June 16, 2016 – The National Fire Protection Association has produced a white paper, Community Risk Reduction: Doing More with More, aimed at helping fire service leaders gain management support for launching a Community Risk Reduction program in their departments.
The white paper was written by members of NFPA’s Urban Fire and Life Safety Task Force, which is comprised of representatives from large, urban fire departments whose work involves community risk reduction. Members of the task force fill a variety of fire department roles including that of chief officer, fire marshal, fire and life safety educator, community relations officer, and data expert. Task force members work on specific projects designed to assist urban fire departments across the globe to implement strategic Community Risk Reduction programs. The white paper, the most recent task force project, was written by Fire Commissioner Derrick Sawyer, Philadelphia Fire Department; Battalion Chief Derrick Phillips, St. Louis Fire Department; Education Specialist Dana Catts, Seattle Fire Department; and Liaison Officer David Sawyer, Columbus, Ohio Division of Fire.
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.”
Through a historical overview, case studies of successful programs, an outline of the benefits of a Community Risk Reduction program, recommendations and a call to action, the white paper seeks to provide tools to fire service leaders that will help get a Community Risk Reduction plan endorsed by top fire department management and implemented in their area.
NFPA has several codes and standards that tie into Community Risk Reduction: NFPA 1452, Guide for Training Fire Service Personnel to Conduct Community Risk Reduction, NFPA 1730, Standard on Organization and Deployment of Fire Prevention Inspection and Code Enforcement, Plan Review, Investigation, and Public Education Operations and NFPA 1300, Standard on Community Risk Assessment and Community Risk Reduction Plan Development, which is still being developed and is scheduled to be presented at the August 2016 Standards Council Meeting. Fire safety education is also a crucial part of mitigating fire risks; NFPA’s Learn Not to Burn® program has become widely-regarded as the leading fire safety education program since its launch in 1976.
With the fire services increasingly responding to new and emerging hazards, it is essential for fire departments to look at ways to proactively engage residents and mitigate risk in their communities.
About the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
Founded in 1896, NFPA is a global, nonprofit organization devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards. The association delivers information and knowledge through more than 300 consensus codes and standards, research, training, education, outreach and advocacy; and by partnering with others who share an interest in furthering the NFPA mission. For more information visit www.nfpa.org. All NFPA codes and standards can be viewed online for free at www.nfpa.org/freeaccess.
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Contact: Lorraine Carli, Public Affairs Office: +1 617 984-7275