Fire Marshal's Office

DEVELOPERS AND CONTRACTORS

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Vertical Construction Approval

Before commencing vertical construction, an inspection by the Fire Marshal's Office is required.

Timing of Installation
When fire apparatus access roads or a water supply for fire protection is required for any structure or development, they shall be installed, tested, and approved before the time when construction has progressed beyond the completion of the foundation of any structure. The fire apparatus roads shall be poured and cured completely before vertical construction.

Points of Access
The approved fire apparatus access points shall be provided for each building, structure, and subdivision. The points of access shall be installed and operational before vertical construction. Alternative means of access may be provided if the fire code official approves.

Marking
When approved by the fire code official, striping, signs, or other markings shall be provided for fire apparatus access roads to identify such roads or prohibit the obstruction thereof. Striping, signs, and other markings shall be maintained in a clean and legible condition and replaced or repaired when necessary to provide adequate visibility. All fire apparatus access road portions shall be marked before vertical construction.

Striping — Fire apparatus access roads shall be continuously marked by painted lines of red traffic paint six inches (6") in width to show the boundaries of the lane. The words "NO PARKING FIRE LANE" or "FIRE LANE NO PARKING" shall appear in four-inch (4") white letters at 25-foot (25') intervals on the red border markings along both sides of the fire lanes. Where a curb is available, the striping shall be on both the horizontal and vertical faces of the curb.
Signs — Signs shall read "NO PARKING FIRE LANE "or" FIRE LANE NO PARKING" and shall be twelve inches (12") wide and eighteen inches (18") high. Signs shall be painted on a white background with letters and borders in red, using not less than two-inch (2") lettering. Signs shall be permanently affixed to a stationary post, and the bottom of the sign shall be six feet, six inches (6' 6") above the finished grade. Signs shall be spaced not more than fifty feet (50’) apart. Signs may be installed on permanent buildings or walls or as approved by the Fire Chief or Fire Marshal.

Obstruction of Fire Apparatus Access Roads
Fire apparatus access roads shall be unrestricted in any manner, including parking vehicles, whether attended or unattended for any period. The minimum widths and clearances established in Section 503.2.1 through 503.2.8 and any area marked as a fire lane as described in Section 503.3 shall be maintained clear at all times. Unoccupied vehicles or other obstructions in the fire lane may be removed or towed at the registered owner’s expense. The use of traffic control devices such as speed bumps and/or speed humps, or similar, shall not be used.

Protected Properties
Fire hydrants required to provide a supplemental water supply for automatic fire protection systems shall be located within a 50-foot (50') hose lay of the fire department connection for such systems with a 5-inch (5") Stortz connection.

EXISTING BUSINESSES

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Insurance Ratings (ISO/PRC)
Register an AED
Request Your Inspection Report
Schedule Training
Annual Operational Permits
Update Business Contact Information

Request Your Inspection Report

To request a copy of your inspection report, complete the Inspection Report Request form, here.

Inspection Reports will only be sent to authorized persons.

Schedule Training

Businesses that are looking to improve their responsible persons’ skill set to increase the safety of their building and their occupants, consider the Flower Mound Fire Department's Fire Warden Training. For more information, see our Community Outreach and Education page.

Annual Operational Permits

Operational permits are required to be renewed annually. To access the entire list of operational permits, see our Permit Application page. The most common operational permit applications are below:

Places of Assembly - Operate a place of assembly, such as a church, restaurant, or gymnasium.
Repair Garages - Operation of a vehicle repair garage.
Carbon Dioxide Beverage Dispensers
High-Piled Storage - Use of a building or portion of a building as a high-piled storage area exceeding 500 square feet.
Hazardous Materials - Store, transport on-site, dispense, use, or handle hazardous materials.
Temporary Above-Ground Fuel Tank - Temporary use and dispensing of diesel or gasoline at a construction site.
Motor Fuel-Dispensing Facilities - Operation of automotive, marine, and fleet motor fuel-dispensing facilities.
Dry-Cleaning Facilities - An operational permit is required to engage in the business of dry cleaning or to change to a more hazardous cleaning solvent used in existing dry cleaning equipment.
HPM Facilities - Storage, handling, or use of hazardous production materials.
Pyrotechnic Special Effects - Use and handling of pyrotechnic special effects material.
Open Burning - Kindling or maintaining an open fire or a fire on any public street, alley, road, or other public or private ground. Instructions and stipulations of the permit must be followed.

Update Contact Information

To update your business contact information and authorized employee information, complete our Business Contact Form here.

RESIDENTS

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Residential Fire Safety Self-Inspection Form
Insurance Rating (ISO-PRC)
Foster Home Inspections
Pool Safety Self-Inspection Form
Training, Classes, and Events
Find an AED
Home Fire Sprinkler Information
Create a Home Fire Escape Plan

Residential Fire Safety Self-Inspection Form

The Flower Mound Fire Department is pleased to offer our residential self-inspection form. Most fires happen in the home, and it is our goal to collaborate with you to have a fire-safe community and reduce the risk of fire in your home.

Let's work together to make Flower Mound one of the most fire-safe communities in the state!

Residential Fire Safety Self-Inspection Form PDF

Foster Home Inspections

The Flower Mound Fire Marshal's Office conducts adoption and foster home fire safety inspections within Flower Mound Town limits.

To schedule an inspection, follow the three steps listed below.

Before requesting a fire inspection, please review the Fire Safety Evaluation Checklist from the State Fire Marshal's Office.
Using the checklist, conduct your own inspection. Any items that you checked "No" will need to be corrected or resolved prior to the Fire Marshal's inspection. If you have any questions, please contact the Fire Marshal's Office at 972-874-6270. Prior to requesting an inspection, Please note that all fire extinguishers must be inspected by a licensed fire extinguisher company and have a valid tag or be bought within the past year (attach the receipt to the extinguisher).
Once you believe you are ready, you may request an inspection by calling 972-874-6270 or emailing the Fire Marshal's Office.

For assistance with creating a fire escape plan, see our section on "Home Fire Escape Plans"

Pool Safety Self-Inspection

According to the CDC, drowning is the number one cause of unintentional death for children between the ages of 1 and 4. And according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 390 deaths a year on average are attributed to drowning in a swimming pool or at a spa.

The Flower Mound Fire Department encourages all residents with pools to make sure their pool areas are safe year-round. We have provided a pool safety checklist. We recommend doing this self-inspection throughout the year to reduce to chance of pool-related accidents and injuries.

Pool Safety Self-Inspection Form PDF

Home Fire Sprinkler Information

The Flower Mound Fire Department is a proud Built for Life member of the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition. For more information about the benefits of installing home fire sprinklers, contact our office or visit the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition website.

For residents with existing fire sprinkler systems, download the sprinkler riser tag. This tag contains important information about the maintenance and operation of your fire sprinkler system.

Create a Home Fire Escape Plan

In the event of a fire, time is the biggest enemy and every second counts. In less than 30 seconds, a small flame can turn into a major fire. Have escape plans to get out of your home quickly. Practice E.D.I.T.H. — Exit Drills in the Home — with your family.

Creating Your Home Fire Escape Plan

Draw your home floor plan using a home escape plan template.
Label all the rooms and identify the doors and windows.
Plan 2 escape routes from every room.
Provide alternatives for anyone with a disability.
Agree on a meeting place where everyone will gather after you have escaped.
Considering buying an Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL)-approved collapsible ladder to escape from upper story windows.

Practice Your Home Fire Escape Plan

Review your escape plan with everyone that stays in the house, including children.
Sound the smoke alarm.
Practice crawling low beneath the smoke.
Remember to check doors for heat with your hand; if a door is hot, do not open it.
Close the doors as you leave.
Practice with a collapsible ladder, if you have one.
Go directly to your meeting place; do not stop to find your pets or valuables.
Remember to GET OUT FIRST, then call 9-1-1 for help.
Practice your plan at least twice a year.

Additional Tips

If your clothes catch fire, stop, drop, and roll until the flames are extinguished.
Replace smoke alarms older than 10 years.
Change the batteries in the smoke alarms, every 6 months (when you change your clocks).
Test alarms monthly by pushing the “test” button for 3-5 seconds.

If You Live in an Apartment Building

Learn and practice your building’s evacuation plan.
Know primary and secondary exits.
If you hear the fire alarm, leave immediately.
Use the stairs.
NEVER use elevators during a fire.

Q: What are the open burn requirements?

Q: Is today a burn day?

Q: What is an Assembly Occupancy?

Q: Are fireworks allowed in Flower Mound?

Q: How many smoke detectors do I need in my home?

Q: Does the Fire Marshal's Office refill or service fire extinguishers?

Q: How do I dispose of my expired fire extinguisher?

Q: What are the open burn requirements?

A: Open burning is only permitted with written permission from the Fire Marshal's Office. (Burn Permit Application)

Open burning shall be conducted as required by other governing agencies regulating emissions, i.e. TCEQ. ONLY natural materials shall be burned.

Open burning shall not be conducted within 500 feet of any structure, fence, or property line.

The burn pile shall be no larger than 5 feet in diameter and 5 feet in height.

A competent person shall continuously attend the burn pile until the fire is extinguished. This person shall have a garden hose connected to a water supply or other fire extinguishing equipment readily available for use.

Hours of burning shall be confined to the hours of sunrise to sunset.

ALL FIRES* SHALL BE EXTINGUISHED BEFORE SUNSET.

* A FIRE IS ANY AMOUNT OF HEAT WHICH CAN PRODUCE SMOKE OR FLAME.

The Chief is authorized to require that open burning be immediately discontinued if the Chief determines that smoke emissions are offensive to occupants of the surrounding property or if the open burning is determined to constitute a hazardous condition.

The person burning SHALL call the Fire Department Communications center at (972) 539-0525 PRIOR to burning EACH DAY.

The fire code official is authorized to order the extinguishment by the permit holder, another person responsible or the fire department of open burning that creates or adds to a hazardous or objectionable situation.

FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE ABOVE RULES MAY RESULT IN THE ISSUANCE OF A CITATION AND/OR LOSS OF FUTURE BURNING PRIVILEGES.

Q: Is today a burn day?

A: Open burning within the Flower Mound Town limits is only permitted with an approved Open Burn Permit from the Flower Mound Fire Marshal's Office. Prior to burning with a permit, check the Denton County website to verify it is a burn day.

Q: What is an Assembly Occupancy?

A: Assembly Group A. Assembly Group A occupancy includes, among others, the use of a building or structure, or a portion thereof, for the gathering of persons for purposes such as civic, social or religious functions; recreation, food or drink consumption; or awaiting transportation.

Small buildings and tenant spaces. A building or tenant space used for assembly purposes with an occupant load of less than 50 persons shall be classified as a Group B occupancy.

Small assembly spaces. The following rooms and spaces shall not be classified as assembly occupancies:

1. A room or space used for assembly purposes with an occupant load of less than 50 persons and accessory to another occupancy shall be classified as a Group B occupancy or as part of that occupancy.

2. A room or space used for assembly purposes that is less than 750 square feet (70 m2) in area and accessory to another occupancy shall be classified as a Group B occupancy or as part of that occupancy.

Assembly Group A-1. Group A occupancy includes assembly uses, usually with fixed seating, intended for the production and viewing of performing arts or motion pictures including, but not limited to:

Motion picture theaters, Symphony and concert halls, Television and radio studios admitting an audience, and theaters.

Assembly Group A-2. Group A-2 occupancy includes assembly uses intended for food and/or drink consumption including, but not limited to:

Banquet halls, Casinos (gaming areas), Night clubs, Restaurants, cafeterias, and similar dining facilities (including associated commercial kitchens), Taverns, and bars.

Assembly Group A-3. Group A-3 occupancy includes assembly uses intended for worship, recreation, or amusement and other assembly uses not classified elsewhere in Group A, including, but not limited to:

Amusement arcades, Art galleries, Bowling alleys, Community halls, Courtrooms, Dance halls (not including food or drink consumption), and Exhibition halls.

Q: Are fireworks allowed in Flower Mound?

A: The possession, manufacture, storage, sale, handling, and use of fireworks are prohibited within the Flower Mound Town limits. Violations of this ordinance can result in a fine, of up to $2,000. Exceptions to this ordinance include approved and permitted firework displays.

Q: How many smoke detectors do I need in my home?

A: You should have at least one smoke alarm in every bedroom and in the hallway outside each bedroom. A typical three-bedroom home would need at least four properly installed smoke alarms to provide a reasonable amount of protection for your family.

Smoke rises, so the best place to install an alarm is on the ceiling or high on an inside wall approximately 6-8 inches below the ceiling. A smoke detector is needed on every level of your home.

Q: Does the Fire Marshal's Office refill or service fire extinguishers?

A:The Fire Department does not service or refill fire extinguishers. Look for a fire extinguisher service company or purchase a new extinguisher if the pressure gauge is low.

Q: How do I dispose of my expired fire extinguisher?

A: Fully discharge your extinguisher into your outside trash can and place the empty extinguisher in the trash can. Do not discharge the extinguisher inside your residence.