Meet: Yorktown Fire Inspector Edward W. Kolisz

Edward W. Kolisz, 38, has been in the public safety field most of his life, and now he is Yorktown's first full-time fire inspector. He officially started work on August 9, and was appointed at an annual salary of $59.945.

His experience in the public safety started back in high school at Irvington High School, where he was involved in the medical field through community service. He worked with the medical response team nights and weekends at SUNY Delhi, where he graduated from a two-year-school program for construction. After that Kolisz went on to study construction management and engineering at SUNY-ESF (College of Environmental Science and Forestry).

He started his career in 1999 as a fire marshal at Syracuse University, where he was inspecting mainly residential buildings, dorms and apartments. He worked there until he got married to his wife Nupur, whom he met while at the ambulance service at Syracuse, he said.

Kolisz worked in Syracuse and lived there for 14 years before briefly working at SUNY New Paltz as an inspector. In 2006 he started work as Mamaroneck's code enforcement officer and later created a fire inspector position, prior to coming to Yorktown.

"I'm bringing almost 11 years as an inspector," Kolisz said. "I've always maintained my certification and I've done a couple hundred inspections. I can bring the experience of starting a program."

As part of his new job, he will be inspecting buildings to make sure they comply with the New York State law. He would look at the building system, ask for records and paperwork, and inspect sprinklers and alarms to make sure they work. He would also look at the exits and entrances, which he said should not be blocked, he would check emergency lighting, test the emergency systems, and check if the kitchen (especially in restaurants) was inspected and tested.

Kolisz stressed the importance of proper fire prevention and safety.

"Early detection will save your life, especially at night," he said. "Fire sprinklers are the best, if installed properly."

Smoke detectors let you know there is a fire, and he said he recommends that once outside, people should have a meeting place to make sure everyone got out.

He also said having an emergency escape ladder and a working fire extinguisher is key. Sometime people think they might have a working fire extinguisher or think they know where it is located, but when a fire breaks out, the reality s different.

Kolisz said people have to remember where they had put it, and usually underneath the sink is the best place. Some of the most common mistakes people make is the exit light is out, or the fire extinguisher does not work.

Being the fire inspector, Kolisz said he wants to track all inspections on a computer system. The records would be able to determine what needs to be done next, they would contain information about the inspections, and any violations of the fire code. If people are not complying with the law, the town can issue summons.

"I don't want to do this," Kolisz said of issuing summons. "But people need to comply. It needs to be done."

The most challenging part of his job is getting people to comply, he said, because they don't want to be told what to do.

"I'm coming at it as everybody needs inspection at some time in the future," he said of his responsibilities.

In order to get his training, Kolisz said he took a six-week New York State code enforcement official training. He also has training as a firefighter and dealing with hazardous materials. He is a member of the Lake Mohegan Fire Department. 

If Kolisz wasn't a fire inspector, he said he would have been a paramedic. Despite all the changes in his life, he said he is happy with where he is.

"I am happy where I am now," he said. "Change is good."

Kolisz lives in Shrub Oak with his wife Nupur and their two children, 3-year-old Sophia and 5-month-old Ryan. Nupur works as a teacher at the Hendrick Hudson School District.

Some of his hobbies include fishing, fixing things around the house, and construction.

But what's most important to him is his family.

"It's a priority," he said. "My wife and children are my life."

In five years, he said he wants to still be in Yorktown raising a happy and healthy family.

"I'm so happy with my wife and children," he added. "I love being in Yorktown. There is something that you are able to serve your community."

A list of the 58 most common code violations can be found on Syracuse University's website.