Managing fire safety—from seasonal backyard burns to professional life safety licenses—doesn't have to be a paperwork nightmare. Here's some tips for how to create fire forms that work for you.
1. Popular Fire Permit Types
We see a wide variety of fire-related forms in Civic Review. Here are the most common ways cities are using the system:
Burn Permits: These are becoming a huge hit. They allow residents to request agricultural or residential burns. You can include helper text so that applicants know when it's "Burn Season" and they can apply.
Fireworks Sales & Displays: Manage seasonal tent sales or professional display permits. You can require applicants to upload site plans, flame-resistance certificates for tents, and state tax letters all in one go.
Life Safety Licenses: Perfect for professionals working on fire sprinklers or safety devices. These are often set up as Renewable Licenses, so the system handles the expiration tracking for you.
Fire Inspection Requests: A simple "catch-all" form for businesses that need a safety walkthrough for their business license.
2. A Life-Saver for Dispatchers: The Live Burn List
One of the coolest ways to use the system is by giving your 9-1-1 dispatchers "View Only" access.
Real-Time Awareness: Instead of dispatchers wondering if a plume of smoke is an emergency, they can pull up a Live Burn List.
The "Smolder" Check: When a citizen calls in a fire, the dispatcher can see if there’s a permitted burn at that exact address. It saves your crews from unnecessary "nuisance" runs and keeps the lines clear for real emergencies.
3. Choosing Your Inspection Style
Every fire department has a different rhythm. We offer three ways to handle your inspections:
The "Simple" Method: Use an Internal Page on the permit. Your inspector goes out, types their notes and conditions (like "Clear the back egress" or "Check fire extinguisher"), and hits save. You can then auto-generate a professional Inspection Report to email to the applicant instantly.
The "Basic" App: Use the built-in inspections area to quickly log a pass/fail outcome and a few notes without any extra setup.
The "Pro" Inspector App: For heavy-duty users, the Inspection App gives your team a full calendar view. Inspectors can pull it up on a tablet in the field, snap photos of violations, check off specific code items, and send a formatted report before they even get back in the truck.
4. Smart Reporting & Renewal Tracking
Don't wait until the end of the year to realize you're behind on inspections.
Expiration Alerts: Set up reports that show you exactly which Life Safety licenses or firework permits are about to expire.
Performance Stats: Easily track how many inspections your team is completing or which departments (like Building or Planning) are tied into your fire workflows.
Spreadsheet Integration: Like everything else in the system, you can copy your lists directly into a spreadsheet if you need to build charts for a City Council presentation.
Pro Tip: If you're just starting out with burn permits, consider restricting the "Burn Date" on the form to "Today" or "Tomorrow" only. This ensures that your dispatcher list stays current and you aren't tracking permits for weeks in advance when the weather might change!
Check out this webinar for a more in-depth look at this use type: