Fire Prevention All Year

[3Swings]

Now that we're about done with fire prevention week and all the usual activities, open houses, schools, and such; what's next? How do we take this message year round?

This is my first year as Fire Prevention Coordinator. I've tried to get a smoke detector program off the ground but that is all but dead due to lack of funding and donations. I'm looking at a candle safety program also. Anybody else have any advice/ideas?

Fire Prevention should be a year round message, not just the month of October.

[dragonfyre]

We have a Christmas tree sale every year and give out the tree tags you can get free from the NFA.

Also we send out seasonal news releases, Fall, don't park on leaves, no burning, etc; Winter, get your chimney cleaned, watch space heaters, etc.

Our golf outing program includes fire prevention tips also.

The best part of all of this is that it's FREE.

Check the NFA publication list to see if there's anything for candle safety. You'll also find a lot of other FREE info you can use.

Good luck.

[3Swings]

Thanks Dragonfyre. I really like the seasonal information releases. I might even be able to create a newsletter for something like that. I'm going to check out the NFA now.

[manofire2]

Year round Fire Prevention is great idea in theory, unfortunately most North American departments only do lip service to prevention and in particular Public Education. Until Fire Departnents back up the commitment to prevention with resources, true fire prevention will continue to be a one week affair.

[Bootsatcfd]

Like talked about earlier take advantage of seasonal times of the year
4th. of July Fireworks - Christmas candles & electrical safety - Summer swim safety - etc, this keeps program running year around. Go back and do follow ups with groups you talked with during prevention time. Get together with smaller groups. Look for stores with grand openings going on be there with prevention material. We sell prevention short if we only do it once a year. Why not only fight fires the second week of Dec. or whenever ??????? Use birthday parties and church gatherings for a time to promote prevention. Check with the "Change your clock - Change your battery" program for funding with battery program. Great source of batteries

[Bob Milne]

Fire Safety Education should be year round. Some ideas & tidbits I use are writing articles on fire safety for the local newspaper. Most schools also send home a monthly newsletter. I put a fire safety tip in each newsletter. Also contact your senior center or council on aging. They are usually looking for someone to talk to them. There are also boy scouts, cub scouts, girl scouts, brownies, etc. that are looking for talks on fire safety. Many civic organizations will also welcome presentations on fire safety. You can also do stuff on local access cable TV. Don't just limit yourself to schools

Here in MA we have been fortunate to have had a state grant to do Fire Safety Education in the schools for the last 8 or 9 years. Because of this many of us are in the schools a lot more than just during fire prevention week. Unfortunately this year the program fell to the infamous budget axe but my program will continue because of the repore I have created with my school system. The difference this year will be I will not be able to cover myself in the station while I am teaching at the school. So if a call comes in, I'll have to run out the door.

Another thing is to increase your training. Go to seminars, classes etc. If your state offers certification than try to get certified. The more background you have, the more professional you will be and the more the school system will welcome you.

And last but not least. Keep on plugging away. Don't give up even if you are the only one trying. If you stop one fire from happening or stop one injury from occuring because of your prevention program then thats aces in my book. If I can be of any further help let me know: car704@comcast.net

[dhavenshome]

Don't forget to work with your business owners. n service inspections are a good opportunity for building familiarization and to talk about firesafety issues related to that particular business's hazards.

[3Swings]

Hey. I just ran across a rather nice candle safety program run by the Oregon Office of the State Fire Marshall. The packet of information includes flyers to be used as bag stuffers at your local candle retailers, instructions for dealing with the media to get the word out, and preformatted news releases to help us with radio and television. I emailed the Oregon State Fire Marshall requesting permission to use their program in Indiana. They sent me a prompt reply granting me permission to use any of the information I like. The best part of the program is that it's inexpensive and they have done much of the work for us. I've been unable to relocate it on the web so if anyone is interested in the packet, email me and I will send it to you.

Oregon State Fire Marshall: http://www.sfm.state.or.us

[Moose2028]

for fire preventin we have a smoke dector program we just started this year, it is going great.

through donations, a couple of years ago,we purchased a smoke house it has all sorts of different fire hazzards the kids have to find out.

[ffanjemt2]

Another resource you can check into is the USFA site. They offer free publications,door hangers,coloring books,cassette and video tapes,cds and pamphlets. I have used them with a lot of frequency over the past few years and have been very satisfied. Not only is some of their material useful for prevention and education,it is also great if you needed to follow up and educate a resident after a call. Ya can't be free.

Take care.
anj

[LadyCapn]

The Fire Marshals Public Safety Council of Ontario has an excellent website and catalogue. There are some wonderful program materials for nomiminal costs.

Try

www.safecommunities.com

look in the catalogue section.

[jmktakbwk99]

Aside from the usual fire prevention week activities, members from the department go and give fire extinguisher demonstrations to local businesses and civic groups, as well as safety talks to the local elderly and disabled. We also give station tours along with safety talks regularly to groups such as the Cub Scouts, and local pre-schools. When we go to do our yearly fundraiser in February, in which we sell fireman's ball tickets door to door, we are going to try to have each member take along some 9 volt batteries and check out the residents' smoke detector(s) and change them out if necessary.

[Moose2028]

Originally posted by jmktakbwk99
we are going to try to have each member take along some 9 volt batteries and check out the residents' smoke detector(s) and change them out if necessary.

you have to be really careful about this. b/c if one of your guys installs the battery wrong and it does not work, the occupant of the house could have a verry good lawsuit.

just a thought but you could make shure the battery is good, and tell the occupant they should install the battery. or have them sign a statment that says if the smoke alarm does not work they will not sue the fd.

[williamdelaney]

Sorry for the late post but I am just getting back into looking through the forum.

Moose, one way to avoid the liability issue is to make sure your people work in pairs and never alone. Before even putting an alarm up, they should test it - in front of the owner/occupant - and make sure it works. That should cover you. The only other liability issue would be if your folks installed the alarm in an inappropriate place - e.g. halfway up a wall, just above a ceiling fan, etc. Following manafacturer's recommendations is a safe bet there.

Of course, before sending the folks out, make sure all personnel are trained (as dumb as it sounds) in how to install an alarm.

For resourses do not forget the Fire Act Grant. So FEW people put in for the Fire Prevention end and they, FEMA, are required to give at least 10% of the grant total ($75 M this past year) to Fire Prevention Activities. Because grant requests for this are way less than $75M, they have the "special" extra Fire Prevention only grants that you saw this past fall.

We put in for $750,000 and it is looking promising that we might get it (fingers crossed).

Also, do not forget to train your own folks in how to handle pub ed. Provide them the tools and resources as best you can. Some guys and girls are willing to help but are unsure how to do it. I have seen many well intentioned folks telling a group of 4 and 5 Y/O kids how this engine company has a 12K generater and pumps 1200 GPM and carries 200 FT of 1 3/4 hose, etc. etc.

Also, with folks becoming more technologically aware, do not forget use of a web site and an eNewsletter. This has worked well for me.

We also just started a CERT Program and have fire and injury prevention a part of the program. We are hoping to use these folks as community advocates and to assist us with pub ed type events.

Anyway, just a couple of thoughts. Wish I had seen the posts earlier as it seems a lot of good folks with good ideas.

Best Regards,

Bill Delaney
Program Manager - Community Safety Education
Montgomery County Fire & Rescue
101 Monroe St., 12th Floor
Rockville, MD 20850
(O) 240.777.2448
(P) 301.629.2306
(C) 301.648.1262
http://www.mcfrs.org

[3Swings]

Thanks for your post Bill and welcome back to the forum. In my case, I'm just now entering my second year as the department's Fire Prevention Coordinator so I still have a bit to learn. I appreciate your input and will be putting it to good use.

[mwtetreault]

It is sad the Lawyers have made it nearly imposible to funtion. When doing something good like installling a smoke detector can be a liabilty.
Err on the side of public safety. The alternative to not installing smoke detectors is people die. Lets face it intalling a smoke detector correctly is not rocket science. Chances are if you can document your installation and it is consistant with the manufacturers instructions you will be in good shape.
We had similar concerns when we decided to start inspecting child safety seats. If 4 out of 5 car seats are installed wrong it doesn't take long for the good to out weigh the risk.
Liability is something you always need to be aware of, it just can't prevent us to do our job.
Mark

[ENG44INE]

There are some good ideas listed here. I inherited Fire Prevention in my department this year, beacuse no one wanted take the office. The Fire Prevention Officer last year felt that children were the only ones that needed to be educated in this area.

I strongly disagree and I am working on a program for year round. I will be checking back on the forums and would appreciate any and all suggestions. Stay Safe out there brothers and sisters!!!


Eugene Tucker
Fire Prevention Officer
Citizens' Hose Company No. 1 Inc
Smyrna, DE

[williamdelaney]

3swings,

Hey I learned something from you due to this thread so do not sell yourself short. That websites on candles was something I have been looking for.

Thanks!

[JFDdan]

eng44ine,

i just checked the nfa website, and was interested to see quite a few items geared towards the elderly and fire prevention. i'm interested to see what all they include, since we're in a resort area with a growing retiree population.

[dhavenshome]

We may not post very often, but we are always here waiting for someone to ask a question. Since the site will notify you of new postings, ask away...we will be here.

Dwight