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Pre-Incident Planning
Leander Fire Department Pre-Incident Planning Program
If you're building were on fire, would your fire department know the most direct access to it and where best to enter it? Would they know where to find the nearest hydrants? Would firefighters be able to navigate a smoke-filled interior? Would they know where flammable or toxic chemicals are stored? Would they know where to find you?
Being proactive can make all the difference in the outcome of any emergency situation. By understanding the building construction, occupancy, layout of a building, potential hazards and fire protection systems, the decision-making process of responding emergency personnel becomes streamlined and far more effective.
- What is a pre-incident plan?
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In a continued determination to save lives and property with commitment and excellence, the Leander Fire Department has created a program to ensure vital knowledge is obtained and utilized.
The Pre-incident Planning Program is the process of gathering information used by Fire Department personnel in response to an emergency incident at a specific location.
The National Fire Protection Association defines a pre-incident plan as a
written document resulting from the gathering of general and detailed data to be used by responding personnel for determining the resources and actions necessary to mitigate anticipated emergencies at a specific facility.
- Is a pre-incident plan the same as a fire inspection?
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A Pre-incident Plan is not a Fire Inspection. The program is used only as a method of gathering information, not as a code enforcement procedure as with a formal "Fire Inspection". However, our firefighters are a knowledgeable resource and welcome emergency safety related questions, offering constructive recommendations when appropriate.
Components of a Pre-Incident Plan
A Pre-incident Plan is comprised of written information including maps, diagrams and drawings. Building walkthroughs by firefighters also are an important component of the planning process. For larger and more complex buildings, in coordination with owner/tenants, this program may also include periodic drills of the property.
Some of the information gathered during a building walkthrough includes:
- The layout of the building on the property, including parking lot entrances, building entrances, hydrant locations, nearby structures, etc.
- Knox Box ® location
- A complete floor plan of each level of the building, including locations of hazardous materials and processes, heating and air conditioning equipment, utility shutoffs, and elevators
- Pertinent structural features such as building size, height, construction and fire-rated walls
- Description of occupancies
- Site features such as occupants with special rescue needs, unoccupied floors, daytime and nighttime occupancy loads, etc.
- Alarm system information
- Hydrant information ("fire flow")
- Building fire protection systems (fire Alarm Panel, sprinkler Connections/shutoffs)
Once a Pre-Incident Plan is complete, it is added to our emergency response software. The information is used for proactive training opportunities such as, table top exercises and onsite training. In the case of emergency at the pre-planned location, the information will instantly be available to responding emergency personnel.
Prevention-Inspection & Compliance
Fire Marshal's Office fees, permit applications, code explanations and other inspection and compliance documents. Read more on the Prevention-Inspection and Compliance page.