Fire Destroys Garden Mats Business

glgates says:

Now that you have gone through the fire experience twice now, is there some valuable lessons to be learned?

1. First, check with your local fire department. They maybe a source of a wealth of information based on their training and experiences.
2. Is there a way to incorporate an low cost sprinkler system that would activate automatically even when you are not home or asleep?
3. Do you have local public water available or access to a farm pond?
Option: a 500 – 1000 gallon plastic water tank that you can fill from the gutters of your buildings.
4. Store raw materials and finished goods in a separate shelters so that if a fault occurs in the manufacturing area it will not wipe out the whole business.
5. Install over temperature sensors on hot equipment so the power is shut down before a fire occurs.
6. Have a policy of No Smoking indoors to eliminate another potential threat.
7. Install hand fire extinguishers at strategic locations.
8. Train all personnel (with help of fire dept.) how to put out fires.
9. Keep all brush and dry grass trimmed and away from buildings.
10. And of course it goes with out saying that you need adequate fire insurance which is kept up to date as the business grows.

I realize that you are a small business but these things do not have to cost an arm and a leg. Maybe some of your current customers and pending ones as well may have more ideas our joint futures.

Gary Gates