SABATTUS – The Sabattus Fire Department is looking for help from community business owners in an effort to protect the lives of firefighters.

Assistant Fire Chief Don Therrien said the department would like to start doing courtesy/safety checks in local business to learn where hazards might lie that could injure firefighters.

For example, some hazards could include no stairs leading to the basement, learning where elevator shafts are, knowing what kind of material the building is made, learning if the business has hazardous materials and knowing how many people may occupy the premise. Firefighters would also like to educate themselves with the floor plan of businesses.

Therrien said the program can be a learning tool for the fire department as well as the business owner. He said boxes can be placed on the outside a business and if there is an emergency, firefighters can gain entry without causing damage to the building.

Therrien said the plan can be implemented for private homes as well, adding, “We look forward to working with the townspeople.”