October is National Fire Prevention Month, and the National Fire Protection Association’s annual Fire Prevention Week ran October 4 through 10 this year. The 2026 theme, announced by NFPA, is “Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is a Superpower,” a focus on everyday charging habits that reduce the risk of lithium-ion battery fires. It is the second year in a row that NFPA has chosen a battery-related theme.
The timing is useful. Heating season is starting, the holidays bring more cooking, candles and decorations, and more homes and workplaces are charging phones, e-bikes, scooters, tools and power banks. For property managers, insurers, fire departments, facility teams and homeowners, the question is how to check fire safety conditions across many properties without sending someone to every one.
Remote video inspection offers a practical answer. A trained reviewer can guide a tenant, caretaker, site manager or homeowner through a structured fire safety walkthrough by live video, see what is there, capture photos and flag problems for follow-up. It does not replace required code inspections or professional servicing, but it can make routine fire risk reviews faster, more frequent and better documented.
Too many properties, too few reviewers. Fire marshals, community risk reduction teams, insurers and property managers cannot visit every building as often as they would like.
Problems develop between inspections. A smoke alarm battery is removed, a space heater is moved next to a bed, a charging station appears in an exit path, or extension cords get daisy-chained. These changes often happen after the last site visit.
Access is a hurdle. Scheduling with tenants, owners and occupants takes time, and many occupied properties are only available at certain hours.
Documentation is inconsistent. Handwritten notes and scattered photos make it hard to show what was found, when and where.
Seasonal peaks. Heating season and the holidays raise risk while also stretching staff.
NFPA data on home fires is a useful reminder of what to look for. The following figures are drawn from NFPA research summarized by public agencies and may be from earlier study periods, so check NFPA for the latest.
Many of these problems are visible. A missing smoke alarm, a heater next to a mattress, an overloaded power strip or a charger on a couch can all be seen on a phone camera.
A remote walkthrough works best as a structured checklist. Your fire authority, insurer, property policy and applicable codes should set the actual requirements. The following table shows what is commonly visible on video.
| Area | What a reviewer can check by video |
|---|---|
| Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms | Presence in bedrooms, outside sleeping areas and on each level, visible manufacture date or label, signs of damage or covering, and a witnessed test of the test button |
| Escape routes and exits | Clear paths, unobstructed doors and windows, visible exit signage in commercial settings |
| Heating equipment | Space heater placement and clearance from combustibles, visible condition of furnace area, wood stove or fireplace surroundings |
| Cooking areas | Combustibles near the stove, grease buildup, range hood condition |
| Electrical | Overloaded outlets, extension cords used as permanent wiring, damaged cords, panel labeling and access |
| Lithium-ion charging | Where devices, e-bikes, scooters and power banks are charged and stored, whether chargers match the device, signs of damage |
| Fire extinguishers | Presence, location, visible pressure gauge and inspection tag |
| Storage and housekeeping | Combustible materials near ignition sources, blocked mechanical rooms, accumulation of trash |
| Exterior | Defensible space, debris against buildings, dryer vent and outdoor equipment clearance, address visibility |
A camera cannot confirm that an alarm is wired correctly or that a sprinkler system is functional. It can confirm whether basic protections are present, accessible and in plausible condition, and it can capture evidence for follow-up.
NFPA’s theme points to a concrete hazard. Lithium-ion batteries power phones, laptops, e-bikes, e-scooters, tools, vapes, toys and many other items. Damage, poor-quality chargers and unsafe charging practices can lead to overheating and fire.
A remote walkthrough is a good way to check charging setups, particularly in rental properties, multifamily buildings, workplaces and schools. Reviewers can look for:
NFPA’s Fire Prevention Week resources include battery safety tips, and your team should rely on that official messaging for guidance to share with residents.
Property managers and landlords. Many property managers inspect units on a schedule to check for hazards, maintenance needs and lease compliance. A short live video review of safety items can fit into that routine. Blitzz’s real estate and property management page describes remote video inspections for rental assessments and property condition checks.
Insurers and risk engineers. Property risk surveys often require visiting a site to assess hazards. Remote video can handle initial surveys, renewals and follow-ups on recommendations. Blitzz’s insurance page covers insurance workflows.
Fire departments and community risk reduction teams. During Fire Prevention Month, departments reach out to residents with smoke alarm checks and home safety visits. Video can extend that outreach to homebound residents, remote areas and busy households, with the department’s own protocols and approvals.
Schools, nonprofits and community groups. A volunteer or staff member on site can show a space while a fire safety professional reviews it remotely.
Businesses and facility teams. Retail, offices, warehouses and workshops can run regular remote walkthroughs of extinguishers, exits, storage and charging areas.
Solar and battery owners. Homes and businesses with rooftop solar or battery storage can use remote visual checks to confirm labels, clearances and visible condition between professional inspections. See our guide on remote inspection for solar and battery installs for more.
A session using Blitzz Inspect follows a simple process.
Fire risk management depends on a record: what was in place, what was found, what was fixed and when. BlitzzCam field photo documentation helps field teams capture GPS-stamped, time-stamped photos filed by job and phase. For property teams and contractors, that can mean a before-and-after record of alarm installations, extinguisher placement, electrical corrections and housekeeping fixes. BlitzzCam is listed as early access on the Blitzz site, so confirm availability with the Blitzz team.
Remote video has clear limits in fire safety, and it is important to be honest about them.
Fire Prevention Month is a good moment to start a remote fire safety program, but the habits matter most when they continue after October. Regular, lightweight remote check-ins can help spot problems earlier, support occupants who might not otherwise get a visit and give property teams, insurers and fire safety professionals a clearer record of conditions.
To see how remote video inspection and BlitzzCam field photo documentation can support your fire safety and property risk workflows, explore the Blitzz features, read the case studies or schedule a demo.