Fires at lawn-care facilities have sometimes forced the evacuation of neighboring residents as stored chemicals burned. The corrosive and toxic fumes produced have seriously damaged fire department equipment and threatened to poison people and animals. Water used to contain the fires usually becomes contaminated with agrichemicals and has killed fish and waterfowl when it ran into streams or lakes adjoining the properties. Fires and the resulting destruction, bad publicity and environmental contamination can be generally avoided with proper planning.To develop a pre-fire response plan that really works, however, your local emergency planning committee and fire department should be invited to your facility at least once a year. They should be thoroughly familiar with the contents of your response plan. Along with copies of your plan, the fire department should have current MSDS sheets and other relevant safety information they will need to safely fight the fire. This should include the expected quantities, locations and types of hazardous chemicals they are likely to encounter.