was submitted by Paul Guevremont (authorized representative) of the City of Pawtucket, 137 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI dated November 27, 2024. 
3.	The Application was processed by the Board and Appeal  2024209 was filed on November 29, 2024. 
4.	A hearing on the Application was conducted on January 28, 2025 at 1:00 PM before the Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal and Review. 
5.	After consideration of the application, the testimony of the witnesses and of the entire record presented to the Board, and after carefully reviewing such information, a motion was made by Commissioner Walker and seconded by Commissioners ODonnell and Walsh to grant the Appellant the relief as outlined herein.  The motion passed on a 6 to 0 vote. 
 
RECORD OF THE CASE 
 
The following documents are part of the administrative record for Appeal  2024209 and are pertinent to the decision rendered: 
 
1.	Appeal Application  FVA-24-209 submitted on November 27, 2024 and filed on November 29, 2024. 
a.	Letter of authorization for Paul Guevremont from Chris Crawley dated November 18, 2024. 
2.	Pawtucket Fire Marshals Office Inspection Report dated October 8, 2024. 
 
EXHIBITS 
 
The following documents were presented at the January 28, 2025 hearing as exhibits: 
 
1.	None. 
 
 
FINDINGS OF FACT 
 
Based on the testimony and evidence introduced at the hearing and a review of the administrative file, the Board makes the following Findings of Fact: 
 
1.	The numbers of the determinations below correspond with those of the October 8, 2024 inspection report compiled by the Pawtucket Fire Marshals Office.  The above report was utilized by the Board, the Appellant and the Pawtucket Fire Marshals Office during the January 28, 2025 hearing on this matter.  Accordingly, the Board hereby incorporates the October 8, 2024 inspection report as its initial findings of fact.  Any modification of the Boards findings relating to this report, such as correction of a deficiency by the Appellant, shall be noted herein. 
2.	The building is 1-story above grade building without a basement level, classified as an assembly (special amusement) occupancy. 
3.	The building is of Type I construction and provided with an approved (with deficiencies) automatic sprinkler system, emergency lighting and egress signage. 
4.	The Board finds through the testimony of the parties that this facility is used on a limited seasonal basis (Halloween) for approximately six (6) hours each weekend in the month of October with admission restricted to a very small number of occupants at any one time. 
5.	There is no objection by the Pawtucket Fire Marshals Office to the granting of the relief outlined herein. 
 
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW AND 
DETERMINATIONS ON VARIANCE REQUESTS 
 
References to NFPA shall mean the National Fire Protection Association; references to the Rhode Island Fire Code [RIFC] shall mean NFPA 1, (2018 edition) as incorporated by reference and amended by 450-RICR-00-00-7; and, references to the Rhode Island Life Safety Code [RILSC] shall mean NFPA 101, (2018 edition) as incorporated by reference and amended by 450-RICR-00-00-8. 
 
1.	EXTINGUISHMENT: The Board hereby grants the Appellant a variance from the provisions of RILSC section 13.4.8.3 by allowing the existing temporary water supply (adjacent fire hydrant) to remain in use based upon the limited seasonal use of the facility.  In consideration of the relief granted herein, the Board directs the Appellant to develop and institute procedures where all handles, wrenches or control mechanisms be secured or removed whenever the facility is in operation such that the water supply cannot be interrupted.  The Board further directs that an approved mechanical water motor gong be provided and maintained as required equipment, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Pawtucket Fire Marshal's Office. 
2.	SMOKE DETECTION: The Board hereby grants the Appellant a variance from the provisions of RILSC sections 13.4.8.4, 13.4.8.5 and 13.4.8.6 by allowing the omission of a required smoke detection system based upon the limited seasonal use of the facility.  In consideration of the relief granted herein, the Board directs the Appellant to install a series of ten (10) interconnected smoke alarms, installed in accordance with NFPA 72 (2019) section 29.9.1, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Pawtucket Fire Marshal's Office. 
3.	EGRESS MARKINGS: The Board hereby grants the Appellant a variance from the provisions of RILSC section 13.4.8.7.2 by allowing the omission of the required floor proximity exit signs based upon the limited seasonal use of the facility.  In consideration of the relief granted herein, the Board directs the Appellant to comply with the following conditions: 
a.	A pre-season inspection shall be conducted by the AHJ prior to any use of the facility; 
b.	No real or artificial smoke shall be permitted or used within the facility; and, 
c.	The facility shall only be operated when trained parks department staff or volunteers are present, at the direction and to the satisfaction of the Pawtucket Fire Marshal's Office. 
 
Any deficiency understood by the Board to have been corrected, which is not so corrected, shall be immediately corrected by the Appellant.  The term approved, as used herein, is understood to mean in accordance with the specific provisions related to the particular subject as are contained in this Code, or as approved in particular by the Authority Having Jurisdiction (State Fire Marshal, his or her designated Deputy State Fire Marshals and/or Assistant Deputy State Fire Marshals). 
 
STATUS OF DECISION AND APPEAL RIGHTS 
 
1.	This Decision constitutes a final order of the Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal and Review as set forth in RIGL section 42-35-12 and represents a comprehensive, integrated plan of fire safety for the above-captioned facility under the above-cited use or occupancy.  Accordingly, every variance granted is conditioned upon the Appellants timely and continued compliance with all of the directives of the Board.  Every variance granted is further conditioned upon the continued use or occupancy of this facility under the above-cited classification reviewed by the Board.  [See: Fire Safety Code [FSC] section 450-RICR-00-00-1.7.2(W)]. 
2.	Failure of the Appellant to initially comply with the full Decision of the Board, within the stated time frame, shall void all variances granted herein.  [See: FSC section 450-RICR-00-00-1.7.2(Y)].  In the event of complete, timely and continued compliance with the full Decision of the Board, the above-cited variances shall be deemed to have vested in the above-captioned facility.  As long as this facility is in continued compliance with the full Decision of the Board, the above-cited variances shall remain with this facility in the absence of any change in use or occupancy mandating review under a separate classification of the FSC or a revision of the above-cited classification.  [See: FSC section 450-RICR-00-00-1.7.2(Z)]. 
3.	Such changes in use or occupancy of this facility, or failure to continually comply with the Boards Decision shall void all variances granted under the above-cited use or occupancy.  If such change creates a new use or occupancy as outlined in RIGL section 23-28.1-6, all variances granted under the original use or occupancy are void and this facility shall be reviewed under the newly created use or occupancy.  [See:  FSC section 450-RICR-00-00-1.7.2(AA)]. 
4.	In accordance with RIGL section 23-28.3-5(e), any person who violates a final order of the Board may be subject to prosecution in the District Court with possible imprisonment for a term not exceeding one (1) year, or fined not more than one thousand dollars (1000) for each offense. 
5.	In accordance with RIGL section 42-35-12, the Appellant may appeal the Boards Decision, within thirty (30) days of the mailing date of this Decision, by commencing an action against the State Fire Marshal in the Sixth Division of the District Court.  [See: RIGL section 23-28.3-6 and FSC section 450-RICR-00-00-1.7.2(S)].  Commencement of such an action does not operate as an automatic stay of this Decision [See: RIGL section 42-35-15(c)].