Rocky View County Enhances Fire Prevention Branch Program
Thursday, August 1, 2024
Rocky View County is ramping up its fire prevention efforts by expanding the Fire Prevention Branch, bringing additional awareness through public education, business inspections and fire investigations. This initiative emphasizes the importance of information to prevent fire disasters and ensure the safety of our residents and business community.
Three Key Elements of the Program
Awareness and Education: Awareness is crucial in preventing fires. The program includes public education initiatives such as presentations in schools, open houses, senior communities, and other community events. By arming people with essential information, the program aims to help residents protect themselves, their families, neighbours, and businesses.
The program team hopes that by sharing specific information it will help people understand and act in proactive, preventive ways. This might include:
- Knowing how to install smoke alarms in multiple areas of the house and ensuring they are regularly checked and changed.
- Never leaving candles unattended.
- Give space heaters enough space and never leave them on when unattended.
- Never leave cooking unattended.
- Purchasing a fire blanket or fire extinguisher.
- Not overloading circuits or plugs.
Proactive Inspections: The Fire Prevention team is excited to adopt a more proactive approach with our business community. Regular, cyclical inspections of higher-risk properties will ensure that life-saving measures outlined in building codes are maintained. Inspections will support suppression efforts by helping firefighters understand the type of building it is, its occupancy and any risks and hazards associated with it.
Inspections will be conducted to create an inventory of high-risk buildings in our community. A yearly cycle of inspections for commercial, industrial, and business properties will support community and firefighter safety. "We want to ensure the maintenance of life safety systems built into buildings, such as sprinkler systems, fire alarm systems, panic hardware on doors, clear passages, emergency lighting, and fire extinguishers are all up to date. There must be an emergency response and evacuation plan that owners and employees understand," shares Assistant Chief Merlin Klassen. “From small to large business, to small gathering places to vast, we want to help everyone have the necessary information they need for safety and compliance.”
Investigations: Required by provincial legislation, investigations help determine the cause of fires. Knowing what caused a fire can help fire services and owners enhance fire prevention efforts. This aspect of the program ensures that all necessary steps are taken to prevent future incidents and improve safety measures abroad.
Rocky View County's enhanced Fire Prevention Branch Program is a proactive step towards creating a safer community.
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Fire & Emergency