Fire Reporting
19 CSR 30-85.022 (2) (F) for Skilled Nursing Facilities/Intermediate Care Facilities (SNFs/ICFs) and 19 CSR 30-86.022 (2)(C) for Residential Care Facilities (RCFs) and Assisted Living Facilities (ALFs) require that all facilities shall notify the department immediately after the emergency is addressed if there is a fire in the facility or premises and shall submit a complete written fire report (attached) to the department within seven (7) days of the fire, regardless of the size of the fire or the loss involved.
The Section for Long-Term Regulation defines fire as used in relation to fire/safety requirements as follows: Fire is the active principle of burning, characterized by combustion. This energy is evident when heat and/or smoke and/or light are present as the result of combustion. Smoke is a product of combustion, and any time smoke is given off, combustion has occurred whether or not there has been a visible flame. Besides the obvious, some often-overlooked examples of fire include but are not limited to the following:
- Smoking air conditioner unit or heater (whether or not the fire department responded);
- Smoking pads or mop heads in the dryer (whether or not the fire department responded); and
- Smoking trash in a waste receptacle (whether or not the fire department responded).
The facility submitted fire report must include the following:
- A brief narrative of the event in the comments section of the report or in an attachment;
- Documentation regarding whether or not the fire alarm and/or sprinkler system activated (if applicable) and if/when the system was back in service (if applicable);
- In addition, the narrative must show whether or not fire extinguishers were used, and if so, when they were recharged or replaced;
- A copy of the fire department report if the fire department responded; and
- If a fire can be attributed to a particular person, the report must include identifying information for that person.