Chapter 2

© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning

2nd Edition

Public Fire Prevention Organizations and Functions

Chapter 2


2nd Edition

Objectives

• Upon completion of this chapter, you will be able to:– Discuss the role of the federal, state and local

governments in the prevention of fires and the reduction in fire deaths and injuries

– Contrast the roles between the three levels of government in the prevention of fires


2nd Edition

Objectives (cont’d.)– Name the watershed federal fire programs

and describe the events or national conditions that led to their creation

– List the fire prevention functions performed by traditional fire prevention bureaus and describe nontraditional systems for delivery of those services

– List federal agencies with fire prevention missions and describe their missions and programs


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Fire Prevention - Motives Behind the Cause

• World War II: massive fire prevention effort

• Fire threatens: jobs, economy, education, health, and infrastructure

• Organizations: profit and non-profit driven


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Organizations with the Mission of Fire Prevention

• Traditional Fire Prevention Bureaus– Functions performed by fire departments

• Nontraditional Fire Prevention Bureaus– Functions performed by other agency/s– Dangerous: single person doing all types of

inspections


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State Fire Prevention and Protection Programs

• Fire marshals in 40 states by 1913

• Provided within the 50 state governments:– Code development– Inspection– Engineering services– Fire investigation services


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State Fire Training Programs

• Training organizations– Often not associated with fire marshal– Are located within state universities or are

independent agencies

• Training allows to reach full potential of prevention programs


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Fire Prevention Efforts of the Federal Government

• For most of our history– Geared towards:

• Protection of government property• Ensuring continuity of government functions

– Public protection an issue for the states

• Bureau of Standards fire research lab, established 1914


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Catalysts for Federal Fire Prevention Programs

• Hose coupling problem on Bureau of Standards premises, 1904– Fire research facility established at the

National Institute of Standards and Technology

• President Woodrow Wilson, 1920– First National Fire Prevention Day


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Catalysts for Federal Fire Prevention Programs (cont’d.)

• President Warren Harding, 1922– First Fire Prevention Week

• Protection of manufacturing facilities that were preparing for war, 1941– National Bureau for Industrial Protection

established


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President Truman’s Fire Prevention Conference

• Washington DC, May of 1947

• 34 new committees on fire prevention– Draft model statute permitting adoption of

model codes

• Conferences by 18 states to build on work begun in Washington


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Federal Agencies Involved in Fire Prevention

• Public Law 93-478, 1974– First major federal program to reduce fire

threat to general public


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National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control

• Established by the 1968 Fire Research Safety Act

• America Burning report: significant force for fire prevention/protection in U.S. history

• Called for establishment of:– U.S. Fire Administration (USFA)– National Fire Academy (NFA)


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United States Fire Administration• Established by the 1974 Federal Fire

Prevention and Control Act

• Basic areas of efforts:– Public education– Fire/emergency response personnel training– Fire safety technology, testing, and research– Collection, analysis, and dissemination of

pertinent data


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FIGURE 2-7The focus of the FESHEconferences is highereducation, sharing ideas, andaddressing new challenges.(Source: U.S. Fire Administration)


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National Institute of Standards and Technology

• Formerly, National Bureau of Standards

• Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act– Center for Fire Research at NBS

• Today, NIST’s Building and Fire Research Laboratory:– Building materials performance– Fire service technologies– Fire loss reduction


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Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms, and Explosives

• Mission: regulation, tax collection, protection of the public

• National Laboratory complex, 2003– Alcohol and Tobacco Laboratory– Forensic Science Laboratory– Fire Research Laboratory

• Assists state and local agencies in investigation of arson and bombings


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The National Interagency Fire Center

• Formed in Boise, Idaho, 1965

• Member of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group– 97% - 98% of wildland fires extinguished

during first burning period– Wildfires by recreational campfires 80%

reduced if patrols, user contacts, and signage used


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U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

• Created by Congress in 1972

• Activities:– Develop standards– Conduct research– Inform and educate the public– Recall unsafe products


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Department of Housing and Urban Development

• Fire safety impact through its Minimum Property Standards (MPS)– Minimum quality/safety/durability standards

on (federally backed mortgages) properties


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Department of Defense

• Fire prevention programs– Protect U.S. military assets– Ensure the ability of the branches to carry out

their missions

• Inspectors often called on to help fix problems, unlike municipal fire inspectors


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Occupational Safety and Health Administration

• Established by the 1971 Occupational Safety and Health Act

• Mission: work-place safety

• Standards for:– Fire and explosion hazards– Fire brigade staffing, training, and operation


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Other Federal Agencies

• Many agencies– Involved in fire research or extensive fire

prevention programs

• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

• Department of State

• Veterans Administration


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Summary

• Traditionally:– Fire prevention responsibility of the states– Federal involvement limited to protection of

federal government assets, and research

• Watershed events for federal involvement:– World War II– 1947 Fire Prevention Conference– 1973 America Burning report