1 mitigating the rural fire problem. 2 project purpose reduce fire deaths and injuries in rural...

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1

Mitigating the Rural Fire Problem

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Project Purpose• Reduce fire deaths and injuries in rural America

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Communities

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What Are These Communities?• Southeast Region

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What Are These Communities?• Northeast Region

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What Are These Communities?• Midwest/ North Central Region

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What Are These Communities?• West Region

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What Are These Communities?• Migrant Workers’ Communities in Florida

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What Are These Communities?• First Nations/Native American communities

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What Are These Communities?• Colonias on Texas/Mexican border

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RuralCommunities

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Rural America is

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Fire death rates are higher in rural America

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Sources and resources for our research– Literature review including statistical analysis– Interviews with leaders in fire service and in organizations

serving rural communities

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How are rural communities different?• Homes are farther apart.• People are more likely to be poor.

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How are rural communities different?– Longer response distances for fire departments– Less fire prevention by fire departments– Less local coverage in media

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SmokeAlarms

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Smoke Alarms• Why they are important

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Smoke Alarms• What to do

– Install on every level– Outside each sleeping area– Inside each sleeping room

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Smoke Alarms• What to do

– Interconnected alarms

Printed with permission from NFPA 72®, National Fire alarm Code, Copyright© 2007.

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Smoke Alarms• Test at least every month.• Hard-wire or use 10-year

batteries.

• Replaceable batteries need to be changed once a year.

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Smoke Alarms• What to do

– Can you hear it?– Will it wake you?

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Smoke Alarms• What to do

– Make an escape plan.– Practice your escape plan.

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Smoking Fires

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Smoking Fires• Why they are important

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Smoking Fires • What to do if you smoke

– Fire-safe cigarette

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Smoking Fires• What to do if you smoke

– Smoke outdoors

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Smoking Fires • What to do if you smoke

– Use deep, sturdy ashtrays.– Set ashtrays on a sturdy surface.

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Smoking Fires• What to do if you smoke

– Make sure butts and ashes are out.

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Smoking Fires• What to do if you smoke

– Check for fallen butts.

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HeatingFires

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Heating Fires• Why they are important

– #1 cause of rural home fire deaths– Space heaters have higher risk. – Space heaters are portable or stationery.

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Heating Fires• What to do

– Get a professional review.

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Heating Fires• What to do

– Buy the right heater for you.

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Heating Fires• What to do

– Space heaters need 3 feet of space.

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Heating Fires• What to do

– Turn off portable space heaters when you sleep or leave the room.

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Heating Fires• What to do

– Plug power cords into outlets with enough capacity.

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Heating Fires • What to do

– Use the right wood fuel.

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Heating Fires• What to do

– Vent your fuel-burning heater.

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Heating Fires• What to do

– Use the right liquid fuel.

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ElectricalFires

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Electrical Fires• Why they are important

– #3 cause of rural home fire deaths– Wiring, cords and plugs, etc.– Wall fires can be hard to detect and extinguish.– Older electrical systems have higher risk.

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Electrical Fires• What to do

– Get a professional review.

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Electrical Fires• What to do

– What are arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCI)?

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Electrical Fires• What to do

– What can trigger an arc fault?

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Electrical Fires• What to do

– Watch for signs of electrical problems.

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Electrical Fires• What to do

– Avoid overloading outlets and circuits.

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Electrical Fires• What to do

– Use light bulbs with the right wattage.

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Outdoor Burning Fires

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Outdoor Burning Fires• Why they are important

– Nearly half of reported fires in rural America are outdoor fires.

– Nearly half of rural outdoor fires are open flame.– Elsewhere, the dominant cause for outdoor

fires is arson.

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Open Burning Fires• What to do

– Follow the rules.

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Open Burning Fires• What to do

– Attend your fire.

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Open Burning Fires• What to do

– Avoid burning on windy, dry days.– Never use flammable or combustible liquids.

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Visible address• Make sure your house number can be

seen easily from the street.

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Resources

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Five Step Guide for Rural Firefighters• A planning resource for you

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Project Final Report• Mitigation of the Rural Fire Problem – Strategies Based

on Original Research and Adaptation of Existing Best Practices, July 2007

• Available at www.usfa.dhs.org

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Websites • www.usfa.dhs.gov• www.nfpa.org

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