5 Important Steps for General Fire Prevention in Wisconsin

1) Start With a Risk Survey

Walk through your facility with fresh eyes. Identify ignition sources, fuel loads, impaired exits, and seasonal hazards like space heaters. Prioritize kitchens, electrical rooms, storage areas, and loading docks. Document findings and assign owners with corrective due dates.

2) Maintain Detection and Suppression

Test smoke and heat detection, monitor panels, and audible/visual notification per manufacturer guidance and NFPA 72. Keep extinguishers accessible, mounted, and inspected monthly; schedule annual service to NFPA 10. For sprinklers and standpipes, verify valves open, gauges normal, and inspections per NFPA 25.

3) Electrical and Equipment Safety

Prevent overloaded circuits, damaged cords, and blocked electrical panels. Keep appliances within their listed footprint, and maintain clearance around furnaces, boilers, and water heaters. For kitchens, confirm Class K extinguisher placement and that hood suppression tags, filters, and nozzles are current and clean.

4) Housekeeping and Combustible Control

Store flammables in approved cabinets, label containers, and cap rags in self-closing cans. Keep aisles clear, remove trash daily, and maintain three feet of clearance around sprinklers, panels, and egress routes. Outdoors, separate dumpsters from buildings and control smoking areas with metal receptacles.

5) Train, Drill, and Review

People make prevention real. Conduct brief, scenario-based training on alarms, extinguishers, shutdowns, and evacuation. Hold drills, critique results, and update assignments as teams change. Coordinate with your local fire department and insurance carrier to align plans and documentation.

5 Important Steps for General Fire Prevention in Wisconsin