DUBOIS: When people think about fire safety, they often think reactively: alarms, extinguishers, sprinklers, and inspections. But for large commercial, industrial, and logistics facilities, real safety begins much earlier — with pre-incident planning and collaboration between building owners and first responders.

That proactive approach was on display recently when members of the DuBois Fire Department were invited inside Mountainy, LLC on Beaver Drive for a walkthrough of the facility.

This was not prompted by an emergency. It was a preparedness exercise — the kind that often makes the difference when seconds matter.

Understanding The Facility: Why Background Matters

Mountainy, LLC is a third-party logistics (3PL) and print-on-demand company headquartered in DuBois, with an additional facility in Goodyear, Arizona. The company provides:

• E-commerce order fulfillment and warehousing
• Custom printing and apparel decoration (DTG, DTF, embroidery, UV printing)
• Supply-chain management for online brands

Facilities like this are dynamic by nature. Inventory changes. Materials vary. Equipment layouts evolve. From a fire-response perspective, that means conditions inside the building today may be very different from what they were a year ago — or even last month.

Inviting the fire department inside allows responders to understand how the space actually functions, not just how it appears from the outside.

Pre-Incident Walkthroughs: Preventive Maintenance For Safety

From a building owner’s standpoint, a fire department walkthrough should be viewed as preventive maintenance, just like servicing HVAC systems or inspecting electrical panels.

These walkthroughs allow firefighters to:

• Learn the layout, access points, and flow of a large building
• Identify utility shutoffs, standpipes, and suppression systems
• Understand how inventory is stored and moved
• Anticipate hazards unique to logistics, printing, or manufacturing environments

For owners, it’s a second set of trained eyes focused on risk reduction.

Best Practices Fire Departments Often Review

1. Material Compatibility And Storage

In logistics and print-on-demand environments, different materials can present very different risks.

Fire departments can help confirm:

• Which chemicals, inks, solvents, or materials must be kept separated
• Where flammable or combustible products should be stored
• How pallet stacking height and rack spacing affect fire spread and suppression

What seems efficient operationally can sometimes increase fire intensity if not reviewed from a safety perspective.

2. Clear Access Is Non-Negotiable

During an emergency, firefighters need immediate access.

Best practices include:

• Keeping fire lanes, hydrants, and doors clear at all times
• Ensuring loading docks and overhead doors are clearly marked
• Avoiding storage near suppression equipment, panels, or exits

“Temporary” storage has a way of becoming permanent — and dangerous.

3. Utility Shutoffs And Critical Systems

Fire crews often need to shut down:

• Electrical systems
• Gas lines
• Specialized production equipment

Clearly labeled, unobstructed shutoffs reduce risk to both responders and occupants. A walkthrough ensures crews aren’t searching in smoke or darkness.

4. Egress And Occupancy Awareness

Large facilities often have:

• Multiple shifts
• Seasonal staffing increases
• Contractors or visiting drivers

Fire departments can help evaluate whether:

• Exit routes remain clear and intuitive
• Signage is visible under low-light conditions
• Evacuation plans still match how the space is used

5. Treat Safety Planning As Ongoing

Any of the following should trigger a new walkthrough:

• Renovations or expansions
• Changes in inventory or production methods
• New machinery or storage systems

Facilities evolve. Safety planning should evolve with them.

A Local Example Of Proactive Safety

By opening its doors and inviting the DuBois Fire Department inside, Mountainy demonstrated a simple but powerful principle: the best emergency response starts long before the call comes in.

Familiarity with layout, materials, and operations can save:

• Employee lives
• Firefighter lives
• Neighboring properties

And often, all it takes is a conversation and a walkthrough.

Call To Action: If You Own A Large Building, Take This Step

If you own or manage a warehouse, manufacturing site, logistics facility, or large commercial building in the DuBois area, consider contacting the DuBois Fire Department.

Pre-incident walkthroughs are:

• Informational, not punitive
• Often free
• Focused on prevention, not enforcement

A few simple observations made today can prevent tragedy tomorrow. Preparedness isn’t just good practice — it’s responsible ownership.

If and when the fire department agrees to do you this solid, consider making a donation; it's polite.