Des Moines Business Disaster Preparedness Plan - Fire

12/15/2020 (Permalink)

Many Des Moines area businesses experience devastating fire damage every year. Your friends at SERVPRO of Des Moines NW want to help you prepare your employees for the possibility of a fire. Here’s how you can begin to create a fire evacuation procedure for your business.

Consult with your local fire officials

Reach out to the local fire department. Often times, getting in touch with fire officials is a great place to start. They are happy to consult with you on necessary safety measures that your business can take, including the most efficient evacuation routes for your facility.

Communicate

You want to involve your employees in the fire safety process. This makes everyone feel safe and prepares them for when you start scheduling routine drills. Once you have determined your evacuation route, mark them clearly with signs and communicate with your staff on what they mean.

Schedule fire drills frequently

Ideally, you should get to the point to where there is no question on what to do in the event of a fire. The best way to prepare staff is to hold regular fire drills, preferably at least once every quarter. A good example of the overall process is to create mandatory drills that require everyone to leave the premises following the established escape route and gather at a predesignated area for additional safety instructions. Staff should be trained to not leave the designated area until given the “all-clear” to return.

Run Different Scenarios

Fires can start anywhere at any time. It is important to prepare for all possibilities when you hold your drills. To prepare for unique situations, create scenarios where different exits are blocked off or have the fire “originate” at different parts of the facility each time. Doing this gives everyone the tools they need to escape to safety regardless of what type of fire is started.

These are just a few tips that your friends at SERVPRO of Des Moines NW want to extend out to you to make sure you and your staff stay safe in the case of a fire. Call us at 515-968-3711 for any of your commercial fire restoration questions or needs!