REACH for a Safer Community

REACH stands for Realistic Education and Compliance Help.

It is an innovative program developed for business and mercantile occupancies, which relies upon a collaborative effort to ensure fire safety is maintained within the business.

The program is targeted towards low-hazard businesses, where the business owner takes responsibility for ensuring that all fire inspection related items are properly maintained. Golder Ranch FD will provide the resources needed for the business owner to maintain fire safety compliance, AND will rely upon the owner to provide self-inspection reports for a two-year cycle through a dedicated process. Every third year, the GRFD Inspection team will conduct their annual inspection, and will validate the owner’s continued participation in the program.

WHY are Fire Inspections so important?

Golder Ranch FD has a legal and moral obligation to the community to conduct inspections, and these inspections are also part of the process in establishing their ISO rating. This rating is a large factor for insurance companies, when calculating rates for business owners. GRFD has worked diligently to achieve an ISO rating of 2 (on a 1 to 10 scale, 1 is best), and efforts by the Fire Marshal’s office played a large part in achieving this rating. Secondly, they provide a margin of safety for you and your employees, your customers, and for the property owner. They can provide property protection, inventory protection, and could protect you from losing your business due to a fire. According to the United States Fire Administration, 4 out of 5 businesses fail within three years of a major fire. Lastly, they can impact your insurance expense or protection. Many systems that insurers base discounts on, related to fire safety, require annual inspections… and this proof could potentially impact your insurance rates or protect you from liability claims.

HOW does the REACH program work?

The business owner is included in the program with an initial successful inspection, and then will be responsible for maintaining fire safety and self-inspections for the next 2 years. Golder Ranch FD will provide guidance and resources to the business, and a database of inspection records to meet legal requirements.

HOW CAN I participate in REACH?

Starting in January 2018, all qualified businesses will be offered the opportunity to enroll in the program, when they complete their next scheduled inspection cycle. Provisions will be made for compliant businesses that would like to enroll sooner than their next scheduled inspection. If you would like more information about the program please click on the “more information” button located below and we will contact you.