When it comes to fireground operations we consume the science of it, and compile all of the data, and we then apply it aggressively and in a tremendous magnitude. The amount of changes in fireground operations in just my short time in the fire service is staggering, and today’s rookies can recite those lessons on demand and apply those skills at 2 a.m. without thinking. This side of our profession is advancing in a manner befitting its dedication to serving and protecting the public, and I myself have benefited from this effort in my ability to serve my citizens.
But in my years of teaching, presenting at and attending conferences, writing articles, and being a forum moderator on the topics of prevention and education, it is amazing how little the science and application of these two aspects of our profession are known or studied in the same manner as the 1,001 ways to deploy hoselines are. Yet firefighters are still being injured and dying in home fires started by a known preventable cause, while going inside after trapped occupants in homes without smoke detectors, and consuming toxins that if they don’t kill them on scene will do so either before, or just after, their retirement.
Year-round fire prevention matters
Sadly, during Fire Prevention Week 2015, many fire departments sat idle in their stations performing either little to no fire prevention activities, or reaching only those easy targets; such as, elementary schools or those requesting station tours. They were probably not reaching those who need the messages the most in target neighborhoods, or the adults who control fire prevention and are the ones responsible for ensuring all the fire safety education their children got at school are applied and followed at home.
Thousands of passionate men and woman with the vast knowledge of the dangers and dynamics of fire, wearing a badge in the name of serving and saving others, sat behind closed bay doors during a week that is dedicated to the core of what we do and who we are. By and large no advancements were made, and no new techniques or approaches to prevention/education that are based upon science and studies were applied—even though they are widely available. During this week, firefighters were not trained or informed on the latest prevention information or the latest educational programs and techniques, and hundreds of chances to save a home and lives were missed; even the chance to save our brother firefighter who may go down in the preventable house fire around the corner from the station, which was started by a hazard their fellow firefighter unknowingly stepped over while there on a medical run two weeks prior, only because they were never educated and trained to notice it and address it.
And, sadly, thousands of firefighters still cannot answer basic questions about sprinkler systems, which to the fire service are akin to the medical profession’s cure for cancer.
We are in the business of fire protection, and as the science is showing us, a modern fire can go from ignition to flashover before we arrive on scene. This clearly illustrates the need for prevention strategies, tactics and advancements to take equal importance in our fire service operations. Not only does this provide a modern and well-rounded fire protection service, but it also gives our responding firefighters a chance. By no means does this suggest reducing the importance of fire suppression, but only bringing fire prevention to an equal level of focus and effort.
By the numbers
According to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), the first Fire Prevention Week, the oldest health observance on record in the United States, occurred in 1922, meaning that 2015 was our 93rd Fire Prevention Week—a week that is dedicated for the fire service to promote our profession and fire safety—and yet also according to the NFPA:
- Three out of five fires deaths occur in a home without a working smoke alarm, according to a 2015 report
- A fire department is responding to a fire every 24 seconds (a steady number)
- The number of fires increased in 2014 by 4.7%
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
- Fire/burns are the 2nd leading cause of unintentional injury in the home for children ages 1 to 5 years old
- Fire/burns are still a leading cause of death and injury for the elderly
Both of these age groups are our most vulnerable population who need our protection the most, yet have been the at-risk age groups for fire death and injury for years. We know they are, yet what have we done to reach out to them? Can we ever bring those numbers to zero? Probably not. But are we trying? Most firefighters will go their entire career and make one rescue and say their 20 years on the job were worth it for that one life, and it is. Why do we not apply that same logic to prevention? If we can prevent one 80-year-old person or one 4-year-old child from being burned after 20 Fire Prevention Weeks, then wasn’t it worth it as well? As firefighters, isn’t this what we are all about? Sadly most line firefighters will go 25 to 30 years without that flaming rescue. So, where should we be putting our life-saving efforts and desire if we do want to save lives?
Others are doing the work
The most damming statistic is a 2015 report from the American Red Cross, which states that in 10 months they installed over 125,000 smoke detectors in U.S. homes; meaning, there were 100,000 homes in this country, after 93 years of Fire Prevention Weeks, without smoke detectors.
There is no excuse for the fire service to allow these numbers to continue as we remain idle behind bay doors, out of contact with our public, and making minimal to no effort during Fire Prevention Week to address these issues. Citing no time or funding is not acceptable. The American Red Cross is staffed by volunteers, funded by donations, and the Hawaiian Red Cross alone received a $27,000 grant from Wal-Mart to fund their home fire preparedness campaign.
We are running out of reasons to not put prevention, or community risk reduction, as a priority in our profession. If a non-profit whose main purpose has historically been disaster relief AFTER the tragedy occurs can successfully reinvent themselves and evolve to remain relevant by now including prevention programs, and do so in a short period of time, then the fire service can do so as well.
We’ve had 93 years to perfect it.
To increase your prevention knowledge through the science of studies and research, please visit:
DANIEL BYRNE is a firefighter/paramedic and the community support officer for the Burton, SC, Fire District and a paramedic for Beaufort County EMS. He is a National Fire Academy alumnus and has been conducting fire service public relations programs for over 15 years. Byrne holds associate of science and bachelor of science degrees in fire science and is a Fire Instructor II. He has received state and local awards for educational programs and partnerships. Byrne is a former U.S. Marine Corps recruiter now serving with the Georgia Air National Guard Fire Protection Division.
