Fire Prevention on Rural Construction Sites: Essential Equipment, Protocols, Training, and Wildfire Prevention

Rural construction sites have their own set of safety concerns, especially when it comes to fires. The main difference between rural and urban sites is the fire department response times. When on a rural site, it can take the nearest fire department anywhere from 15 minutes to hours to arrive, depending on the location's proximity. 

In isolated settings, firefighters often contend with unpaved roads and vast distances. Additionally, many rural communities rely entirely on volunteer departments, which means it can take longer for all personnel to arrive, since they are on call and scattered throughout the area rather than at the station.

It’s important to note that while fires in rural areas can quickly get out of control, the risk of them occurring in the first place is similar to other locations. Approximately 4,300 fires occur every year on construction sites. If the project is in a rural area, you need to make sure you have the proper preventative measures in place and necessary equipment, or it can quickly become catastrophic.  

Invest in necessary equipment

Due to ongoing construction, fire sprinkler systems are typically not operational. There’s also a good chance the hydrants won’t be operational either. Therefore, you need to make sure you have the right equipment.

Have at least one large, 20-pound ABC fire extinguisher within 35 feet of the active-work site. Depending on the size of the jobsite, you may need multiple. Extinguishers should be kept within 40 feet of every exit and within 75 feet of each other.

It’s pivotal that workers keep a fire extinguisher in their truck. The fact of the matter is, you never know when a fire is going to break out, especially on a job site. The more people who keep extinguishers in their trucks, the better. This helps ensure that even if on-site fire extinguishers have been misplaced or forgotten, you won’t be left empty-handed.

Ensure all fire extinguishers are inspected annually and maintained every 6 months, including a professional complete teardown, rebuild, and recharge of the cylinder.

Water trucks are a great investment for rural construction sites. They work great for dust suppression, putting out fires, and even preventing one from occurring in the first place. 

Sara VanFleet, the owner of DB Trucks in Glendale, Arizona, specializes in the manufacturing, sales and repairing of custom water trucks for construction sites. She says that it’s important to have a sprayer on both sides of the truck to put out fires as efficiently as possible. 

“Most trucks have front and rear sprayers, but it is important to make sure there is at least one side sprayer,” VanFleet said. “They shoot a greater distance with a heavy stream and allow you to saturate an area quickly.” 

VanFleet says it’s important to make sure everyone knows how to operate them before an emergency occurs. 

“Everybody on the jobsite should know how to maintain and operate the truck,” VanFleet said. “They are straightforward to drive. Make sure everyone knows how to turn on the pump, sprayers, and how to fill and empty the tank.”

She also emphasized the importance of draining the truck before leaving at the end of the day. 

“We never recommend they stay full when not using them, especially if you're in an area where the temperature dips at night, so the water doesn’t freeze,” VanFleet said. “Use the drains at the bottom of the tank to empty it at the end of every day and fill it in the morning.” 

VanFleet says these trucks are pretty easy to fill and only take around 15-30 minutes. 

Establish a relationship with the closest fire station

No matter how far the closest fire station is, it’s critical that you have a relationship with it. Assign a fire safety coordinator and have them call the fire department in advance. Let them know about the project underway and the hot work involved, and help them map out their route in case of an emergency. They'll want to make sure they can access the site. 

Make sure you identify all potential water supplies and whether in-ground utilities are on-site. If the fire hydrants are not active, make sure you clearly mark them and let the fire department know. The last thing you want is for them to waste time in the middle of an emergency. 

At all times, the fire safety coordinator should have the nearest fire department on speed dial, know exactly how to report the fire, and have the GPS coordinates and access instructions. 

Conduct safety meetings

It’s critical to hold monthly in-depth safety meetings. During these meetings, review the locations, types, and techniques for fire extinguishers. Go over hazardous materials, fire risks associated with machinery, enforce smoking policies, emergency response expectations, and fire truck locations.

Emphasize the fire safety plan by emphasizing escape routes and assigning roles. You must have a lead who can communicate with emergency services, assign meeting spots, and keep track of crew members.

Have a hands-on demonstration with a fire extinguisher and the water truck. This will ensure workers are confident and prepared in the event of an emergency

This is also a good time to ensure all workers have a small fire extinguisher in their vehicles.

Additionally, every week you want to have a weekly tailgate meeting to refresh on housekeeping and protocols. Remind them to clean up and discard all junk and debris. Cigarette buds, wrappers, and other waste are a recipe for disaster.

Having an emergency evacuation plan is essential.  During this meeting, make sure everyone knows their routes, assembly points, and buddy system. Have an area more than 50 feet from the jobsite picked out to meet in case of a fire emergency.

Keep hot work safe

Hot work is the biggest danger when it comes to starting a fire. Activities such as welding, cutting, grinding, or soldering that create sparks, flames, or heat pose significant fire risks, especially around these materials.

Sparks can travel up to 35 feet or more, igniting materials out of sight, which is especially dangerous because it can cause fires to be discovered too late.

It’s pivotal to keep the worksite clean and organized. Anything flammable, including oily rags, fuels, solvents, plastics, plywood, and even accumulated waste, must be kept at least 35 feet away or discarded. Utilize screens and fire blankets to protect surrounding materials that can’t be moved.

Additionally, look for hot surfaces, overloaded circuits, or friction points. One of the most overlooked causes of job-site fires is overloaded electrical circuits. Look for physical indicators such as flickering lights, buzzing, or burning smells.

Prevent wildfires

Wildfires are definitely a concern when it comes to rural construction sites, especially during the dry months. You especially need to be careful if you're conducting hot work. The sparks can fly and cause a lot of damage not just to the jobsite but to the surrounding land as well. 

Keep hot work out of the wind so it doesn’t carry embers into dry grass or brush. Isolate the operation using physical windbreaks or welding curtains. Make sure the barriers are secured firmly so the wind doesn’t blow them into the hot work. 

If wind speeds exceed safe operational limits, typically around 20-25 mph, suspend all hot work immediately. This may be a pain in the moment, but it’s well worth it to eliminate the heightened fire risk. 

Keep vegetation around the building clear to prevent it from catching flames. It’s also important to keep dumpsters away from the building and other flammable objects. If a dumpster fire were to occur, this would prevent it from spreading. 

You should also have the crew keep their vehicles off the grass and brush. Any sort of generator or engine can ignite it. 

Additionally, this is another great way to utilize the water truck. Use the truck to keep the perimeter around the site damp. Not only does this help manage dust, but it also keeps the perimeter safe from catching fire. 

Wet the perimeter immediately before work starts. Depending on how hot and dry your climate is will determine how often the ground needs to be re-watered. Every two to four hours typically does the trick. 

Ultimately, it’s critical that you have the preventative measures in place and are prepared to handle a fire emergency. When the nearest fire station is 45 minutes away, your team’s preparation, equipment, and discipline are the only line of defense between a minor spark and a catastrophic loss. 

By focusing on prevention, keeping your gear well-maintained, enforcing strict hot work protocols, training every crew member to act swiftly, and conducting safety meetings, you build a culture that protects your crew, your project, and the surrounding area.

Steve Lockwood is the Owner of Mountain State Fire Protection LLC, an Arizona fire equipment inspection, sales, service, and repair company in Phoenix. He is constantly helping rural construction sites prevent and prepare for fire emergencies.