The Institution of Fire Engineers-USA Branch Vision 20/20 project was awarded a Department of Homeland Security Fire Prevention and Safety grant to hold the third Models in Fire Prevention Symposiumfeaturing prevention programs that demonstrate results, and that can be replicated in other communities.
The last symposium, held in 2012, featured 15 presentations ranging from Art and Science of Developing Prevention Culture in both the Political Environment and Fire Department to Research-Based Recommendations for Smoke Alarm Projects and was attended by 150 fire safety experts from across the nation.
All of the programs went through a rigorous peer-review selection process and had to meet very specific criteria to be considered. Vision 20/20 is helping to promote fire safety through collaboration on six essential strategies that arose from a national planning process in 2008.
Other projects included conducting market analysis that helped develop messages for high risk audiences, including the fire safety theme Fire is Everyones Fight; coordinating the introduction of an integrated approach to Community Risk Reduction programs in a number of major cities; holding a series of symposia focusing on fire prevention performance measures, kitchen fire safety technology and iPad technology.
Current efforts include a partnership with First Alert to develop effective smoke alarm messages to help encourage the more widespread use of smoke alarms in the home, the very place where most fatalities occur. Another is a strategic partnership with Esri to develop simple, and free, risk assessment tools for the U.S. fire service.
Vision 20/20 is guided by a Steering Committee made up of representatives from major fire safety organizations and recognized experts in the field of fire prevention and safety.
"We appreciate the support that DHS is giving us in helping to share model fire prevention programs with fire safety experts from throughout the United States," said Vision 20/20 Project Manager Jim Crawford. "At a time when many fire prevention budgets are under pressure, this is an opportunity to learn from others and replicate their successes in your own community."
It is anticipated that the symposium, which will be held in the Washington, DC, area, will be held in spring 2014. More information will be available on the projects web site (www.strategicfire.org) and on its Twitter feed(@strategicfire) and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/strategicfire).
2011 United States Fire Facts according to the National Fire Protection Association
3,005 Number of civilian fire deaths
17,500 Number of civilian fire injuries
61 - Number of firefighter deaths
1,400,000 - Number of fires reported across the country
$11,700,000,000 - Property damage caused by fire
2/3 - Portion of fatal fires without a working smoke alarm
23 seconds - How frequently a fire department responds to a fire
65 seconds - How frequently structure fire is reported
30 minutes - How frequently someone is injured in a fire
2 hours and 55 minutes - How frequently someone dies in a fire
Cooking - Leading cause of home fires
Smoking - Leading cause of home fire deaths
Vision 20/20 is a project of theInstitution of Fire Engineers-USA Branchthat is focusing on improving fire safety across the nation through partnerships, research, science and collaboration. Its efforts are made possible through funding from the Department of Homeland Security Fire Prevention and Safety Grant program and private partnerships.
More information is available at www.strategicfire.org.
