Fire Safety Resources

Event & Promotions Fire Safety Checklist

Download Event & Promotion Fire Safety Checklist

Summary:

• The purpose of these guidelines is to familiarize business owners, maintenance departments, marketing professionals, event promoters, sponsors, and vendors with information about special event procedures and general fire safety regulations that are enforced by the City of Black Hawk Fire Department.
• Prior notification of indoor events is not mandatory; however the City encourages event organizers to contact the Fire Department prior to an event taking place to help identify and alleviate any potential Code violations.
• This Checklist does not replace the Special Event Permit of the City. Per Article 10, Section 6, of the Municipal Code, any individual or entity desiring to hold a special event or an annual program of special events outside of the licensed business premises within the City or upon vacant property shall obtain a special event permit from the City.
• The City of Black Hawk Fire Department enforces the City’s adopted Fire Code, as amended. This resource can be found in Article I, Chapter 18, of the City’s Municipal Code.
• The City of Black Hawk Fire Department is committed to promoting public safety and assisting all parties to provide a level of service that will ensure a safe and successful event. Please attentively consider fire safety risks when planning events and promotions.
• If there are any questions, please call the Fire Inspector at 303-582-0426.
  
  

Inspection Requirements

Resources for Fire Safety and Fire Systems can be found on the inspections webpage here.

Car Seat Inspections

The leading cause of death among children ages 3-14 in the United States is motor vehicle accidents.  We can decrease this number by more than half by placing children in appropriate safety seats. Safety seats that are installed correctly can decrease the risk of death by 71% in infants and 54% in toddlers, and decrease the risk of injury to children using booster seats by 59%.

As there are many different types of car seats, it’s important to take the time and choose the correct seat to fit your child’s age, weight, and height. The safest seat is the one that is installed correctly and used correctly 100% of the time.  Here are some of the basics of car seat safety.

• Check your car seat manual for information about car seat expiration, height, and weight limits.
• Never use a seat that has been involved in a crash.
• Remove bulky clothing and coats before buckling up.
• Never use items in your car seat that didn’t come with the seat.

To schedule an appointment please call 303-582-0426 or email with any questions.

Additional Resources

Car Seats Colorado: Frequetly Asked Questions

Ultimate Car Seat Guide

Colorado Child Passenger Safety Law

Child Passenger Safety Tips and Guidelines

4th of July Fire Safety

Celebrate Safely and Smartly this Fourth of July

Take the Pledge to be Safe!

Fireworks caused an estimated 11,900 injuries in the United States according to a Consumer Product Safety Council 2015 Fireworks Annual Report. Join the City of Black Hawk, READYColorado, and the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management teams in pledging to celebrate safely and smartly this Fourth of July. 

Visit www.Facebook.com/READYColorado to make your pledge for fireworks safety. Simply like our Pledge to be Safe post. You can also send a tweet to @READYColorado or @COEmergency to share how you are celebrating safely.

Create happy memories free of injuries from fireworks by following these simple safety tips from SafeKids Worldwide and the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.  

Leave Fireworks to the Professionals

• Attend public fireworks displays and leave the lighting to the professionals.  The best way to protect your family is to attend a professional display. The City of Black Hawk has another fantastic Boom Town Fireworks Extravaganza on the Fourth of July beginning at 9:30pm.
• If you plan to use fireworks, make sure they are legal in your area. In Colorado you can use the general rule of thumb that anything that leaves the ground or explodes is illegal. However, local jurisdictions can add additional restrictions including a ban on all fireworks. The City of Black Hawk will post any applicable bans to their website. Check with your local city or county law enforcement agency. 

Be Extra Careful With Sparklers

• Sparklers can heat up to 1,200 degrees and are not safe for children to use. A safe alternative is to provide glow sticks for your children instead.
• Closely supervise children around fireworks at all times.  Never leave kids unattended around fireworks.

Take Necessary Precautions

• Do not wear loose clothing while using fireworks. Clothing can easily catch fire.
• Point fireworks away from homes. Keep away from brush, leaves and flammable substances.
• Check current fire restriction levels in your area.  Know the restrictions in place, including state and federal park or forest lands at http://www.coemergency.com/p/fire-bans-danger.html

Be Prepared for an Accident or Injury

• Stand several feet away from lit fireworks. If a device does not go off, do not stand over it to investigate it.  Put it out with water and dispose of it.
• Always have a bucket of water or a fire extinguisher nearby. Know how to operate the fire extinguisher properly.
• If a child is injured by fireworks, immediately go to a doctor or hospital. If an eye injury occurs, don't allow your child to touch or rub it, as this may cause even more damage.

Safety Resources

• SafeKids
• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission 
• National Fire Protection Association

For more tips and preparedness information, follow READYColorado:
On Twitter:        @READYColorado
Facebook:          www.Facebook.com/READYColorado
Google +:           READYColorado
YouTube:            www.youtube.com/READYColorado

Winter storms can bring extreme cold, freezing rain, ice, snow, high winds, or a combination of all of these conditions. This guide from FEMA is designed to help you properly prepare for a winter storm and know how to protect yourself before, during, and after one.

Planning and preparing can make a big difference in safety and resiliency in the wake of a winter storm. The ability to maintain or quickly recover following a winter storm requires a focus on preparedness, advanced planning, and knowing what to do in the event of a winter storm.

Download Brochure

Campfire Safety

According to the US Forest Service, escaped campfires are a leading cause of wildfires. No matter what time of year, people need to be careful when deciding when and where to build a campfire. Please check to see if any fire restrictions are in effect before building a campfire.

For more camping safety information, please visit the US Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region webpage.

Protecting Your Home from Wildfire

Despite the risk, everyone can take steps to prepare for wildfires.  Take preventative steps now to avoid chaos and confusion in the future should a wildfire come knocking at your door.

• Build an emergency kit and make a family communications plan.
• Know more than one exit route in case you have to evacuate.
• Plant fire-resistant shrubs and trees.
• Remove leaves and other debris from the roof and gutters.
• Inspect chimneys at least twice a year and clean them at least once a year.
• Use 1/8-inch mesh screen beneath porches, decks, floor areas, and the home itself to help keep embers out.
• Install a dual-sensor smoke alarm on each level of your home, especially near bedrooms.  Be sure to test the alarms monthly and change the batteries at least once each year.
• Teach each family member how to use a fire extinguisher and show them where it's located.

 Resources

• Protecting Your Home from Wildfire - pdf
• Firewise Construction - pdf
• Forest Home Fire Safety - pdf
• Fire Resistant Landscaping - pdf
• Firewise Plant Materials - pdf
• Ready, Set, Go - Wildfire Action Planning - video
  

Ready, Set, Go!

Readying for disaster such as wildfire is a community-wide endeavor that requires careful planning and consistency on the part of first responders and residents alike. Ensuring that your family is informed about evacuation routes and procedures, knowing how to prepare and maintain your property to best defend it against wildfire, and having a personal action plan in place can improve the outcome of a wildland fire event.

Use this helpful guide to prepare!

Download Ready, Set, Go Action Guide

Carbon Monoxide Alarm Program

The Fire Department recognizes that the most effective step for protecting household occupants from CO poisoning is to install battery-operated CO detectors near a sleeping area and checking CO detectors regularly to be sure that they are functioning properly. CO detectors serve as an early warning device, notifying occupants of CO before it escalates to a dangerous level. If CO poisoning occurs, homes without detectors are likely to have CO levels nearly five times higher than those homes with detectors by the time of emergency response. CO detectors are effective in both alerting residents to the presence of CO and reducing the number of victims who experience poisoning symptoms.

The City of Black Hawk Fire Department is pleased to offer City residents one Carbon Monoxide Alarm at no charge to enhance the life safety measures taken for the benefit of our residents. To participate in the program, please call 303-582-0426 or visit the City of Black Hawk Fire Department Headquarters at 137 Clear Creek Street, Suite 200, to submit your request to enroll in this free program. 

For more information on how to prevent Carbon Monoxide exposure, please review the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention safety guidelines.

Smoke & Fire Alarm Program

The Black Hawk Fire Department has clearly identified the installation and maintenance of residential smoke alarms as a key to the early notification of residents should a fire occur. The proper installation and maintenance of such alarms will provide a mechanism such that residents should have adequate time to escape from their homes in case of fire. The Fire Department also realizes the ability to be notified early of a fire is one key to faster extinguishment and saving of personal property.

The City of Black Hawk Fire Department is pleased to offer residents one Smoke & Fire Alarm per household for each level of the house at no charge to enhance the fire and life safety measures taken for the benefit of our residents and to help protect the historic residential properties. To participate in the program, please call 303-582-0426 or visit the City of Black Hawk Fire Department Headquarters at 137 Clear Creek Street, Suite 200, to submit your request to enroll in this free program. 

Click here to view smoke alarm safety videos produced by the NFPA.