BY BECKI ROWAN-WHITE AND JENNIFER WILLIAMS
Community risk reduction (CRR) has become a common phrase used by department leadership over the past several years. Often, individual fire companies receive little direction relative to CRR’s meaning, how to put it into practice, or where/how to engage with the public. CRR training is usually targeted more toward prevention staff, auxiliaries, or administration than line firefighters and company officers.
In some departments, there may be a separation in the philosophy of operational and prevention staff, which in some cases may lead to questions about why CRR tasks are now being placed on the operational staff. You may hear from fellow fire service members around the station or see on social media, “I am just here to put the wet stuff on the red stuff,” or “I’m just here to go to ‘jobs.’” Those who do not see CRR as part of their role (or why it is so critical for all members to participate) have likely never received training, had turnkey resources to share, or had enough information about their community to know where to start.
As the fire service continues in the direction of accomplishing more with less, people in traditionally operations- or suppression-focused positions are being forced to take on tasks that were historically associated with prevention staff or auxiliary groups. These tasks include but may not be limited to basic safety inspections, school visits, community appearances, and other community events. Individual companies now must juggle CRR along with their other duties with little to no guidance on what it includes or what it means to the community. The good news? It doesn’t have to start big, and it doesn’t have to be as complicated (Figure 1).
Over the years, the fire service has moved beyond just fire prevention to a more global perspective of public safety in general. This effort brings all community public safety organizations to the table with one purpose—to reduce risks and increase safety in their local community. The fire department is just one member of this team alongside the police department, emergency management, public health, city planning, emergency medical services (EMS), and other volunteer groups looking to make a local impact.
Figure 1. Ownership of CRR Tasks
Source: Figure courtesy of authors.
Where to Begin
CRR starts with developing an accurate picture of the community, using research to obtain an understanding of community risk assessment information provided by city or county emergency management divisions. This information includes the following:
- The geographic makeup of the community, including natural and man-made landscape features.
- The population, down to age, socioeconomic status, education level, type of housing, and population density in different areas of the community.
- The types of industries scattered throughout the community, the hazards those industries might pose, and the benefits those industries provide to the community.
- Potential weather-related emergencies that could be encountered in the area, including historical data on how often/when these events have occurred in the past.
- Points of assembly, including schools, churches, malls, sports arenas, and the flow of traffic in and around them.
- Community resources, like city hall, fire stations, hospitals, and other similar buildings.
- Historical data on calls for service for the areas in the community—ideally, heat maps that indicate call types by location.
Once you have this basic information, you can start to see the risks that the members of your community may face now and will face in the future. With that clear picture, you can begin to apply your company’s operational strategies and tactics to mitigate many of those risks to prevent future incidents.
This creates a strong foundation for educating members of your community with relative messages on the risks they may face. This will not completely wipe out emergencies in your district, but it can reduce financial burdens, injuries, deaths, and other devastation associated with these incidents.
Evidence-Based Educational Resources
In addition to localized research, scientific research can support your CRR efforts. The work of UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) is a great place to start. FSRI has worked alongside the fire service for more than a decade advancing fire safety knowledge to address the world’s unresolved fire safety risks and emerging dangers. Not only has it developed evidence-based training for the fire service from its numerous research studies, but it has also created world-renowned public fire safety education campaigns.
The “Close Before You Doze” campaign: According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 50% of home fire deaths take place between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., when most people are sleeping. That statistic, coupled with the fact that fire moves fast, leaving occupants with three minutes or less to escape from a typical incident, underscores the need for a public message. This is one risk that is relevant in all communities.
An example of pairing research from FSRI and educating the public on a relevant issue is the “Close Before You Doze” campaign, which shares the life-saving impact that a closed door can make during a fire, encouraging people to add closing bedroom doors to their nightly routine. From research on ventilation and fire behavior, FSRI identified temperatures and carbon monoxide levels in bedrooms during a fire inside a residential structure that had bedrooms with both open and closed doors. These experiments led to a better understanding of survivable space inside a structure fire, which then influenced search and suppression tactical considerations (photo 1).
1. A live 2018 FSRI fire experiment demonstrates the dramatic difference a closed door can make. (Photo courtesy of FSRI.)
Line firefighters and company officers can use knowledge from these research insights to pair their tactics with public messaging. If “Close Before You Doze” is telling the public to close bedroom doors before going to bed and FSRI is also encouraging the closing of doors as people escape fires or getting behind a closed door if they cannot escape, what could that mean for the responding firefighters conducting the search? The trapped occupant may already be isolated behind a door and ready to be rescued through a window if needed. Understanding and sharing these messages may not decrease the number of fires, but as they address a community risk, they may allow for a more successful “grab” while also increasing firefighter safety. And that’s a win-win for all.
Lithium-ion batteries: A second example of a community risk is the rise in fires involving lithium-ion battery-powered devices. In 2023, there were 1,544 reported incidents, involving 611 injuries and 115 fatalities, according to research by UL Solutions. Do you know how many incidents have occurred in your community or how the public is supposed to prevent these fires?
FSRI’s research into fires involving lithium-ion batteries can help. Lithium-ion batteries are found in many everyday devices and tools in your station, in homes, and in workplaces throughout your community. Their compact size and rechargeability have helped propel their popularity, but with increased use has also come an increase in incidents.
The axis of the number of lithium-ion batteries in communities and the lack of awareness on how to properly use, handle, charge, store, and recycle/dispose of the batteries is upon us. Fire departments are learning about the phenomenon of thermal runaway at the exact moment they are being tasked with mitigating it. A fire caused by thermal runaway is not your “traditional” fire. It doesn’t start, look, or sound the same, and it doesn’t react the same way to conventional suppression tactics.
From the first sign of a problem, you could have less than one minute to escape a lithium-ion battery fire. In fact, sometimes events are repeating themselves (rekindling) hours and even days later. Taking FSRI’s available online training, attending in-person workshops, and reviewing its symposium resource library are steps you can take to prepare for educating the public.
Once your company is familiar with the risks, how to mitigate them as a crew, and how these risks may appear in your community, you will be prepared to put FSRI’s new lithium-ion battery fire safety campaign into practice. You can start with these safe practices in the station and then go out into the community to tell the public how to “Take C.H.A.R.G.E. of Battery Safety” by following these six steps:
C: Choose certified products. When purchasing lithium-ion battery-powered devices, look for products that are listed or safety certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory to ensure they meet important safety requirements.
H: Handle with care. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Use only the charging equipment that comes with the product. Store batteries away from extreme temperatures, direct sunlight, exits, and anything flammable. Charge larger devices (such as e-bikes) away from your exit path and outside your home if possible, and do not charge larger devices overnight.
A: Always stay alert for warning signs. Check battery-powered devices often for damage or abuse such as swelling or punctures. Listen for unusual hissing or popping sounds. Watch out for excessive heat or a strange odor. If you notice any of these warning signs, stop using the lithium-ion battery-powered device immediately. White or gray wispy smoke indicates there is immediate danger of fire.
R: Recycle devices and batteries properly. Responsibly dispose of old or damaged batteries by taking them to the nearest battery recycling center. Never discard batteries, chargers, or battery-powered devices in regular trash bins.
G: Get out quickly if there’s a fire. Know the warning signs to look and listen for and get out if you see—or hear—them. Follow your home fire escape plan to leave immediately and call 911.
E: Educate others on safe practices. Now that you know what actions to take, spread the word about lithium-ion battery safety and help protect your friends and loved ones.
Having a clear understanding of your jurisdiction and the risks that your community members face at home, work, or play is the first step of CRR. Having vetted educational messaging and resources is essential to creating a safer environment for the community, you, and your colleagues.
CRR is not going away. If it is not already officially part of your role, it will be soon. Now is the time to embrace it by increasing your knowledge of emerging risks and tactical considerations, evidence-based public messages, and how to be there for your community whether you’re at the station or at home. It is all part of being on the job.
REFERENCES
“Close Before You Doze,” 2023, closeyourdoor.org.
“Lithium-ion Battery Incident Reporting,” UL Solutions, bit.ly/48BOeCY.
Lithium-Ion Battery Symposium Resource Library, FSRI, 2023, bit.ly/3vDyoJE.
“Science of Fire and Explosion Habits from Lithium-Ion Batteries,” Fire Safety Academy, FSRI, 2024, bit.ly/3tUIntv.
“Search and Rescue Tactics in Single-Family Single-Story Residential Structures,” Fire Safety Academy, Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), 2024, bit.ly/48vqAYS.
“Suppression Tactics in Single-Family Homes,” Fire Safety Academy, FSRI, 2024, bit.ly/48xHc2f.
“Take Charge of Battery Safety,” 2024, batteryfiresafety.org.
BECKI ROWAN-WHITE is a battalion chief in the Chanhassen (MN) Fire Department and has served at every level, from firefighter to chief officer, over the past 20 years. She has a master’s degree in education and EFO designation from the National Fire Academy. She is the K-12 education program manager for UL Research Institutes and an advisory board member for FSRI’s Public Education Advisory Committee.
JENNIFER WILLIAMS is a senior research amplification specialist for UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), where she amplifies reach and engagement to increase firefighter and public safety. She has an associate’s degree in fire science: arson investigation. She served as a volunteer firefighter/EMT for 16 years with the Lewes (DE) Fire Department and is the chair of FSRI’s Public Education Advisory Committee and a member of the Mid-Atlantic Life Safety Committee.
Becki Rowan-White and Jennifer Williams will present “Research-Based CRR at the Company Level” at FDIC International in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, 1:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
