Community Risk Reduction: Doing More with More

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Community Risk Reduction: Doing More with More THE NFPA URBAN FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY TASK FORCE COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION: JUNE DOING MORE 2016 WITH MORE © 2016 National Fire Protection Association® THE NFPA URBAN FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY TASK FORCE COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION: DOING MORE WITH MORE JUNE 2016 Authors NFPA Staff Derrick Sawyer Karen Berard-Reed Fire Commissioner Task Force Staff Liaison and Philadelphia Fire Department Senior Project Manager Derrick Phillips Lisa Braxton Battalion Chief Associate Project Manager St. Louis Fire Department Dana Catts Education Specialist Seattle Fire Department David Sawyer Liaison Officer The City of Columbus Division of Fire © 2016 National Fire Protection Association® Executive Summary Fire service leaders face a number of challenges getting the job done — protecting and serving the public, keeping up staff morale, maintaining safety standards for the department and community, facing budget cutbacks — all as resources become more limited. At times the job can seem daunting. However, there is a tool available to help fire service leaders keep pace with a constantly changing social, environmental, economic, and political climate: Community Risk Reduction. It’s the all-hazards solution to the all-hazards response that the modern fire service needs. Many fire service organizations are hesitant to adopt a Community Risk Reduction approach because of the changes required within an organization. Fire service leaders need to keep in mind that Community Risk Reduction will make any fire service organization more efficient and effective in saving lives and property. Community Risk Reduction Community Risk Reduction is defined in NFPA 1035, Standard on Fire and Life Safety Educator, Public Information Officer, Youth Firesetter Intervention Specialist and Youth Firesetter Program Manager Professional Qualifications, as “programs, actions, and services used by a community, which prevent or mitigate the loss of life, property, and resources associated with life safety, fire, and other disasters within a community.” The “More” of Community Risk Reduction Fire service leaders must Adoption of Community Risk Reduction allows a fire • Incorporate Community Risk Reduction department to: into the department’s strategic plan. • Form partnerships with agencies across the • Fully integrate all fire protection strategies municipality that can play important roles in the • Involve the community in problem solving success of the Community Risk Reduction plan. and strategic implementation • Enlist the services of public policy experts • Prevent line-of-duty deaths and injuries and advocates to assist with legislation • Ensure the survival of the organization geared toward risk reduction. • Meet periodically with fire and life safety educators, officers, and managers in the department to track measurable benchmarks as established in the Community Risk Reduction plan. The community-based approach increases public safety because of the collective work with the community to understand, assess, and provide inclusive solutions to community safety issues. 1 2 The NFPA Urban Fire and Life Safety Task Force Community Risk Reduction: Doing More with More Introduction After finishing a 12-hour work day, you head home to relax, Cutbacks are becoming common practice as municipal have some dinner, and watch the evening news before going leaders work to close budget deficits and appeal to the to bed early so that you can have a good start the next day. public with their strategies for fiscal responsibility. Municipal As you are falling asleep, here comes that dreaded ringtone leaders expect fire departments to do more with less. and your pulse quickens. You reach for your cell phone. Firehouses are shuttered, sometimes indefinitely, drawing You know it isn’t someone calling just to see how you’re headlines in the media and the concern of residents. doing. The emotion in the voice on the other end of the call Resources, such as staff, apparatus, equipment, and funding is palpable. for service delivery are at a premium. As a result, limited resources make it difficult for you to accomplish your “Chief, just wanted to give you a heads up. There’s a three- department’s mission. alarm fire and one of our men fell through the roof.” So how do you as a fire chief get the job done in the face Or, “We’re at 123 Johnson Street. We just did a secondary of all of these challenges? How do you adequately provide search and found a body on the first floor in the front of the services required by your community, keep up staff the house.” morale and safety standards in the face of cutbacks, while Or, “Just wanted to let you know we’ve had a train derailment. maintaining the best possible resources? First reports are that there are 200 passengers on board. We’ve already struck the third alarm. Oh, and we currently You have a tool at your disposal: have a two-alarm fire in the Northwest section of the city.” Community Risk Reduction. As you end the call, you’re starting to think about how you’ll Community Risk Reduction is community focused and be able to restore your companies. You’re hoping that there employs the full spectrum of risk-reduction tools. It allows won’t be any other major incidents in the city for the rest you to identify your high-risk neighborhoods, determine of the night. You don’t want any gaps in coverage, or that your hazards, build partnerships, improve safety, and form dreaded phone call you know you’re going to get from effective strategies with limited resources. the mayor. We know the job is heavy. It weighs on you. The aim of this There are many things that keep a fire chief up at night — paper is to provide you, the fire service leader, with tools safety concerns, the budget, and resources are just a few to ease the load, reduce your number of sleepless nights, that come to mind. According to a survey by the International reduce the level of stress when you get that call from the Association of Fire Chiefs conducted during the 2015 Fire- mayor. Community Risk Reduction is the all-hazards solution Rescue International Conference, safety is the number one to the all-hazards response that the modern fire service concern of fire chiefs — the safety of the public, the safety of needs to keep pace with a constantly changing social, firefighters, and safety in general. 1 economic, and political climate. 3 Historical Overview By tradition, the fire service has and firefighting personnel. The report safety and big data for pinpointing understood the need to build and concluded that fire prevention and hazard locations. Chief McGuirk maintain a rapid and effective fire safety education were critical to pioneered the use of civilian personnel emergency response capability. reducing the losses associated with in fire department auxiliary uniforms But over the years, individuals, fire, and that firefighters needed to be to perform the in-home inspections for organizations, and countries have better educated for their jobs Community Risk Reduction. Meyerside concluded that while this approach as firefighters. has a large population of ethnic is essential, it’s not enough. To truly minorities. Chief McGuirk brought in During this time, fire departments mitigate risk requires a proactive civilians from those ethnic groups, began taking pivotal steps to provide approach and community-organized trained them, and had them go to fire safety education to an elementary collaboration. One result is that targeted neighborhoods. school-age audience. Community Risk Reduction has received worldwide attention through The National Fire Protection Community Risk efforts in the United Kingdom, Association (NFPA), a global, nonprofit Reduction inspectors Australia, New Zealand, and the organization devoted to eliminating uncovered additional United States. 2 death, injury, property and economic problems — medical loss due to fire, electrical, and related As early as 1914, the fire department hazards, provided such an educational conditions, addiction, of Portland, Oregon, implemented program for fire service use with the home safety inspections to identify childhood obesity, launch of the Learn Not to Burn® and correct home fire hazards. Other domestic violence Curriculum (LNTB) in 19765. LNTB departments used the same tactic or became the gold standard in providing — which led to the similar ones for years. proven educational strategies that development of other In 1947, President Harry Truman incorporated the philosophy of programs. called a conference known as “The teaching positive, practical fire safety President’s Conference on Fire messaging to children. Safe Kids USA In the United States after 9/11, a Prevention.”3 Upon recommendations was founded in 1988 with the mission philosophical shift got underway. of the conference, in 34 of the 48 to protect children from preventable Educational curricula made a move states in the Union at the time, the injuries. NFPA’s Risk Watch®, the toward providing to all target groups an governors established state fire first comprehensive injury prevention all-hazards approach. The recession safety committees, and 18 states held program available for use in schools, played a role, as well as a shift in conferences. Various programs for was launched in 1998 6. FEMA’s National Preparedness Goal. improvement in fire prevention and With the help of different groups, In the United Kingdom, the concept of protection began to be implemented. such as NFPA and the U.S. Fire Community Risk Reduction had been Administration (USFA), strategies In 1973, a report, America Burning — implemented in some areas since the have been developed. The National President Richard Nixon’s initiative to late 1990s. Fire and life safety experts Fire Academy through the Executive investigate the effects of fire — was point to Tony McGuirk, retired chief Fire Officer Program and NFPA 1021, written by the National Commission from Meyerside Fire and Rescue in Standard for Fire Officer Professional 4 on Fire Prevention and Control. It a suburb of Liverpool, England, as a Qualifications for Fire Officer Level evaluated fire loss in the United States Community Risk Reduction visionary.
Recommended publications
  • Smoke Alarms in US Home Fires Marty Ahrens February 2021
    Smoke Alarms in US Home Fires Marty Ahrens February 2021 Copyright © 2021 National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) Key Findings Smoke alarms were present in three-quarters (74 percent) of the injuries from fires in homes with smoke alarms occurred in properties reported homei fires in 2014–2018. Almost three out of five home with battery-powered alarms. When present, hardwired smoke alarms fire deathsii were caused by fires in properties with no smoke alarms operated in 94 percent of the fires considered large enough to trigger a (41 percent) or smoke alarms that failed to operate (16 percent). smoke alarm. Battery-powered alarms operated 82 percent of the time. Missing or non-functional power sources, including missing or The death rate per 1,000 home structure fires is 55 percent lower in disconnected batteries, dead batteries, and disconnected hardwired homes with working smoke alarms than in homes with no alarms or alarms or other AC power issues, were the most common factors alarms that fail to operate. when smoke alarms failed to operate. Of the fire fatalities that occurred in homes with working smoke Compared to reported home fires with no smoke alarms or automatic alarms, 22 percent of those killed were alerted by the device but extinguishing systems (AES) present, the death rate per 1,000 reported failed to respond, while 11 percent were not alerted by the operating fires was as follows: alarm. • 35 percent lower when battery-powered smoke alarms were People who were fatally injured in home fires with working smoke present, but AES was not, alarms were more likely to have been in the area of origin and • 51 percent lower when smoke alarms with any power source involved in the ignition, to have a disability, to be at least 65 years were present but AES was not, old, to have acted irrationally, or to have tried to fight the fire themselves.
    [Show full text]
  • Fire Service Features of Buildings and Fire Protection Systems
    Fire Service Features of Buildings and Fire Protection Systems OSHA 3256-09R 2015 Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 “To assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women; by authorizing enforcement of the standards developed under the Act; by assisting and encouraging the States in their efforts to assure safe and healthful working conditions; by providing for research, information, education, and training in the field of occupational safety and health.” This publication provides a general overview of a particular standards- related topic. This publication does not alter or determine compliance responsibilities which are set forth in OSHA standards and the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Moreover, because interpretations and enforcement policy may change over time, for additional guidance on OSHA compliance requirements the reader should consult current administrative interpretations and decisions by the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission and the courts. Material contained in this publication is in the public domain and may be reproduced, fully or partially, without permission. Source credit is requested but not required. This information will be made available to sensory-impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: (202) 693-1999; teletypewriter (TTY) number: 1-877-889-5627. This guidance document is not a standard or regulation, and it creates no new legal obligations. It contains recommendations as well as descriptions of mandatory safety and health standards. The recommendations are advisory in nature, informational in content, and are intended to assist employers in providing a safe and healthful workplace. The Occupational Safety and Health Act requires employers to comply with safety and health standards and regulations promulgated by OSHA or by a state with an OSHA-approved state plan.
    [Show full text]
  • Fire Prevention & Safety Checklist
    FireSafety ENG.qxd:Layout 1 5/29/09 1:35 PM Page 1 Be Red Cross Ready Fire Prevention & Safety Checklist The most effective way to protect yourself and your home from fire • If a fire occurs in your home, GET OUT, STAY OUT and CALL for help. is to identify and remove fire hazards. Sixty-five percent of • Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and home fire deaths occur in homes outside sleeping areas. Test them every month and replace the batteries with no working smoke alarms. at least once a year. During a home fire, working smoke alarms and a fire escape • Talk with all household members about a fire escape plan and practice the plan twice a year. plan that has been practiced regularly can save lives. Prevent home fires Practice fire safety at home In case of fire … Steps You Can Take Now Smoke Alarms Follow Your Escape Plan! ❏ Keep items that can catch on fire at least ❏ Install smoke alarms on every level of Remember to GET OUT, STAY OUT and three feet away from anything that gets your home, inside bedrooms and outside CALL 9-1-1 or your local emergency phone hot, such as space heaters. sleeping areas. number. ❏ Never smoke in bed. ❏ Teach children what smoke alarms sound ❏ If closed doors or handles are warm, use like and what to do when they hear one. your second way out. Never open doors ❏ Talk to children regularly about the that are warm to the touch. dangers of fire, matches and lighters and ❏ Once a month check whether each alarm keep them out of reach.
    [Show full text]
  • Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code 2012
    PREFACE Introduction The Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code (SFPC) is a state regulation promulgated by the Virginia Board of Hous- ing and Community Development in cooperation with the Virginia Fire Services Board, both Governor-appointed boards, for the purpose of establishing statewide standards to safeguard life and property from the hazards of fire or explosion arising from the improper maintenance of life safety and fire prevention and protection materials, de- vices, systems and structures and the unsafe storage handling, and use of substances, materials and devices, includ- ing fireworks, explosives and blasting agents, wherever located. The provisions of the SFPC are based on a nationally recognized model code published by the International Code Council, Inc. and fire protection and prevention standards published by the National Fire Protection Associa- tion. Such code and standards are made part of the SFPC through a regulatory process known as incorporation by reference. The SFPC also contains administrative provisions governing the use of the model code and standards and establishing requirements for the enforcement of the code by the local and state enforcing agencies. In keeping with the designations of the SFPC used previously, since the 2012 edition of the International Fire Code is incorporated by reference into this version of the SFPC, it is known as the 2012 edition of the SFPC. Arrangement The SFPC is part of the Virginia Administrative Code (VAC), the official compilation of state regulations published under the authority and guidance of the Virginia Code Commission. Due to the difference in the section numbering system between the VAC and the model code incorporated by reference into the SFPC, the SFPC utilizes a dual sec- tion numbering system.
    [Show full text]
  • Job Description
    JOB DESCRIPTION ASSISTANT FIRE MARSHAL FIRE DEPARTMENT Human Resources Department 700 Town Center Drive, Suite 200 Newport News, VA 23606 NEWPORT NEWS, VA Phone: (757) 926-1800 CITY OF OPPORTUNITY Fax: (757) 926-1825 GENERAL STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES Under general supervision, this position is responsible for performing skilled technical work in the areas of fire and hazard investigations, fire prevention, code enforcement, and safety. Reports to the Deputy Fire Marshal. There are two (2) levels of Assistant Fire Marshal distinguished by the level of work performed and the qualifications of the employee. ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS Conducts investigations to include suspicious or accidental fires, environmental crimes, hazardous materials incidents and fire-related injuries and death to determine cause and origin of fire; documents field observations including photos of fire scene, interviewing witnesses, suspects, and complainants; collects and preserves materials and evidence; maintains chain of custody; requests laboratory analysis of materials; analyzes data gathered from investigation; develops motives and pursues leads; prepares various files and records to include investigative case files; testifies in court. May be responsible for the effective supervision of Bureau staff to include prioritizing and assigning work, staff organization and development, performance management, employee relations, and related activities. Plans, schedules, and determines the scope and detail of inspections of residential, commercial, institutional, industrial, and building and occupancies; conducts field inspections to ensure fire safety and compliance with fire and other related codes and standards; coordinates inspections and discusses findings and recommendations with other city or state agencies as appropriate; and confers with codes compliance officials on building code enforcement operations affecting fire safety.
    [Show full text]
  • Recommended Best Practices for Fire Department Training Programs
    Fire Prevention Issue Date: January, 2015 and Control Revision Date: Recommended Best Practices For Fire Department Training Programs 1. Purpose: The NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control, with input from the Department of Labor’s Public Employees Safety and Health Bureau (PESH) and fire service organizations, has developed a recommended set of “Best Practices” for use by fire departments. The purpose of these “Best Practices” is to assist fire departments in complying with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Regulation 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1910.156(c)(1), [“§1910.156(c)(1)”]. In New York State this regulation is enforced for firefighters and public employees by t he DOL’s Public Employee Safety and Health Bureau (PESH). This document and guidance herein is not intended to formulate a regulatory mandate nor is the purpose of this document to dictate specific training courses. It is intended to identify “best practices” and core competencies that should be included in all training programs based upon the job duties of individual firefighters. These recommendations should not be considered to be all inclusive of the subject areas necessary to develop a comprehensive training program, but will be useful in developing a training prog ram that meets the intent of OSHA Regulation 29 CFR 1910.156(c)(1), [“§1910.156(c)(1)”]. 2. Scope: OSHA Regulation Section 1910.156(c)(1), applies to all fire departments in New York State, and requires that members be provided with training and education commensurate with the duties and functions that such members are expected to perform.
    [Show full text]
  • Georgia Unified
    Georgia Unified Community Risk Reduction Guide www.georgiafire.org Don’t Put Yourself In Their Shoes 2 HISTORY OF THE FIRE FATALITY TASK FORCE In 2016, the state of Georgia had 154 fire fatalities. This is the highest number of fatalities in the state since 1995. The increase in the number of fatalities sparked a partnership to address the need for increased education efforts in the state. The Fire Fatality Task Force was formed after the Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs determined that the fire service as a whole needed to address the increase in fatalities across the state. The Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs partnered with the Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner’s Office, Georgia Public Safety Educators Association, Georgia State Firefighters Association, and the Georgia Fire Inspectors Association, and the to educate not only the citizens of the state of Georgia, but also the fire service about fire prevention. The Task Force wanted to promote an impactful message to engage the fire service and the community to make positive behavior changes when it comes to fire safety. The Alabama State Fire College began the statement of placing a pair of shoes on display for every fire fatality that had occurred and during Firefighter Recognition Day in 2017 at the Georgia State Capital the Fire Fatality Task Force decided to utilize the creative messaging idea and exhibited one pair of shoes for every fire fatality in Georgia from 2016. The goal of the display is to not only bring awareness to the increase in fire fatalities in 2016 but to also engage our partners in the fight to reduce fire deaths in our state.
    [Show full text]
  • The City of Paris FIRE DEPARTMENT Bureau of Fire Prevention 135 S.E
    The City of Paris FIRE DEPARTMENT Bureau of Fire Prevention 135 S.E. 1st Paris, Texas 75460 Fire Lane Requirements FIRE APPARATUS ACCESS ROAD. A road that provides fire apparatus access from a fire station to a facility, building or portion thereof. This is a general term inclusive of all other terms such as fire lane, public street, private street, parking lot lane and access roadway. FIRE LANE A road or other passageway developed to allow the passage of fire apparatus. A fire lane is not necessarily intended for vehicular traffic other than fire apparatus. Fire lanes shall be constructed of an asphalt or concrete surface capable of supporting the imposed loads of a 2-axle, 75,000 lb. fire apparatus. The design shall be based on the geotechnical investigation of the site, but shall meet the stated minimums, as follows. Those portions of the fire lane within sixty feet (60’) of the structure to be protected shall be constructed with 6-inch thick, 3000 psi concrete with No. 3 bars spaced 24 inches on centers both ways and with sub-grade to a density not less than 95 percent as determined by TSDHPT Test Method Tex-113. Portions of the fire lane constructed of asphalt shall be ninety-five (95) percent compaction with a 6-inch asphalt stabilized base and 2-inch type D hot mix asphalt concrete, State Highway specification number 292. Whenever forty percent (40%) of existing, non-conforming fire lanes are replaced within a twelve month period, the entire fire lane shall be replaced according to current standards.
    [Show full text]
  • Office of the State Fire Marshal May 2021 1
    Office of the State Fire Marshal May 2021 Marshal’s Minute..................................................2 Approved Fuel Containers......................21 Robert Truevillian Ceremony................................3 Emergency Medical Services Week........22 Employee Spotlight...............................................4 Older Americans Month.........................23 OSFM Graduates...................................................5 Home Fire Sprinkler Week......................24 OSFM DEI Working Group.....................................6 National Electrical Safety Month.......25-26 Arson Awareness Week...................................7-11 International Museum Day.....................27 Youth Firesetter Interventionist Class.................12 Elevator Division Field Staff Training......28 International Fire Fighters Day............................13 RV Safety.................................................29 National Mental Health Awareness Month....14-16 National Water Safety Month.................30 CFO Graduation...................................................17 National Boating Safety Week.................31 IFSI Minute..........................................................18 OSFM Staff Changes/Kudos.....................32 Memorial Day Remembrance.............................19 Kid’s Corner.............................................33WWW.SFM.ILLINOIS.GOV/ 1 Armed Forces Day...............................................20 Office of the State Fire Marshal May 2021 Marshal’s Minute-State Fire Marshal Matt Perez
    [Show full text]
  • The Five-Step Planning Process National Fire Protection Association
    The Five-Step Planning Process National Fire Protection Association and the Philadelphia Fire Department Step 1: Conduct a Community Analysis The Philadelphia Fire Department (PFD) is the fifth-largest fire department in the United States, protecting 1.5 million people. The PFD has 2,292 uniformed members, 60 fire stations, 82 fire companies, 2 marine units, and 50 emergency medical service (EMS) units. In 2010, the PFD recorded 33 fire deaths, up from 30 the previous year. This is a fire death rate of 23.6 fire deaths per million population. This was very concerning for the PFD, as Philadelphia’s fire death rate for 2010 was almost double the national average of 13.2 fire deaths per million population. PFD staff was determined to reduce these tragic deaths, so they undertook a comprehensive review of their fire losses. They wanted to see who was dying in these fires, what the causes were, if there were any similar characteristics associated with these fires and fire deaths and what could the department do to stop or prevent these fires from occurring. After extensive analysis, the PFD determined that adults over 60 years of age, living in one- or two-family dwellings accounted for almost 50% of the fire fatalities over the past two years. The majority of these fires were the result of careless cooking and careless smoking, and the majority of the homes were not protected by working smoke alarms. The PFD felt that it was essential to ensure that all homes in high-risk areas were protected by working smoke alarms.
    [Show full text]
  • Fire Prevention and Control on Construction Sites
    Data Sheet 1-491 Rev. April 2016 Fire prevention and control on construction sites Fire at a construction site can endanger the lives be closely followed throughout the course of workers and others who happen to be on the of construction. The fi re protection plan is site. A fi re during the course of construction also a vital segment of the overall project safety can result in severe structural damage; destruction program. Required detail will depend on of machinery, equipment or materials; and the size and complexity of the construction untimely delay in project completion. operations involved. This data sheet lists the 1. The fi re-loss potential during the construction elements that should be covered in the plan. phase is far greater than after project completion. During construction, hazards Assignment of responsibility inherently associated with building operations and authority are continually being generated. At the same 3. Project management—whether owner, time, permanent fi re protection systems and construction manager, prime contractor or equipment are usually not yet in place or, a combination thereof—must clearly assign at best, only partially in service. Likewise, and spell out the responsibility for site fi re vertical and horizontal fi re-related structures protection before the start of the project. (i.e. walls, fl oors, doors, etc.), designed All contractors and subcontractors should to minimize fi re spread, are usually not be made aware of this responsibility and completed until late in the construction authority assignment. Procedures should schedule. be established for expedient handling of “imminent danger”-type hazards. Fire protection plan 2.
    [Show full text]
  • Planning & Implementing a Successful Smoke Alarm Installation Program
    Planning & Implementing a Successful Smoke Alarm Installation Program Smoke Alarm A Safer Community—For Everyone Facts A tragic fire happens. Communities come together to address fire safety. But what if there was a way for communities to work together before a fire broke out, to help save • Smoke alarms are the residential property and lives before they were lost? fire safety success story of the past 30 years. A smoke alarm installation program in your community can make a big difference in reducing deaths and injuries in a fire. Smoke alarms are the life-saving success story • Each year, three out of five home of the past 30 years. Each year, three out of five home fire deaths in the United States fire deaths result from fires in result from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. Installing Safety • The risk of dying in a reported The approach to an installation program is simple. Fire safety advocates in your home fire is cut in half in homes with working smoke alarms. community team up to install smoke alarms. These advocates can be firefighters, safety educators, business leaders, representatives of older adult or health groups, and others. • Smoke alarms fail most of Your installation program can be broad. It can target an entire community. Or it can be the time because of missing, very focused, reaching out to a core group of vulnerable citizens. disconnected, or dead batteries. By installing smoke alarms in homes, you’ll be doing your part to make residents and • Ninety six percent of all homes your entire community much safer.
    [Show full text]