Are You Ready to Respond to a Fire at Your West Hartford Business? (Part 2: Planning)

10/8/2020 (Permalink)

Have a plan to handle a fire at your business and to get everyone out safely—and be sure all your employees know the plan, too.

The risk of suffering a fire at your commercial property is very real, with more than 140,000 of these blazes starting each year in the U.S., costing an average of $35,000. Part 1 of this article covered ways to prevent a fire from starting at your business facility. Now, read about steps you should take to minimize damage and prevent loss of life if a fire does start. This strategy is based on having and practicing plans to suppress the fire and evacuate your building’s occupants.

Make a Plan

Your primary responsibility as a business owner is to protect the lives of your employees and customers. Consulting with your local fire department will give you a head start on creating a plan to quickly put out a fire, if possible, and to safely get everyone out of your building. (Additionally, fire professionals may give you suggestions to improve your fire prevention efforts, and they can help you coordinate with neighboring businesses so that you all have improved prevention, suppression and evacuation plans.)

The foundations of your fire suppression and evacuation plan should include:

• Working smoke detectors and fire extinguishers (and working sprinklers, if equipped).
• A clear evacuation plan, with diagrams, alternative routes and a designated place to meet outside the building.
• Appointing one employee to oversee your fire plan and identifying other employees to help guide people outside in an emergency.
• Monitoring exits and stairwells to be sure they are always passable.
• A tally of employees and visitors to your facility, as required by OSHA.
• An emergency kit—with water, a flashlight and a mask or cloth to prevent smoke inhalation—for each employee to grab in case a fire breaks out.

Know the Plan

Your fire suppression and evacuation plan will only work if all employees are familiar with it and know how to carry it out in an often-chaotic fire situation.

• Document the fire plan and provide it to all your employees.
• Regularly review the plan with your employees, starting with new-hire orientation.
• Post clear evacuation route diagrams throughout your facility.
• Conduct fire drills at least twice a year—and don’t tell your employees in advance. The more they practice evacuating under pressure, the easier it will be to do so safely in a real emergency, when your building may be filled with smoke, flames, flashing lights and blaring alarms.

Help Is Here

The team at SERVPRO of West Hartford has specialized training and experience in water damage restoration services, fire and smoke damage restoration services, biohazard cleanup and natural disaster prevention and cleanup. Call SERVPRO of West Hartford (860.206.6141) any time.

For commercial water, fire, smoke, mold, storm or other disaster restoration needs, call SERVPRO of West Hartford today at 860.206.6141

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For commercial water, fire, smoke, mold, storm or other disaster restoration needs, call SERVPRO of West Hartford today at 860.206.6141