If\u00a0you have a\u00a0complaint about blasting,\u00a0please\u00a0contact the\u00a0State\u00a0Fire\u00a0Marshal\u2019s\u00a0Office\u00a0(SFMO) at 804-371-0220. The\u00a0regulations\u00a0for\u00a0\u00a0the\u00a0use\u00a0and\u00a0\u00a0storage\u00a0of\u00a0explosives\u00a0are\u00a0contained in the\u00a0Statewide Fire\u00a0Prevention Code\u00a0(SFPC) which may been\u00a0forced at the\u00a0local\u00a0government level and have\u00a0the\u00a0services\u00a0of\u00a0a\u00a0local\u00a0fire\u00a0official.\u00a0For those\u00a0localities that do\u00a0not enforce\u00a0the\u00a0SFPC, the\u00a0SFMO is\u00a0the\u00a0enforcing agency. Please\u00a0be\u00a0aware\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0following: The\u00a0SFMO may conduct an investigation at the\u00a0construction or blasting site for violations\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0SFPC.\u00a0In the\u00a0absence\u00a0of\u00a0an egregious\u00a0and eminently\u00a0harmful\u00a0violation of\u00a0the\u00a0SFPC, the\u00a0SFMO does\u00a0not have\u00a0the\u00a0authority to stop or suspend a\u00a0blasting operation.\u00a0You may hear blasting activity after the\u00a0incident\u00a0 has been reported, during the\u00a0investigation,\u00a0and\/or the blasting company has\u00a0taken steps to prevent further incidents\/complaints. The\u00a0SFPC regulates the\u00a0amount of\u00a0explosives that a\u00a0blaster can use\u00a0in relation to the closest structure, or a seismograph may be used to ensure the blasts do not exceed legal limits. If a blast causes property damage or a personal injury or deaht, in addition to other appropriate and required notifications, the blaster is required to report to the SFMO. Construction companies who use explosives must have duly issued permits, carry a bond or insurance, and blasters must be certified as a \u201cblaster\u201d by the Commonwealth of Virginia.\u00a0 The SFMO does not have the authority to order or compel the contractor to pay a homeowner for damaged property. While violations of the SFPC can be treated as a criminal matter, the financial recovery for damage sustained from a blasting incident is treated a civil matter.\u00a0 It is possible that your insurance company or private attorney may be able to recuperate financial loss from a contractor.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
If\u00a0you have a\u00a0complaint about blasting,\u00a0please\u00a0contact the\u00a0State\u00a0Fire\u00a0Marshal\u2019s\u00a0Office\u00a0(SFMO) at 804-371-0220. The\u00a0regulations\u00a0for\u00a0\u00a0the\u00a0use\u00a0and\u00a0\u00a0storage\u00a0of\u00a0explosives\u00a0are\u00a0contained in the\u00a0Statewide Fire\u00a0Prevention Code\u00a0(SFPC) which may been\u00a0forced at the\u00a0local\u00a0government level and have\u00a0the\u00a0services\u00a0of\u00a0a\u00a0local\u00a0fire\u00a0official.\u00a0For those\u00a0localities that do\u00a0not enforce\u00a0the\u00a0SFPC, the\u00a0SFMO is\u00a0the\u00a0enforcing agency. Please\u00a0be\u00a0aware\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0following: The\u00a0SFMO may conduct an investigation at the\u00a0construction or blasting site for violations\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0SFPC.\u00a0In the\u00a0absence\u00a0of\u00a0an egregious\u00a0and eminently\u00a0harmful\u00a0violation of\u00a0the\u00a0SFPC, the\u00a0SFMO does\u00a0not have\u00a0the\u00a0authority to stop or suspend a\u00a0blasting operation.\u00a0You may <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":119,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-sidebar_left.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"_oasis_task_priority":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"class_list":{"1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","4":"hentry"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n