Mitigating the Rural Fire Problem

Transcription

1 Mitigating the Rural Fire Problem 1

2 Project Purpose Reduce fire deaths and injuries in rural America 2

3 Overview of the Project USFA determines need to develop strategies to reduce the high death rate from fires in U.S. rural communities. USFA contracts with NFPA to conduct research Sources of data and research Literature Review Analysis of fire experience data Interviews with representatives of major fire service organizations and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Research among organizations and agencies serving rural communities Meeting of representatives of organizations serving rural communities Meeting of national fire service organizations with an interest in rural communities 3

4 Overview of the Project How the research was used to produce recommendations. Gap analysis conducted Best practices identified Fire problems for rural communities identified Existing recommended behaviors and messages on key problems assembled and expanded. 4

5 Communities 5

6 What Are These Communities? Southeast Region 6

7 What Are These Communities? Northeast Region 7

8 What Are These Communities? Midwest/ North Central Region 8

9 What Are These Communities? West Region 9

10 What Are These Communities? Migrant Workers Communities in Florida 10

11 What Are These Communities? First Nations/Native American communities 11

12 What Are These Communities? Colonias on Texas/Mexican border 12

13 Rural Communities 13

14 Rural America is 14

15 Fire death rates are higher in rural America 15

16 Sources and resources for our research Literature review including statistical analysis Interviews with leaders in fire service and in organizations serving rural communities 16

17 How are rural communities different? Homes are farther apart. People are more likely to be poor. 17

18 How are rural communities different? Longer response distances for fire departments Less fire prevention by fire departments Less local coverage in media 18

19 Best Practices 19

20 Best practices for effective programs Analyze needs Customize program Recruit partners Build trust Borrow ideas 20

21 Best practices Analyze needs Leading causes Heating Smoking Electrical distribution Smoke alarms 21

22 Training session using a drill on a drywall board - not an actual installation. Best practices Customize program Smoke alarms Heating Smoking Electrical distribution Open burning outside 22

23 Best practices Customize program Find out what is important to fire safety in your community. Customize your programs based on that information. But also make full use of the knowledge contained in national model fire safety programs. Don t change what works without a good reason. 23

24 Best practices Recruit partners Fire departments Health care Places of worship Fire Corps Volunteer organizations Schools Senior centers Rural electric cooperatives Cooperative Extension 24

25 Best practices Build trust With partners With the community With the people whose fire safety needs you hope to address 25

26 Best practices Borrow ideas Community coordinator Training for field volunteers Communication with program recipients Follow-up communication Measure activity Evaluate success 26

27 Smoke Alarms 27

28 Smoke Alarms Why they are important 28

29 Smoke Alarms What to do Install on every level Outside each sleeping area Inside each sleeping room 29

30 Printed with permission from NFPA 72, National Fire alarm Code, Copyright Smoke Alarms What to do Interconnected alarms 30

31 Smoke Alarms Test at least every month. Hard-wire or use 10-year batteries. Replaceable batteries need to be changed once a year. 31

32 Smoke Alarms What to do Can you hear it? Will it wake you? 32

33 Smoke Alarms What to do Make an escape plan. Practice your escape plan. 33

34 Smoking Fires 34

35 Smoking Fires Why they are important 35

36 Smoking Fires What to do if you smoke Fire-safe cigarette 36

37 Smoking Fires What to do if you smoke Smoke outdoors 37

38 Smoking Fires What to do if you smoke Use deep, sturdy ashtrays. Set ashtrays on a sturdy surface. 38

39 Smoking Fires What to do if you smoke Make sure butts and ashes are out. 39

40 Smoking Fires What to do if you smoke Check for fallen butts. 40

41 Heating Fires 41

42 Heating Fires Why they are important #1 cause of rural home fire deaths Space heaters have higher risk. Space heaters are portable or stationery. 42

43 Heating Fires What to do Get a professional review. 43

44 Heating Fires What to do Buy the right heater for you. 44

45 Heating Fires What to do Space heaters need 3 feet of space. 45

46 Heating Fires What to do Turn off portable space heaters when you sleep or leave the room. 46

47 Heating Fires What to do Plug power cords into outlets with enough capacity. 47

48 Heating Fires What to do Use the right wood fuel. 48

49 Heating Fires What to do Vent your fuel-burning heater. 49

50 Heating Fires What to do Use the right liquid fuel. 50

51 Electrical Fires 51

52 Electrical Fires Why they are important #3 cause of rural home fire deaths Wiring, cords and plugs, etc. Wall fires can be hard to detect and extinguish. Older electrical systems have higher risk. 52

53 Electrical Fires What to do Get a professional review. 53

54 Electrical Fires What to do What are arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCI)? 54

55 Electrical Fires What to do What can trigger an arc fault? 55

56 Electrical Fires What to do Watch for signs of electrical problems. 56

57 Electrical Fires What to do Avoid overloading outlets and circuits. 57

58 Electrical Fires What to do Use light bulbs with the right wattage. 58

59 Outdoor Burning Fires 59

60 Outdoor Burning Fires Why they are important Nearly half of reported fires in rural America are outdoor fires. Nearly half of rural outdoor fires are open flame. Elsewhere, the dominant cause for outdoor fires is arson. 60

61 Open Burning Fires What to do Follow the rules. 61

62 Open Burning Fires What to do Attend your fire. 62

63 Open Burning Fires What to do Avoid burning on windy, dry days. Never use flammable or combustible liquids. 63

64 Visible address Make sure your house number can be seen easily from the street. 64

65 Resources 65

66 Five Step Guide for Rural Firefighters A planning resource for you 66

67 Project Final Report Mitigation of the Rural Fire Problem Strategies Based on Original Research and Adaptation of Existing Best Practices, July 2007 Available at 67

68 Websites