Fire Response at Job Site

Purpose

Ensure all Spartan Plumbing technicians know how to respond safely to a fire at a job site, whether caused by hot work, equipment malfunction, or any other source.

When to Use

• Any fire or smoke detected at a job site
• When soldering, brazing, or any hot work ignites surrounding materials
• If a gas appliance malfunction causes a fire
• If an electrical issue causes a fire during plumbing work

Procedure

Fire Detected — Small and Contained

If the fire is small (e.g., a torch ignited insulation) and you can safely extinguish it, use the fire extinguisher from your truck

Aim at the base of the flames, not the top — sweep side to side until extinguished

After extinguishing, monitor the area for 30 minutes for re-ignition

Inform the homeowner of what happened

Report to your supervisor and document in ServiceTitan and Slack (#safety-incidents)

Fire Detected — Large, Spreading, or Uncertain

GET OUT — evacuate yourself and everyone in the home immediately

Do NOT attempt to fight a fire that is spreading or that you are unsure about

Call 911 from outside the building

Account for all occupants — did everyone get out?

Do NOT re-enter the building for any reason, including tools or equipment

Move your truck away from the structure if safely possible

Call your supervisor immediately

Wait for the fire department and provide them with information about the work you were doing

Gas-Related Fire

If safe to do so, shut off the gas supply at the meter BEFORE evacuating

Do NOT use any electrical switches — sparks can cause explosion

Follow the large fire evacuation procedure above

Inform the fire department that gas is involved

Prevention

• Always have a fire extinguisher accessible when doing hot work
• Clear flammable materials at least 3 feet from any soldering or brazing work
• Use a heat shield or wet rag behind pipes when soldering near wood or insulation
• Never leave a torch unattended while lit
• Know where the main gas shutoff is at every job site before starting work
• Keep your truck fire extinguisher current — check it during daily vehicle inspection

Important Notes

• A fire extinguisher should be in every Spartan truck — verified during daily inspection
• After any fire incident, the job is STOPPED until your supervisor clears it
• Even a small fire that was quickly extinguished must be reported
• If hot work caused the fire, see Hot Work Permits & Procedures for prevention requirements

Related SOPs

• Hot Work Permits & Procedures — preventing fires during soldering/brazing
• Gas Leak Response Protocol — gas-specific emergency procedures
• On-the-Job Injury Response — if anyone is burned or injured
• Emergency Contact List & Reporting Chain — who to call