The heavy workload of the Fire Prevention Bureau did not allow for the inspections of multi-family dwellings to be made within the East Naples Fire Control and Rescue District (ENFC&RD). The lack of information, such as locating fire department connections and addresses, recognizing buildings with sprinkler and standpipes created problems for suppression personnel when responding to medical calls and fire related incidents. The need arose for a plan to gather this much-needed information, and still be able to utilize personnel within the department. The East Naples Fire Control and Rescue District (ENFC&RD) presently has no formal procedure that allows suppression personnel to perform multi-family dwelling inspections.The following questions were used to gather and evaluate the research data needed: 1) What is the criterion on multi-family structures to be included in the survey? 2) What are liked sized adjacent departments doing in terms of a survey for multi-family structures? 3) What are the ramifications of not using a survey? An action research methodology, supported by historical research was applied to the actual, real-life problem of not having a survey for multi-family structures. A total of 15 departments were polled, only to find out that 10 departments used an inspection form or pre-fire plan, however none used any form of a survey. All departments polled did, however, utilize fire prevention divisions and engine companies to perform all annual inspections. A meeting was held to develop a plan that allowed the use of personnel within the suppression division to conduct these surveys.After several questions and concerns were voiced within the suppression division, it was determined that the form must be simple and non-lengthy. Elements of the survey would include common fire safety components such as fire protection systems and storage practices. It was recommended that before implementing the survey program, a 24-hour fire inspector class would be implemented and taught to all suppression personnel who would not have the added responsibility of conducting these pre-incident surveys. Training would focus on building construction, alarm functions, occupancy and its hazards, the type of construction, and storage practices.