Education
Education makes the public aware of risks and how to mitigate them.
Teach residents about risks in their homes and in the community through classes, home visits, presentations, handouts, articles and social media.
Fire departments are uniquely positioned to know their communities better than most other organizations. Firefighters and emergency medical services responders see firsthand, whether through medical calls, inspections or simply driving through the community, how people live and the needs they have.
The USFA Podcast: Community Risk Reduction
This episode of The USFA Podcast features a discussion with the National Fire Academy's Mike Weller on community risk reduction. We also check in with the USFA's Mike Pritchard on the Fire Is Everyone's Fight initiative.
CRR: Where do I start?
Here are the 2 most important takeaways for you today:
- Learn about CRR through these 2 National Fire Academy (NFA) self-study courses: Introduction to Strategic Community Risk Reduction and Introduction to Community Risk Assessment.
- Conduct a risk assessment for your community.
Read on to explore CRR a little more in depth, including examples of successful community programs and resources to help with your program, but the most important thing for you to do after closing this page is to get started with the 2 takeaways above.
The 5 E's
CRR uses a wide variety of tools to form a strategic and integrated program focused on reducing the occurrence and impact of local risks. The “5 E's” is one of the strategies used to combat local fire and preventable injury issues. When using this or any other strategy, be intentional about reducing your community's risk: base your approach on data that you collected through your risk assessment and then focus on that specific risk(s).
Focusing on risk: Older adult cooking fires
The Worcester (Massachusetts) Fire Department, working with the Worcester Housing Authority, analyzed locations and populations at disproportionate risk from cooking fires in 2015. 4 properties housing low-income older adults represented nearly 24% of all reported cooking fires, with an average of 12 incidents per month.
The department applied for and received a Fire Prevention and Safety Grant to support a collaborative effort that replaced conventional electric coil burners with temperature limiting control technology units to prevent auto-ignition. 800 electric stoves were retrofitted with fire-safe burners and on-site safety education was provided to approximately 900 residents. In the 6 months after the installation, no stovetop fires were reported in units where smart technology burners were installed.
EDUCATION in action
Educating older adults about life safety risks
The Gwinnett County (Georgia) Fire and Emergency Services conducted a comprehensive community risk assessment that identified slips, trips and falls, fires, and poisoning to be among the major risks. The department implemented safety visits to reduce home injury risks for older residents through proven engineering solutions and on-site education.
A deeper dive
CRR and Education
This video features the Wilmington (North Carolina) Fire Department's Wendy Giannini-King and Mike Lee discussing the education E as it relates to foster care inspections.
Watch on YouTube
Engineering
Engineering provides an opportunity to work with local organizations and government to promote new fire and life safety technologies in your community.
Inform your community about risk-reducing products and technologies like heat-regulating stove elements, improved smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and fire sprinklers. Take opportunities at building inspections or community events to share this information.
ENGINEERING in action
Data analysis aids paramedicine program
Tempe (Arizona) Fire Medical Rescue Department has added innovative data analysis techniques to its paramedicine program to quickly identify likely repeat clients, monitor the program patient's well-being, and conclusively demonstrate the program’s ability to reduce future EMS calls.
A deeper dive
CRR and Engineering
This video features a discussion between Chris Brunette, Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, and Wendy Giannini-King, Wilmington (North Carolina) Fire Department, on using engineering to reduce risk from COVID-19.
Watch on YouTube
Enforcement
Enforcement identifies potential risks and noncompliance in your local properties and teaches your community how fire and building codes protect them.
Inspections are a great way to identify potential risks to local properties and non-compliance with codes that can lead to casualties and property loss. They also play an important part in keeping firefighters and EMS workers safe at incident scenes. Fire departments should participate in local government discussions related to hazards, helping to draft legislation that reduces community risk.
ENFORCEMENT in action
School inspections
The Minnesota State Fire Marshal's Office inspects schools in the state to improve life safety, ensure adequate egress, reduce ignition scenarios, and provide automatic fire protection systems.
A deeper dive
CRR and Enforcement
This video features a discussion between Kathy Clay, Jackson Hole (Wyoming) Fire and EMS, and Kim Stouse, Pocatello (Idaho) Fire Department/Bannock County Ambulance, on enforcement activities related to assisted living facilities.
Watch on YouTube
Economic incentives
Economic incentives can be useful to encourage individuals and businesses to make choices that reduce risk.
Incentives can come in the form of benefits like tax credits that make installation of fire sprinklers more affordable or code exceptions that allow businesses to provide safe, altered services during COVID-19. Penalties and fines for noncompliance are also incentives that encourage behavior change.
A deeper dive
CRR and Economic Incentives
This video features a discussion between Kathy Clay, Jackson Hole (Wyoming) Fire and EMS, and Josh Fulbright, South Carolina State Fire Marshal's Office, on economic incentives and how they can reduce community risk.
Watch on YouTube
Emergency response
Emergency response protects your community and your firefighters by ensuring they have the equipment and training they need.
Making sure your fire and EMS department's response is efficient and effective is key to reducing the impact of incidents in your community.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE in action
Recruiting volunteers
Columbia-Richland (South Carolina) Fire and Rescue's recruitment program focuses on getting volunteers that can assist the department in various ways. This new approach has led to an increase in their CRR abilities, including the successful completion of a community risk assessment conducted by a local college student. It has also resulted in an increase in the number of volunteer firefighters.
A deeper dive
CRR and Emergency Response
This video features a discussion between Arnold Baker, Chelan County (Washington) Fire District 5, and Kathy Clay, Jackson Hole (Wyoming) Fire and EMS, on the emergency response E as it relates to COVID-19.
Watch on YouTube
More content to help with your CRR program
- FEMA Fire Prevention and Safety Grant: apply to receive financial assistance that you can use to conduct a community risk assessment or start a CRR program.
- Fire Is Everyone's Fight®. A national initiative to unite the fire service, life safety organizations and professionals in an effort to reduce home fire injuries, deaths and property loss by changing how people think about fire and fire prevention.
- Fire Marshal Interchange: a free, secure information platform that allows fire marshals from across the United States to share knowledge and information outside jurisdictions.
- NFPA 1300, Standard on Community Risk Assessment and Community Risk Reduction Plan Development (2020): guidance on conducting a community risk assessment, creating and implementing a CRR plan, and establishing ongoing evaluation of the plan.
- USFA fire safety and prevention outreach materials: prevention materials and programs to help increase community awareness about fire and life safety.
- Vision 20/20: online courses and guides to help you develop community risk assessments.