As the weather warms up, nothing says “summer” like grabbing dinner or a snack at a food truck. But how do you know if a food truck meets fire and food handling safety standards?
Together, Castle Rock Fire and Rescue, the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, Douglas County Health Department, Larkspur Fire Protection District, and the Town of Castle Rock’s Zoning and Business Licensing divisions hosted a Food Truck Safety Jamboree training session on March 2, offering both fire and food safety inspections.
“We want to make sure favorite, local food trucks meet safety requirements so that Castle Rock customers can feel reassured as they peruse the many food options available this year,” said CRFD Division Chief/Fire Marshal Bart Chambers.
18 local food truck vendors attended the event, which was the first of its kind along the Front Range. The session covered safety tips and tricks for addressing the most common violations found during the different inspections that each food truck must complete. Attendees received a free fire inspection, which is good for one year, a $50 value. Additionally, Douglas County Health Department provided food safety inspections and licenses to those who passed their inspection.
“Preventing foodborne illness and protecting the health of consumers is the role of your Douglas County Health Department,” said Michael Hill, director of the Douglas County Health Department. “We inspect restaurants, food trucks and push carts to help ensure your dining experience in Douglas County is the healthiest it can be. This event was a great opportunity to partner with two of our local fire departments to best serve our mobile food vendors.”
A representative from the Castle Rock’s Business Licensing Division was also present to check business licensing status and answer questions from mobile food vendors.
There are various safety inspections and licensing requirements that mobile food vendors must adhere to when doing business in Castle Rock. This event was designed to help businesses with these processes.
“This event serves as a community partnership with Castle Rock small businesses to remove the unknown and help set our food truck vendors up for success,” said Chambers. “We don’t want to inhibit our small businesses, we want to encourage entrepreneurship in Town.”
The next time you spot a food truck and before placing your order, look out for some of these items to make sure they’re meeting safety standards:
- A current CRFD Fire and Life Safety inspection sticker and business license prominently displayed on the truck
- Mobile food trucks, food trailers and push carts in Douglas County are regulated and licensed by the Douglas County Health Department to prevent foodborne illnesses and to protect consumer health. Make sure any food vendor is licensed by checking for a sticker with a Mobile Retail Food Establishment ID and current year expiration date.
- Check that there is a clearance of at least 10 feet from buildings, structures, vehicles and any combustible materials
- A fire extinguisher should be mounted in a visible place in the kitchen area