Conference Seeks to Reduce Home Fires
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U.S. Fire Administration
“Fire Safety Where You Live,” theme of the United States Fire Administration’s sixth annual conference, represents the most concentrated effort ever undertaken by the federal government to reduce the problem of residential fire safety.
The three-day conference, symposium and workshop in San Francisco Jan. 19-21, will gather together the top planners and decision-makers from every dimension of the home fire safety field—the fire service, industry and officials and staff from states, municipalities and supporting organizations.
“The fire problem in America is so large that I suspect not even the most knowledgeable of fire officials are aware of its tremendous magnitude,” U.S. Fire Administrator Gordon Vickery emphasized. “During the 72 hours of the sixth annual conference, there will be over 400,000 fires resulting in 72 deaths and 2376 injuries—469 of which will be fire fighter injuries.
“With these shocking figures, it’s time for the federal government to take the lead in reducing this terrible toll,” he stressed.
Management approach
In an effort to assist local fire officials in offsetting these figures, the Fire Administration has gathered together the top nationally recognized experts to explain sound management approaches to the common problem and share with the audience tactics that work.
The conference starts Monday morning with a brief definition of the national fire problem—residential, fire fighter health and safety, cost-effective fire protection management, arson, and the emergency first responder. From there it will move to “Fire Where You Live,” a detailed motivational description of the residential fire problem, incorporating four perspectives: behavioral, environmental, technological and managerial.
“Behavior problems—preventing residential fires—will explore how we can really change human behavior,” Vickery explained. “We will have brief sessions of some of the tricks of the trade, targeting programs to audience needs, reaching decision-makers and making the most of limited resources, as well as programs devoted to special audiences—pre-schoolers via Sesame Street and ‘Learn Not To Burn’.”
Code enforcement
The Monday afternoon session— “Environment of Residential Fire Prevention”—will be devoted to enforcement of codes, code inspection, code compliance and the problems being generated by the energy crisis. The afternoon session will conclude with “Technology of Prevention”—the politics and feasibility of self-extinguishing cigarettes, kitchen appliance safety, some proven techniques for reducing space heater deaths and identifying other consumer product problems.
“This year each session will be brief, generally with only one expert,” Vickery said. “In the past, we have perhaps tended to have too many speakers. In contrast, this year we will limit most topics to only one nationally recognized authority and we feel the participants will greatly benefit from this new approach.”
The Tuesday session will begin with “Management and Residential Fire Safety.” It will include speakers on how to coordinate community public fire education resources with the state, using local data for residential fire prevention, a fire chiefs perspective on fire prevention management, and how to use the arson information management systems (AIMS) to focus resources where most needed.
“Controlling Residential Fires” will explore how an understanding of human behavior in fire situations can be used to reduce risk,” Vickery stressed. “We will explore the myth of panic, evacuation, and use of media campaigns to change problems.”
Tuesday afternoon, “Technology for Residential Fire Control,” will include speakers on smoke detectors, residential sprinkler systems, ARRAS (remote alarm systems), a discussion of the coming.technologies, and challenges to sprinklers and detectors. This will be followed by “Structures and Residential Fire Control” and will include breakout sessions on such subjects as master planning, evaluating fire safety in healt h care facilities, design for residential fire safety, half-way houses for the deinstitutionalized, hotels and motels, mobile homes, and shipboard and high-rise fire fighting.
The afternoon will conclude with “Management of Residential Fire Control.” Experts will discuss insurance incentives, municipal fire insurance pros and cons, and promoting local ordinances and legislation.
Provocative session
“Wednesday morning promises to be most provocative,” Vickery promised. “We plan to have an ‘ISO Grading Shootout,’ several fire service technology advances, a report on personal distress alarm systems, a look at where the fire service stands on breathing apparatus, an update on fireground communications, and an explanation of the emergency first responder concept.”
As has been the custom for the past several years, Wednesday noon and afternoon will be devoted to exhibits and technical demonstrations.
“This is a very brief description of our conference in San Francisco,” Vickery concluded. “I might add that it will not all be work. We will have our annual grand banquet, a California wine-tasting party, an old-fashioned German beer hall polka, and a USFA family feud quiz show.
“I feel very positive about this conference,” he finished. “Progress is being made on certain subjects in various communities. Now, if we can utilize all of these various programs, we will make an impact on the national residential fire problem.”
