What is considered one of the best sources of information about an occupancy?

The record of previous inspections and incident reports is an invaluable source of information about an occupancy because it provides firsthand insight into the building's history concerning safety, code compliance, and identified hazards. This documentation includes details about the nature and frequency of past incidents, which can highlight recurring issues or trends specific to that occupancy. By reviewing these records, fire service personnel can understand the potential risks they may encounter and assess the effectiveness of previous mitigation efforts.

While interviews with occupants can provide useful subjective insights, they may not reflect the complete picture or cover past issues comprehensively. Local fire department codes are important for compliance and legal requirements but do not give specific information about the occupancy itself. Architectural blueprints offer structural insights and layout information, but they do not encompass the historical data and operational knowledge that comes from past inspections and incidents. Therefore, previous inspections and incident reports hold the most direct relevance for assessing current conditions and response strategies for that particular occupancy.