Bigfork Fire offering preventative inspections for local businesses

Bigfork Eagle

The Bigfork Fire Department will be scheduling visits with local businesses throughout the year to proactively prepare for emergency situations with what they call, “fire suppression preplans.”

The visits provide an opportunity for firefighters to gain insight about a structure’s age, construction type, and physical layout, according to BFD Captain Katie Edwards. Additionally, firefighters are able to become familiar with suppression features, plan ahead for apparatus placement and locate available water sources. They also allow firefighters to identify hazards  such as limited access areas, open stairways, equipment on roof or chemical storage areas which may threaten the lives of civilians and firefighters during an emergency.

In conjunction with these preplans the department will be conducting fire inspections at least twice a year, Edwards said. Inspections conducted by BFD provide an opportunity to educate business owners and the public about fire and life safety issues. Business owners have direct contact with fire inspectors allowing for open dialog on fire related topics and they are encouraged to be present at the time of the inspection. This ensures that there will be no miscommunication and can speed up the process in correcting matters that could pose hazards. 

When businesses are inspected on a regular basis, safety hazards can be prevented by providing information on fire code requirements, Edwards said. Once a hazard is determined, businesses will be given plenty of time to correct the matter and a re-inspection will be scheduled. Life-threatening or repeated hazards may need to be corrected immediately or within a short timeline. 

Some of the most common general fire safety matters that are noted during a fire inspection are:

• Exit lights out or missing

• Flammable liquids within buildings

• Aisles blocked

• Blocked egress doors

• Smoke detectors not working

• Fire alarms not operable

• Unauthorized building alterations

• Misuse of extension cords

• Fire extinguishers not present or not being maintained properly

Business owners that would like to get a jump-start on developing preplans for their business and/or obtaining a self-inspection checklist, should call the department at 837-4590 or e-mail kedwards@bigforkfire.com.