By Andy Marsh
Training Officer, Mount Oliver Fire Department
Two subjects that are starting to gain attention in the fire service are fire prevention and pre-planning. I have noticed more discussion and focus on these subjects throughout firefighting trade publications and online forums. I believe that we should consider pre-planning as an important and crucial component of fire prevention. Maybe you already look at pre-planning as part of fire prevention, but please bear with me.
Some may think of pre-planning as a way to combat the worst case scenarios we may face at a future scene. We usually pick out certain target or high risk buildings and plan for the "big one." For instance, we notice the type of building construction, type of occupancy; figure out the Iowa State University expected fire flow, roof construction, hazardous materials storage, other special hazards or considerations, hydrant locations, etc. Pre-planning is just that; a plan before an incident. Now allow me to discuss how I believe that pre-planning is more than just a plan, it is prevention.
Something that I would like to see, in my department for starters, is that we get out to our residents as much as we can and gather information. The information we gather may be about their homes and about the people in those homes. This is definitely a task that is easier said than done. By having a fire prevention entity involved in the pre-planning process, we may be able to reach the masses by including fire prevention activities in social gatherings. For example, bingos, senior citizen centers, and school visits are all opportunities to reach out and get information about the communities we serve. Maybe we could request some time to speak on behalf of fire prevention at some of these functions, or request to do a fire prevention presentation at their organization meeting place at a different, separate time.
Fire prevention involves the 3 E's, Education, Engineering, and Enforcement. The "Education" component will come from our fire prevention personnel speaking on the topics of fire safe practices, seasonal fire safety, or other relative fire prevention topics when addressing the aforementioned groups. We could do this once a week, once a month or even once a quarter. The important thing is that we start and keep the ball rolling. Time is always a factor that needs to be considered in planning an effective fire prevention strategy. So, if we can reach more at one sitting, we save some time and maybe better make use of our scheduled activities.
The "Engineering" component of the three E's will stem from the creative presentation we put together and present to the public. Also, the engineering comes in getting our residents to fill out basic residential information sheets regarding their homes or apartments. The sheets should request basic information such as the number of senior citizens living in the residence, if medical oxygen is being used, where their utility meters are (sometimes they are inside), how many children are in residence, how many people live in the residence, emergency contact numbers, and physically challenged or mentally challenged residents and where they are most likely to be. You get the picture. Then take this information and fill in type of occupancy, hydrant locations, fire flow expected, exposures, etc. The delicate part of this program is to find a way to easily access this information but still keep the information safe and secure. That will have to be a problem for later, let's just stick to the idea for now.
Once we have this information or even as a way of obtaining this information, we can then offer these residents free home inspections so that they may be able to help the third "E" which is "Enforcement." Through free home fire safety inspections, we can promote fire safe practices in the home. This may also help us to make note of the statutes, laws, and ordinances relating to fire and building codes that are now up to par in the residence. Obviously, if they live in an apartment or house rental and their landlords do not comply, then we will have to step in a later point and truly address the violations. Fire prevention and pre-planning shouldn't be the chore that we sometimes make them to be.
The fire service is comprised of a unique bunch of individuals. That uniqueness can lend to that special creativity which may allow us to take care of two birds with one stone, fire prevention and pre-planning. What's more is that our "brotherhood" will extend its meaning to the people we have sworn to protect and serve. Our mission statement is "save lives, protect property, and preserve the environment." Fire prevention and pre-planning activities will help us do just that. Let's get to work!
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