Fire Preplanning
What is a Fire Preplan?
Fire preplanning, or pre-incident planning, is when a plan is set in place before the fire happens. Sometimes emergency responders will work with property owners to create a fire preplan is the structure or property is in a high-risk area or contains hazardous material.
This planning is crucial as it provides valuable information that helps firefighters respond more effectively and mitigate damage, as well as plays a vital role in ensuring the safety and rescue of firefighters if they encounter an emergency during an incident. The plan should include all relevant data that can guide decisions and quick actions during emergencies.
Resources & Tools to Help You Create a Fire Preplan Strategy
Developing a thorough fire preplan strategy, including fire scene size-up, involves several important steps and requires working closely with various stakeholders to ensure effective emergency response and fire safety measures. Stakeholders refer to building owners or managers, local fire departments, occupants or tenants, emergency services providers, and community organizations.
Check to see if your local fire department offers free home risk assessments. During a risk assessment, a fire official can come to your home and determine what threats there are to your property if a fire were to occur and ensure everything meets fire code.
For help with fire preplanning, here are some tools and resources to help get you started:
Fire Incident Management Checklist
Master fire incident management with our comprehensive checklist. Ensure swift response, coordination, and safety measures during emergencies with our preplanning resources
Fire Scene Size-Up Checklist
Understand the importance of firefighter scene size-up and checklist for performing a fire scene size-up as part of WFCA's fire preplan resources.
Fire Preplan Articles
Fire Department Preplan Template
Download Western Fire Chiefs Association (WFCA)’s fire department preplan template which outlines facility layouts, emergency response strategies and more.
Firefighter Training – How to Become a Firefighter
Learn how to become a firefighter and basics to firefighter training including requirements from the team at WFCA (Western Fire Chiefs Association).
Innovations in Fire Pre-Plan Software for Fire Departments
Learn about innovations in Fire Department Pre Plan Software from the team at WFCA (Western Fire Chiefs Association) to enhance emergency response efficiency.
Fire Preplan FAQ's
Some common fire preplanning FAQ’s include:
A fire preplan should be thoroughly reviewed annually. If changes in operations, occupancy, or the construction and layout of the building occur then the plan should be updated to reflect that as soon as possible.