Operation Dixieland Is Special Effort To Reduce High Life-Loss Record
Of the 10 states with the worst fire death rate, nine are southeastern states. Because the United States fire death rate exceeds all other industrialized nations, those southeastern states lead the world in loss of life by fire, based on deaths per million population. Now a special effort—Operation Dixieland—is under way to reduce losses in the State of Arkansas.
An estimated 100 to 120 persons are killed each year by fire in Arkansas (52.8 per million), placing the state in the middle of the worst-10 group. In addition, over 500 are injured each year by fire in the state.
Arkansas’ leading fire problems are in single-family residences (both rural and urban) and the state’s forest and wildlands. Improper heating and careless use of smoking materials are the major causes of fatal fires in the state.
The citizens of Arkansas became acutely aware of the seriousness of the Arkansas fire problem as result of an extended drought which occurred in the summer and fall of last year. During this period, thousands of forest, grass and wildland fires destroyed three times as much acreage as had been destroyed over the last five years averaged together. These fires were in addition to the normally high fire loss rate, taxing the state’s fire service to near the breaking point.
Federal, state, local effort
On Oct. 8,1980, Operation Dixieland, a comprehensive approach to fire safety in Arkansas, was announced by federal, state and local officials. Arkansas’ Congressional delegation was represented by Congressman Beryl Anthony, who was instrumental in bringing the project to Arkansas. Former Governor Bill Clinton designated the Arkansas Fire Academy as the state’s lead agency in the project. Local support was underlined by the attendance of numerous city and county officials as well as fire chiefs from throughout the state.
Arkansas’ new governor, Frank White, soon became aware of the serious nature of the Arkansas fire problem and pledged his support to the Operation Dixieland effort.
Because of limited local agency’s resources and the complexities of the Arkansas fire problem, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) is assisting the State of Arkansas. They have established the following goals:
- Increase the awareness level, through public fire education, of the Arkansas population to the dangers of fire in their homes and communities through public fire education.
- Increase the level of preparedness of the Arkansas fire service to meet the Arkansas fire problem through targeted training and education opportunities.
- Support an ongoing effort to deal with the Arkansas fire problem already under way in the state by enhancing the capabilities of state agencies and initiatives from the private sector.
- Reduce the dangers of injury and death to fire fighters in the performance of their duties through improved equipment and physical fitness.
Each of these goals has been addressed during the first nine months of Operation Dixieland.
The Arkansas fire problem has been found to be as varied as the state itself. No one program or approach would be applicable statewide. Further analysis indicated that the problems should be approached on the basis of program categories to facilitate better organization and management. They are:
- Arson
- Residential fire safety
- Fire fighter health and safety
- Fire protection services
- First responder
Each category would receive varying amounts of emphasis, determined by local needs and support.
A method of management and program delivery had to be developed which would allow’ flexibility yet provide firm local and state direction when needed. A decision was made to use existing state and local organizational and communications networks. This approach has proven to be effective and efficient. These existing networks have been strengthened by their association with the Dixieland project, thus providing a stronger system for future state and local use.
The central focus
The Arkansas Fire Academy, acting as the central state focus for the project, is working closely with other state agencies, local communities and the private sector. Supplemental grants have been awarded to the academy so as not to draw upon limited local resources.
A number of programs have already been completed, with additional programs ready for delivery. The majority of programs have a dual role of providing short-term benefits while being directed at a long-term goal. An example is the Sesame Street (Children’s Television Workshop) Preschool Fire Safety Program. Short-term benefits of the project are directed at reducing the fire death and injury rates of preschool children now. At the same time, the program will increase the fire danger awareness of these individuals, thus providing fire safety behavior patterns that will be retained.
All of the state’s larger fire departments have participated in at least one of the programs presented thus far. Additionally, many small (mostly volunteer) departments have participated in programs held in their respective areas. It is estimated that 1400 paid and volunteer fire personnel attended educational offerings and other Dixieland programs in the first six months.
Seminars for the public
Programs involving the public directly have also been well attended. Two such programs have taken place. The woodburning stove seminars, originally scheduled for two to three months with six meetings was expanded to six months with meetings in 18 communities. Over 500 citizens attended the seminars and more are scheduled next season. The seminars were a joint effort of the Arkansas Fire Academy, the State Department of Energy and the USFA.
The second public participation program involved the Sesame Street Preschool Fire Safety Program. Through the coordinated use of television programming, specially prepared workbooks and study materials, and individual training given by their day-care teachers, thousands of preschool children in four Arkansas communities were trained in burn prevention, fire danger awareness and “stop, drop and roll” techniques. The program was topped off by a two-day visit by Loretta Long, a 12-year veteran of the Sesame Street television program, who portrays Susan. During this visit over 15,000 people were contacted directly with fire safety handout materials and education skits put together by community volunteers, the Arkansas Educational Television Network and fire departments. These activities took place at two events in Springdale and Rogers and at the Arkansas Riverfest, an annual spring event held in Little Rock.
Audience and hazards targeted
Perhaps the most difficult task for Operation Dixieland is the effort to increase the awareness of the Arkansas population to the dangers of fire in their homes and communities. Our public fire education efforts will be directed toward reaching those segments of the population which are experiencing a high incidence of fire deaths and injury. To assist us in accomplishing this, statistical information from the National Fire Data Center will be used, along with additional information generated from a research grant to the University of Arkansas (Pine Bluff) from the Center for Fire Research. Their findings will be reviewed to determine “who, what, where and why” these losses occurred.
The Learn Not to Burn curriculum was scheduled to be introduced on a trial basis in two Arkansas school systems in September, as a combined effort of USFA, the Arkansas Fire Academy, Weyerheauser Company and the local community.
A mobile home fire safety effort was launched this summer. The program started with a demonstration of the new technology in home sprinkler systems and a demonstration of mobile home fire fighting tactics by local fire departments. These demonstrations will be followed by a brochure campaign statewide. The brochure will outline home fire safety information for mobile home owners. It will be circulated by volunteers who will also be available for home surveys, if requested by the home owner.
Home survey
A concentrated public education project will take place this fall when three sites participate in organized home safety survey campaigns. Volunteers will be working in two rural counties and the City of Helena. Their goal will be to survey 50 percent of the homes in the areas. Survey volunteers will be trained to detect hazardous conditions and counsel the home owner on how to correct problems. The survey will collect valuable information on local fire problems in order to provide for more efficient fire protection planning.
One of the more important areas currently under review deals with the adoption of new fire codes for the state. The Arkansas State Fire Marshal’s Office has been given the responsibility of formulating a new state fire code. Governor White’s commitment to the Dixieland program has provided $8000 to help pay the expenses of the revision procedures. USFA is providing technical assistance to the review committee. The fire marshal’s office expects the code to be adopted by December 1981.
The National Fire Academy will be conducting eight additional local education assistance program (LEAP) courses in Arkansas over the next 18 months. A special course was held in Little Rock last July dealing with highrise fire safety in Arkansas and the South. More than 40 from seven states preregistered for the class and the total attendance was impressive. All of the LEAP classes are open to the other local regions of FEMA.
Free to Emmitsburg
Fire personnel from Arkansas are now able to attend the National Fire Academy without cost. This has been accomplished through the use of a grant from the Ozark Regional Commission. Advanced training will be provided to the Arkansas fire service and other professionals.
Pine Bluff will start work in the fall on a cooperative research project with FEMA’s National Fire Data Center in an effort to test new designs in protective fire fighter clothing.
It is essential that accurate and complete information be obtained from the Arkansas fire service. The National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) will assist the Arkansas fire service in its efforts to move into this important new field of detailed fire incident reporting. We do not understand as much as we should about the fire problem, but with the proper use of the NFIRS data the fire service will have an important tool in the future.
