In counties not having a population of 100,000 or more, to whom may the State Fire Marshal delegate all or part of the authority or duties?

• A. The local government
• B. The county board of commissioners
• C. The state governor
• D. The fire department

Answer: (A)

In counties with populations under 100,000, the State Fire Marshal may delegate all or part of the authority or duties to the local government. This means the county or city government—the local government that oversees fire safety for that area—can take on those responsibilities, such as inspections, permits, and enforcement, so operations happen closer to the community they serve. The State retains oversight, but the daily administration can be handled locally to improve efficiency and responsiveness. The governor isn’t the recipient of delegation, and while a fire department is involved in local fire safety, the delegation is to the local government as a whole rather than to a specific department.