SD18 - Encouraging the Department of Fire Programs to Provide Leadership in Developing, Implementing, Coordinating and Facilitating Public Education Programs in Fire Prevention

  • Published: 1991
  • Author: Virginia Fire Services Board
  • Enabling Authority: Senate Joint Resolution 164 (Regular Session, 1989)

Executive Summary:
Senate Joint Resolution 164, in its resolve clauses, directs the Virginia Fire Services Board to carry out the following activities:

1. provide leadership in developing, implementing, coordinating and facilitating public educational programs in fire prevention

2. determine what resources are currently being used for fire prevention education

3. determine how the Commonwealth can provide support to those resources to enhance their effectiveness

4. identify other resources that could be developed

5. place particular emphasis on implementing the recommendations contained in Part IV of the Virginia Fire Prevention and Control Plan.

The Virginia Fire Services Board provided direction for the staff of the Department of Fire Programs in carrying out its statutory role in accomplishing these objectives.

The staff of the Department of Fire Programs presented a comprehensive workplan to the Board. (Details of various projects sited in the workplan are offered as support information in this report). These activities were monitored by the Fire Prevention and Control Committee of the Board. The workplan gained Committee approval as did the establishment of a network of public fire safety educators from around the state. The Virginia Fire Prevention Public Education Task Force and the development of criteria to certify public fire education programs and instructors gained the support of the Board and Committee members.

Based on workplan strategies, the staff of the Department of Fire Programs has successfully identified resources used in fire prevention public education and is active in developing materials to fill identifiable voids. Materials needed for special audiences, including the hearing and visually impaired, are in developmental stages.

Continuing legislative support is being offered by the Board which has assigned the task of implementing recommendations in the Virginia Fire Prevention and Control Plan Section IV to the Fire Prevention and Control Committee. Budgetary considerations for fire prevention education activities, to be carried out within the Department of Fire Programs' goals and objectives, have also gained approval.

Senate Joint Resolution 164 also requests that a joint report be submitted by the Department of Fire Programs and the Department of Education providing information on the types of fire safety programs being offered in school districts as well as the grade level and number of students reached by these programs. A statistical report has been prepared which identifies 233 program titles where fire safety has been taught to 235,512 students and delivered by 149 outside agencies. The largest contributor to fire prevention education in the school districts is the "Smokey the Bear Program" conducted by the Virginia Division of Forestry.

Condensed activity summaries are included in this report as support documentation on how various projects carried out the intent of Senate Joint Resolution 164. Objectives were handled by a temporary position established as a project manager and now justifies a full time Fire Safety Education Specialist within the Department of Fire Programs. This position will be filled in 1991.

The Virginia Fire Services Board recognizes the contributions of the Virginia Fire Prevention Public Education Task Force, diligent staff participation, and therefore offers twenty seven (27) recommendations to continue the fire prevention educational momentum.

Acceptance and support of these recommendations by the legislative committee of Senate Joint Resolution 164, coupled with annual reports on fire statistics to be provided by the Virginia Fire Incident Reporting System, will reflect the effectiveness of professionally based fire safety education programs. When reviewed, these statistics shall show a reduction in loss of life and property destruction due to preventable fire incidents. In this respect, the efficiency and overall impact of supported fire safety education programs can be successfully measured throughout the Commonwealth.

Recommendations For Future Emphasis On Fire Prevention Education

The recommendations outlined in the Virginia Fire Prevention and Control Plan Section IV: Fire Prevention Education for the General Public, are as follows:

1. Efforts should continue in evaluating current fire education programs with a greater emphasis on content, scope and comprehensive information being shared;

2. Quality fire education programs being delivered by fire prevention personnel and volunteer fire service personnel need to be evaluated for their program effectiveness and recognized for such;

3. Basic public education programs need to be uniform in content, should include statements of knowledge about fire, fire prevention, and the best means to protect human life and property. An effort must be made to develop these programs where a noticeable void exists;

4. Communication among individuals and groups concerned with the same objectives in preventing loss of life or injury due to fire, including the fire service, medical professions and researchers in fields of human behavior, should continue;

5. Pilot or experimental projects need to continue to train people as to the threat of fire, its occurrence and its aftermath;

6. Biennial surveys of all localities should be made to identify not only the number of education programs but also the type of materials used, the number of individuals reached and other pieces of information essential to fully understand the overall state picture. Localities should be rewarded for their response to the surveys, and for their response to the needs of their communities in relationship to fire prevention education efforts;

7. There must be an increase of certified public fire safety educators from both the fire service and civilian populations;

8. The presence of a sufficient number of certified public fire safety educators in any jurisdiction should be considered by the Department of Fire Programs in the development and dissemination of future resources;

A greater emphasis must be placed on localities to establish a well-trained/well-informed public fire safety educator within their communities:

9. Statements of support and recognition of fire education programs should be forthcoming from the Department of Fire Programs, the State Fire Marshal Office, the Governor's Office and nationally recognized leaders in this field.

Currently there are no components in place to recognize outstanding program development in the field of fire safety education in Virginia. It is recommended that components of a recognition policy be developed with contributions acquired from the above offices and other professional associations, forming a basis for a Public Fire Safety Education Recognition Grant.

Components of the recognition process should be:

1) a yearly monetary award
2) a formal declaration signed by the Governor
3) letter of resolution from the Virginia Fire Services Board

Support for quality fire safety education programs, acknowledgment of the locality showing concern for its citizens, and responsible personnel developing a program which demonstrates effectiveness in changing values and behaviors related to fire safety and prevention is important if Virginia is to demonstrate its commitment in this area, like that of other states throughout the nation.

10. Consideration should be given to the authorized use of Fire Program Fund monies to support community scale pilot programs in fire safety education particularly where the need for such programs has clearly been defined.

11. Annual state fire statistics gathered by the Virginia Fire Incident Reporting System should be used to measure the effectiveness of educational programs, to conclude a FIRE EDUCATION IMPACT STATEMENT yearly to the resolution sponsors and the fire services.

12. Section 38.2-401 B of the Code should be amended to permit a portion of the "local share" of the Fire Programs Fund to be used to support local pilot programs in public fire education conducted individually or cooperatively by local fire service organizations.

The Virginia Fire Prevention Public Education Task Force dedicated to efforts of "fighting fire through education" offer the following:

13. Guidelines For Community Fire Prevention Pilot Programs should be established to add credibility to local program effectiveness;

14. Promote and recognize the use of national fire safety curriculums such as LEARN NOT TO BURN, PROJECT LIFE, FIREPROOF CHILDREN, SESAME STREET FIRE SAFETY or similar guidelines used by local jurisdictions for changing behavior, habits and attitudes about fire safety issues by means of an annual report or newsletter format;

15. Local jurisdictions should be responsible for contributing information about their fire education efforts on a regular basis with community recognition awards offered as incentives;

16. Special fire education program materials selected for "special populations" or target audiences should be included in a statewide recap of programs being offered throughout the Commonwealth, published once a year;

17. Participation in The Virginia Fire Prevention Public Education Task Force should be representative of all fire departments in Virginia and various interest groups with similar objectives;

18. The Department of Fire Programs should provide regional representation and recap of educational activities for the Task Force on a regular basis;

19. Annual regional sessions should be held highlighting fire education program materials being used across the state and nation;

20. Training outlines and related materials should be made available to certified public fire safety educators on various fire safety topics. This material needs to be distributed by means of a controlled and accountable system;

21. Incentives should be afforded to Task Force members such as reimbursement of expenses to special training seminars and national conferences since this "advisory committee" serves to benefit the overall condition of fire safety education throughout the Commonwealth.

Currently, the assistance being given is not compensated in any manner. Various training documents and outline materials have been prepared voluntarily, while similar items in fire training have been prepared and paid for under contractual agreements.

22. Purchases of quality videos, slide tape presentations and written resource documents relative to fire safety education must be increased to assist local fire departments and their communities in receiving the "state of the art" fire safety message;

23. Organizations and special interest groups should be sought after to lend their support to the local development of fire safety education programs. A statewide emphasis on "Partnerships Against Fire" should receive media attention and promotion from among local jurisdictions. City and County officials should be encouraged by state authorities to establish a working relationship and support system among their community leaders, both for funding and resources;

24. The newly appointed leadership position within the Department of Fire Programs - known as the State Public Fire Safety Education Specialist - should continue to have the full support and backing of all public health and safety agencies and organizations in adhering to goals and objectives;

25. Budgetary items within the Department of Fire Programs should reflect a constant increase on line items directly impacted by fire prevention activities and public education efforts;

26. Annual training seminars should be held inviting the participation of developers of model fire prevention programing and offering exposure to the "state of the art" educational tools from across the state and nation;

27. Virginia fire prevention and education programs should be recognized nationally for their contribution to saving lives, reducing property loss due to fire and the prevention of fires. To achieve such a goal, a plan must be in place to promote the efforts of dedicated program developers from within the state and then to announce achievements to national organizations. In the past, Virginia has not been represented in national reports which site progressive programs.