Safety Services

The Westminster Fire Department offers a variety of safety-based services that help residents and businesses stay educated and up-to-date on best safety practices.

Home Safety Checks

***The Home Safety Check Program has been temporarily suspended. We hope to offer this opportunity again in the future. Please check this page for program updates.*** Westminster Fire offers free home safety checks for older adults or those with special needs on a quarterly basis. Firefighters and trained volunteers visit residents to check their home for a variety of hazards. Smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, night lights, extension cords, and more are all reviewed to reduce the chance for a home-related injury or fire hazard. 

Residential Knox Box Loaner Program

The Residential Knox Box Program is another service that the Westminster Fire Department provides to citizens to help first responders gain entry into the citizen's dwellings. This program was created for citizens that may need a medical or fire response but are unable to answer the door due to medical reasons, physical disabilities, or impairments. By providing a Knox Box on the exterior of the dwelling, first responders can gain access to the citizen in need without having to cause damage to doors or other barriers. The Knox Box is only accessible by emergency response personnel and is securely mounted to the door or exterior of the citizen's home. The citizen will pay a one-time $50 lease charge for the use of this box until it is no longer needed. The $50 fee is applied as a tax-deductible donation to the Westminster Fire BURN Fund that assists families that have been displaced by fire loss. 

To inquire further about this program or sign up for this program, please contact Fire Administration at 303-658-4500.

Commercial Knox Box Program

Commercial Knox Boxes are required on all new buildings protected by an automatic fire sprinkler system, fire alarm system and other special hazard fire protection system. Other buildings or occupancies as deemed necessary may also be required to install a Knox Box based on the occupancy type or other factors. Knox Boxes allow the fire department to gain access to these commercial buildings in Westminster in cases of emergency. Knox Boxes are checked on a routine basis during fire protection inspections. To begin the process of purchasing a Knox Box for your commercial business, you will need to contact the Knox Company for more information and to acquire a Knox Box for your business. 

Commercial Business Inspections

The fire department conducts fire safety inspections of all businesses in the city, generally on an annual basis. Inspection scheduling is based upon a risk evaluation of each building. These inspections are conducted to ensure the safety of the employees and customers of the businesses, and to help protect the businesses from fire by maintaining code compliance.

The fire department has also partnered with Brycer, a compliance engine that provides a secure cloud environment in which third-party contractors that inspect, test, and maintain fire protection systems, backflows, and elevators are able to submit their reports directly into their portal. Once these reports are submitted, they are directed to our department for our records. This facilitates a more efficient review, tracking, and follow-up process with occupants to correct deficiencies and maintain systems. 

For more information or assistance, please contact the Fire Prevention Bureau at 303-658-4500.

Fire Safety Tips

Accidents happen, but many times accidents can be avoided with safety precautions. At the Westminster Fire Department, it is our goal to promote safety education to help our citizens avoid many of these preventable accidents.

Westminster proclaims October as fire prevention month

Every October, the Westminster Fire Department commemorates the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 by proclaiming October as Fire Prevention Month. This historic two-day blaze killed more than 250 people and left over 100,000 people homeless. This October, Westminster Fire Department is encouraging residents to "Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety!" which works to educate everyone about the different sounds the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms make. Knowing what to do when an alarm sounds will keep you and your family safe. When an alarm makes noises – a beeping sound or a chirping sound – you must take action.

What if someone in my home is deaf or hard of hearing? There are smoke alarms and alert devices that alert people who are deaf or hard of hearing. These devices include strobe lights that flash to alert people when the smoke alarm sounds. Pillow or bed shakers designed to work with your smoke alarm also can be purchased and installed.

What is your alarm telling you?

Smoke Alarms

• A continued set of three loud beeps—beep, beep, beep—means smoke or fire. Get out, call 9-1-1, and stay out.
• A single “chirp” every 30 or 60 seconds means the battery is low and must be changed.
• All smoke alarms must be replaced after 10 years.
• Chirping that continues after the battery has been replaced means the alarm is at the end of its life and the unit must be replaced.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms

• A continuous set of four loud beeps—beep, beep, beep, beep—means carbon monoxide is present in your home.  Go outside, call 9-1-1 and stay out.
• A single chirp every 30 or 60 seconds means the battery is lowand must be replaced.
• CO alarms also have “end of life” sounds that vary by manufacturer. This means it’s time to get a new CO alarm.
• Chirping that continues after the battery has been replaced means the alarm is at the end of its life and the unit must be replaced.

If you need any assistance or have questions about your home's smoke and carbon monoxide alarms or creating a home escape plan, please call us at 303-658-4536. 

Fire And Life Safety Tips

Cooking Safety Facts and Tips

Cooking and cooking equipment is the leading cause of home structure fires and home fire injuries. 

• Two-thirds of home cooking fires started with the ignition of food or other cooking materials
• Unattended equipment was a factor in one-third of reported home cooking fires
• Frying foods is the primary cooking fire ignition problem
• Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires 

Smoking Safety Facts and Tips

Smoking is the leading cause of civilian home fire deaths in the United States. The risk of dying in a home structure fire caused by smoking increases with age and most smoking-related deaths result from fires that started in living rooms, family rooms, or bedrooms.

The NFPA also warns of the risk of using electronic cigarettes. Fires have occurred while e-cigarettes were being used, the battery was being charged, or the device was being transported. The leading cause for these reported fires have been due to battery failures that have led to small explosions. Never leave charging e-cigarettes unattended. 

To reduce the risk of smoking-related structure fire, these tips are suggested by the Westminster Fire Department and the NFPA:

• Use a deep, sturdy ashtray and place it away from flammable substances in your home
• Do not discard cigarettes in vegetation such as mulch, potted plants, peat moss, or items that can ignite easily
• Before you throw away butts or ashes, be sure they are fully extinguished by dousing in water or sand