Gravette Fire Department now offers pre-incident planning

GRAVETTE — Members of the Gravette Fire Department are now conducting pre-incident planning for businesses in the Gravette area. The program began on Monday, Jan. 21, and will continue until all businesses who wish to participate have a pre-incident plan.

Fire Chief David Orr explained in a letter to business owners that pre-incident planning is a crucial part of the fire department’s service. The information secured at each location gives responding personnel vital knowledge about the layout of the business and any hazards they might encounter should they respond to a call there. It is also important for the business owner, Orr noted, because pre-incident plans are factored in when ISO ratings are determined, and having a plan in place should result in a lowering of the business insurance rates.

Chief Orr, Lieutenant John Sturdivant and firefighter/EMT Casey Stutes conducted an evaluation at the Billy V. Hall Senior Activity and Wellness Center Tuesday morning, Jan. 29, to set up a pre-incident plan. Orr and Sturdivant made a thorough sweep of the building, noting the location of fire alarms and fire extinguishers, gas and electric shutoffs, potential fire hazards such as grease, oil and diesel, and the nearest fire hydrant. Stutes, who is the department’s staff artist, made a sketch of each room in the Center. Knowing the layout of each room will

alert responders to the best locations for entry in the case of an emergency. Business hours are noted and estimated numbers of persons on site at different times are listed so responders know how many persons to look for in an emergency. For example, one Gravette church reported they might have 200 persons in attendance during a Sunday morning or a Wednesday evening service, but on a weekday, during daytime hours, only four staff members would be there.

All the information gathered at each evaluation is programmed into the emergency responders’ phones so, when they receive the call alerting them to an emergency, they can pull up the information relevant to the location. They are informed about who is the contact person for that business and given facts that help them respond to the call in the most timely and the safest manner for all concerned.

Orr encourages all business owners to take advantage of the service and participate in the program to prepare a pre-incident plan for their location. He emphasizes that it is not an inspection but simply a plan to follow in case there is an emergency at the business. He said department personnel will work directly with the business owner during the plan development.

“We hope we never have to use these plans,” he said, “but, in case there is an emergency, it is best to be prepared and to have information available to help make everyone as safe as possible in the event of our response. All help and cooperation during this process are much appreciated.”

All business owners are encouraged to work with the department to develop a plan. Anyone having questions or wishing more information may call the Gravette Fire Department at 479-787-6600.

Westside Eagle Observer/SUSAN HOLLAND Lieutenant John Sturdivant (left), with the Gravette Fire Department, and Fire Chief David Orr look over the layout of the kitchen area at the Billy V. Hall Senior Activity and Fitness Center Jan. 29. Their evaluation was an important step in preparing a pre-incident plan for the Center to help develop the safest and most timely response in case of an emergency there.

Westside Eagle Observer/SUSAN HOLLAND Firefighter and EMT Casey Stutes, staff artist for the Gravette Fire Department, makes a sketch of one of the rooms at the Billy V. Hall Senior Activity Center during a pre-incident planning session Tuesday, Jan. 29. Having a diagram of each room with the location of exits, fire extinguishers and potential hazards will be beneficial in case of an emergency call.