We spend a lot of time talking about fire safety in the home, especially during October, which is Fire Prevention Month. But fire safety in the workplace is just as important.

Did you know that there were 16,500 office and store fires in the United States in 2020? Those fires caused $932 million dollars in direct property damage, according to figures provided by the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS).

A fire in an office or store can be devastating to your community. In addition to potential deaths and property loss, people may lose their jobs and the community may lose a vital service provided by the businesses.

Here are a few helpful tips for employers and employees to keep your workplace safe:

* Make sure smoke alarms and fire sprinklers are properly installed, inspected and functional

* Post clear fire escape plans on every level of a building

* Learn about exit locations, escape routes and fire protection equipment

* Hold regular fire drills to build muscle memory about what to do in case of an emergency

* Check for damaged or overloaded electrical outlets, cords and cables

* Keep anything that can burn away from electrical equipment

* NEVER leave portable heating devices unattended