State Fire Marshall Suspends Farm Electrical Inspections

State Fire Marshall Ray Reynolds.

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By Max Walker

Story Created: Jun 30, 2012 at 2:13 PM CDT

Story Updated: Jun 30, 2012 at 2:13 PM CDT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — State fire officials have suspended inspections of electrical installations at farms, despite a state regulation requiring the inspections, and a state lawmaker is vowing to fight the change.

The Des Moines Register reports that the order to suspend the farm inspections goes into effect Sunday.

Iowa State Fire Marshal Ray Reynolds says the suspension is legal. He says the suspension means inspectors can focus on public buildings and homes instead of farm buildings, which have a low rate of human fire deaths.

But Iowa Senate President Jack Kibbie, D-Emmetsburg, has requested an opinion from the Iowa attorney general on the order. He blames the change on Republican Gov. Terry Branstad, who has been a vocal critic of the farm electrical inspection regulation.

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