The Round Table
departments
At the 3rd Annual Conference of the National Fire Prevention and Control Administration some speakers stressed the fire prevention benefits that could be derived from strong code enforcement and arson suppression programs.
Accordingly, do you feel now that your division of fire prevention and your arson squad if any, are sufficient for the job on hand?
What percentage of your total fire department budget is allotted to fire prevention activities, including fire prevention education and arson investigation?
Donald E. Minton, Chief, Decatur, Ill.: Unfortunately, as in many other situations, the lack of manpower severly hampers the degree of success in fire prevention and public education fields. I feel, for the amount of personnel (3 for a city of 90,000 population) we are doing an extremely good job.
The formulation of an arson squad is being studied and hopefully implemented within the next year. Inspectors and the fire marshal now investigate approximately 80 percent of suspicious or undetermined fires. Final disposition through juvenile or court proceedings is achieved to approximately 35 percent of the cases investigated.
Approximately 3 percent of the total fire department budget is allotted to fire prevention, public education, investigations, public relations, and associated activities.
W.K. Wallis, Chief, Nampa, Idaho: At this time, I feel that we are doing an adequate job as far as arson is concerned. Currently, the fire marshal and myself are doing all arson investigations. However, I do not think that we are doing a good job in fire prevention. The problem is that I do not have enough full-time personnel in this field to cover the area adequately. About 4 percent of my total budget is currently going towards fire prevention and education.
Fred Rorex, Chief, Jonesboro, Ark.: Only $15,000 of our total fire department budget is allotted to fire prevention. This amount is not enough for us to conduct a fair job on fire prevention and arson work.
David W. Russell, Chief, Fairfield, Conn.: The Fairfield fire department presently has a captain and lieutenant in the fire prevention bureau. These men are fully occupied with mandatory inspections of public buildings and plan review. A public donation has funded a fire safety education course in the elementary schools.
Approximately 2 percent of the total budget is spent on fire prevention, arson and public education. A future objective of this department is to have all personnel trained and working at fire prevention.
R.J. Hallaway, Chief, N. Vancouver, B.C.: The total staff of the North Vancouver City Fire Department is 50 members. We cover an area of approximately 5.5 square miles and protect a population of 32,500.
Our fire prevention branch is comprised of three members, one assistant chief, and two lieutenant inspectors. These three individuals handle all our inspections and investigations but can call on the local RCMP detachment for further assistance on arson investigations.
Due to the increase in our inspection program throughout the city, it would appear one more inspector could be added to the fire prevention branch. The fire prevention budget is 1.75 percent of the total fire department budget.
Henry L. Black, Chief, Morristown, Tenn.: I do not feel that my fire prevention department is sufficient at this time. I have plans for enlarging, but this is at the will of our council.
Only 15 percent of my budget is allotted for arson and fire prevention at this time.
John L. Swindle, Chief, Birmingham, Ala.: Under present conditions, I feel that our division of fire prevention and arson investigation are adequate.
Fire prevention bureau constitutes 3 percent of total budget. Company dwelling inspection program makes up 5 percent of total budget, making a total fire prevention effort of 8 percent of total budget.
V. Paul Leddy, Chief, Hamden, Conn.: As a suburban community of some 51,000 population, unfortunately, very little if any funds have been specifically allotted to fire prevention activities and arson investigations. Very recently, it appears as though we may have broken the ice with the administration presently in power, in that funds are being proposed to add another individual to the fire marshal’s office, who now handles this job alone. It is expected that the individual selected will be classified as a deputy fire marshal with all the vested powers under the law to act in the absence of the fire marshal. With another person aiding the fire marshal, we feel that much more fire prevention activity will be generated through more inspections and other related field work.
The formation of an arson squad is also about to become a reality with the addition of another person in the fire marshal’s office. It is expected that the police department will be assigning two trained arson investigators as the other half of the arson team. All of these individuals will be receiving special education in the arson field.
We have also proposed that all members of both the fire and police departments receive cross training in investigative procedures and techniques in fire fighting.
Willard Herring, Chief, Goldsboro, N.C.: At this time, I have only one man assigned to fire prevention full time. Due to the increase in population of our city, we have found it necessary to give special classes to all fire department personnel. We make use of all our men to conduct in-company service fire inspections and give talks on fire prevention. In addition, our companies teach fire brigade to local industries and manufacturing firms.
Just what percentage of my total budget is allotted for fire prevention activities is questionable, although I imagine it would amount to a great deal because as I stated above, we rely on all our personnel to conduct fire investigations and to get the messages across to the people.
Dean Sailsbury, Chief, Parsons, Kansas: Due to the shortage of manpower, I feel that our division of fire prevention and arson squad are not adequate enough to handle the job properly. I’m sure that all small fire departments are experiencing the same problem.
At the present time, our budget does not contain any allottment for fire prevention activities. However, we do receive some assistance from various civic and community groups. We are in the process of evaluating and assessing our future wants and needs in order that we may in fact receive a budgeted amount for fire prevention.
We send as many personnel as possible to various schools and seminars pertaining to fire prevention and arson investigation. We are also encouraging our personnel to join the state chapter of the National Arson Investigators Association.
I think we all need to do more in the field of arson, not only in the investigation area but in public awareness type of programs as well. I think that fire prevention activities are slowly starting to take over as the number one priority and taking precedence over suppression in the minds of all fire personnel.
Melvin Hess, Inspector, Bellevue, Nebr.: The fire prevention division of this city does not do as much as they possibly could do. Members basically work only during Fire Prevention Week. However, we do have a paid fire inspector, but he can’t devote the time that is necessary for the job to be done right.
About 1 percent of the total fire department budget is spent on fire prevention, not including the inspector’s salary. I’d say he devotes about 20 percent of his time to this area.
H.G. Van Meter, Chief, Reno, Nevada: I have, for some time, based the number of people in my fire prevention bureau by population rather than percentage (5%). I had used 10,000 per inspector. I am at the present time, surveying this figure and it looks very much like I will be using 5,000 population per inspector, which will double my fire prevention bureau. Included in these figures is the arson squad, which operates out of the bureau.
It is also my opinion that arson investigation does not fit all fire prevention people and these personnel must show an adaptation and tenacity for arson work. I have also found that using a population figure for. fire prevention is much easier to sell to the political entities involved.
W. Huntzinger, Chief, Beech Grove, Ind.: Our fire Prevention division and arson squad are efficient and they do an aboveaverage job.
Seven percent of the total fire prevention budget is allotted for fire prevention and arson investigation.
