Why Develop Fire Pre Plans?
Posted on Fri, Jul 30, 2010
There are countless stories of workplace fires that end in disaster. Fire pre-planning, which may identify detailing building construction, floor plans, exposures, evacuation routes, and hazardous materials, can be the difference between life and death.
It is well know that pre plans are a necessity in an industrial setting. However facilities that house large populations, such as nursing homes, churches, schools, high-rise buildings, libraries, and apartment buildings can equally benefit from fire pre plans. By identifying building hazards and combustibles, as well as exits, fire extinguishers, utilities shut-off locations and firewalls, firefighters can have a better understanding of the situation and potential hazards, which may result in more lives saved and reduced property damage.
John Frost, Battalion Chief and Hazardous Materials Technician for The Woodlands Fire Department in Texas, agrees to the benefits of Fire Pre Plans. “Preplans enable the first officer to begin developing an incident action plan based on the dispatched information prior to arrival on the scene.” says Frost. He continued by stating that with pre-plans in place, firefighters can assist Incident Commanders in developing strategies and tactics on a more narrow scale. “Most importantly, it gives the firefighters a building layout for such things as rapid egress, hazardous materials, confined spaces, potential flame propagation, and any other safety issues that may be noted during the initial walk-thru.” The more information that can be generated by a fire pre plan, the better prepared the first responders can become upon arrival.
A consolidated fire pre plan can accommodate aerial photography, color graphics, technical drawings, calculations, special hazards, location of hazardous materials, escape routes, and any additional specialized beneficial information. This critical content can affect how a fire is fought and, ultimately, its duration. Through these efforts, property damage is limited and lives may be saved.
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