Committee adopts ordinance to align La Crosse fire code with NFPA updates

The committee considered ordinance 26Dash0821 to amend city code language aligning local regulations with the Wisconsin administrative code and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Fire Protection Code. Chief Schott of the Fire Department described the item as largely procedural and said the state’s adoption of NFPA changes had lagged; updating local code language helps the city stay “on pace with what they require us to do.”

Chief Schott emphasized technology-driven risks, particularly from lithium-ion batteries in modern devices and electric vehicles, saying those changes have “changed the game” for storage and electrification and have driven the need for clearer local enforcement and inspection standards. The committee voted unanimously to adopt the ordinance as recommended by staff.