Fire Prevention Introduction

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". This is what Fire Prevention is all about. In the United States today there is a fire every four minutes, causing over ten billion dollars in fire damage annually, with over 100,000 injuries and 3,600 deaths. To the extent we can prevent emergencies in the first place, we save money and, more importantly, lives. The Chino Valley Fire District is committed to preventing emergencies, and does so through the following activities. 

Plan Review - Plans are required for all new buildings and for changes to existing buildings. The Fire District reviews these plans to help insure that the Fire Code is being followed, and to prevent unnecessary hazards.

New Construction Inspections - As buildings are being constructed or modified, Fire District personnel inspect the construction to help make sure the work is done according to the plans that were approved.

Fire Inspections -Buildings are inspected on a regular basis by Fire District personnel to help make sure the buildings are safe. The types of buildings inspected are businesses, factories, restaurants, churches, schools, senior citizen housing, and other buildings that could pose significant risks to its occupants or the public.

Weed Abatement - Many areas of the Fire District are subject to dense brush growth. These plants can pose a major fire hazard, especially in dry or windy seasons. To minimize the chance of a runaway fire in these areas, the Fire District requires brush to be cleared away from all buildings and roadways.

Fire/Arson Investigation - Whenever a fire breaks out, a Fire Investigator is called to the scene to determine the cause of the fire. These personnel are specially trained to trace back a fire to its origin and determine its cause. They are also trained to gather evidence for prosecution in the event the fire was caused by arson.

Hazardous Materials - Some businesses in the Chino Valley handle hazardous materials. These materials, if released in an uncontrolled way, can pose a significant threat to the health and safety of workers, building occupants, and the public. Specially trained Fire District personnel conduct inspections of these facilities to help insure safety. 

Public Education - The Fire District prides itself on delivering an outstanding public education program that is aimed at schools in the Chino Valley. 

Juvenile Fire Starter Program - Most everyone enjoys a campfire, but some children find setting fires is too tempting. When problems in this area are identified by police, school officials, parents, etc., the Fire District has a program to help educate these children about the hazards of fire, the consequences of inappropriate actions, and ways to keep themselves out of trouble in the future.