FIRE PREVENTION SELF-INSPECTION PROGRAM

The City of Bend Fire Department has implemented a self-inspection program for businesses within the City. This program provides an opportunity for the Bend Fire Department and the city business community to form a partnership in fire and life safety.

Goals: The primary focus of this program is to provide annual fire and life safety inspections to low hazard businesses within the City and district, while keeping business disruptions and costs to a minimum.

History: The fire department does not have the staff to provide annual inspections to the majority of businesses. In the years past, when Bend was much smaller, a single inspector was able to complete annual inspections of businesses. Today, with over 4,000 businesses now located within the City, it takes four full time inspectors to accomplish the recommended annual inspections for target hazard occupancies alone. This leaves approximately 1,500 low hazard businesses that may not be inspected annually. 

Objectives: Although the targeted businesses are classified as low-hazard occupancies, the Bend Fire Department feels it is important to provide these businesses with appropriate information regarding the International Fire Code and safety issues. In addition, the Bend Fire Department feels that these businesses need to meet a reasonable level of fire and life safety standards for the benefit of the entire community. The self-inspection program will educate the business owner/manager of fire safety deficiencies and develop a proactive attitude towards fire safety.

The Program:    The self-inspection program is a fairly simple concept. A packet is mailed to businesses consisting of a cover letter explaining the program, a self-inspection checklist, and a return postcard to be mailed back to the fire department, stating the inspection was completed.

Businesses will be requested to respond within 30 days. After 30 days have passed, a reminder letter or phone call will occur. Those businesses that do not respond will be placed on the on-site inspection list, tagged for actual physical inspections by the fire department. The self-inspection program is not mandatory. All designated businesses will also be given the opportunity to request an on-site inspection if they choose not to participate.

Targets: The self-inspection program will target businesses that are statistically at a lower risk for fire. Those include occupancy types M, B, and S (examples include small offices, mercantile, hair salons, law offices, florist shops, etc.) In addition to periodic on-site inspections, the fire department can maintain a reasonable level of fire and life safety.

Rotation: Our goal is to provide the opportunity for businesses to participate in the self-inspection program for three years. On the 4^th year, they then will be required to have an on-site inspection done. This four-year rotation will provide the fire department the opportunity to become familiar with the interior, and the actual operation of each business.