Fire Prevention in Delaware
Center for Injury Research and Policy Making discoveries that make a difference
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“I’ve pulled out a couple children in my career. To me, if I can save just one kid, it is worth everything I’ve done over the 18 years of being a fireman.”
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—Delaware firefighter
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ith support from the United States Fire Administration (USFA), The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Injury Research and Policy partnered with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Delaware Volunteer Firemen’s Association (DVFA) to describe the state’s fire prevention activities, identify elements of effective programs and examine trends in fire incidents. To accomplish these goals, we interviewed sixteen members of the fire service from around the state, reviewed documents about fire prevention efforts, and analyzed existing fire data. This brochure summarizes findings from this research. The USFA selected Delaware to be the focus of this initiative because the state is well-known and highly regarded as a leader in fire prevention.
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Delaware Facts Population 783,600 in 2000 Size 1982 square miles Local Government 3 counties (New Castle, Kent and Sussex) State Capital Dover
Summary Findings The Delaware fire service is about:
Dover
Tradition—Delaware has a proud tradition of fire service, often spanning several generations in a family. Firefighters enjoy the close-knit community and the sense of belonging to a worthwhile endeavor. Dedication—Delaware firefighters are committed to fire prevention and fire suppression, and place great importance on maintaining professional standards. They welcome training and are constantly working to improve their impact. Community—The state’s firefighters are a part of their local communities. Many fire houses are integrated into the social fabric of the communities they serve. The fire service is part of the larger Delaware community. They build relationships with elected officials, business leaders, and the
Delaware Fire Service Facts media that support their fire initiatives and complement their partners’ organizational missions. Fire Prevention Programs Select fire prevention programs include: Wake Up Delaware is the state’s twice yearly smoke alarm giveaway program. From 2001 to 2004, fire service personnel distributed—without charge— 35,000 smoke alarms and 25,000 alarm batteries. Every fire company
• Over 7,000 people comprise Delaware’s fire service. • 63 fire companies serve the state; 60 are volunteer companies. • 56 DVFA Ladies Auxiliary Chapters exist around the state. • In 2004, the fire service responded to about 1500 residential fires in the state.
participates in the program that reminds Delaware’s citizens to, “Change your clock and change your batteries.”
The Delaware Code mandates the Delaware Fire School to provide public education on fire safety.
The Delaware Fire School is a nationallyrecognized pioneer in fire safety education offering more than 200 public education programs each year, including those tailored to specific requests. In 2005, more than 52,000 people were exposed to the Fire School’s public fire safety programs, which include classroom education and community events.
The Delaware Fire Detection Fund calls for the installation of working smoke alarms in every private residence in Delaware. To accomplish this goal, the legislature established the Fund to provide hard-wired smoke alarms to Delaware residents in need of such support. The Fire Marshal’s Office oversees the program, and with guidance from the Fire Prevention Commission prioritizes hard-wired alarm systems to homes with handi capped children or adults, infirm residents, or residents over 62.
Risk Watch is a school-based, compre hensive injury prevention curriculum developed by the National Fire Protection Association. In Delaware the program is run by a statewide coordinator. In 2005–2006, 960 classrooms in 73 schools used Risk Watch as part of their curriculum. Risk Watch reached over 24,000 students, more than 16% of the total student population. In addition to offering fire safety education, Risk Watch also addresses natural disasters and national security issues. Juvenile Fire Setters Intervention Program of the Fire Marshal’s Office targets youth involved in arson for intensive intervention. Few (approximately 6%) Program participants re-offend. Annual School Essay and Poster Contest, sponsored by local fire stations, encourages school children to express their knowledge of fire prevention through creative words and images. This is a statewide program for grades K through 8 that culminates in a DVFA-sponsored awards program. Other programs and activities are initiated by individual fire companies to meet specific needs in their communities. Activities include open houses, community fairs, and fire prevention films. Creative approaches include bilingual prevention outreach to poultry-farm workers through their employers. Fire Prevention Policy Policy is an important aspect of fire prevention in Delaware, as illustrated by the following select examples.
Fire prevention is a required component of public education. Fire sprinklers are mandatory in college dorms. Fire Prevention in Delaware: Model Characteristics Strategic—The fire service approaches fire prevention strategically, with an appreciation for the many forces involved with successful implementation of prevention policies and programs. Initiatives are carefully considered, building on partnerships and existing opportunities.
Who Does Fire Prevention in Delaware? Delaware Volunteer Firemen’s Association, the state association for firefighters, represents more than 7,000 fire service personnel from 63 fire companies. It serves and supports the interests of member companies as they provide community-based fire, rescue, emergency medical services and a range of life safety programs. Complementing these efforts are 56 DVFA Ladies Auxiliaries. Delaware Fire Prevention Commission has the authority to promulgate regulations related to fire prevention. The Commission oversees the Fire Marshal’s Office and the Fire School. Delaware Fire Marshal provides a fire-safe environment for Delaware’s citizens and visitors. Delaware Fire School is responsible for training firefighters and educating the public with regard to fire prevention and life safety.
Comprehensive—Fire prevention in Delaware includes attention to diverse populations, multiple risk factors and a range of potential solutions. Coordinated—The fire service coordinates their efforts to maximize its resources and impact. The well-organized fire service infra structure shapes and supports these model characteristics. DVFA leadership, who represent each of Delaware’s three counties are well connected to the local fire companies. This allows them to represent the front-line interests well and cultivate the trust needed to unify the fire service on matters of public debate that are of interest to the fire service. The Fire Prevention Commission oversees the Fire Marshal’s Office and the Fire School, demonstrating that fire prevention is a vital component of the government’s contribution to the safety of Delaware’s citizens.
“There is a relationship between elected and appointed officials and the fire service that is renowned in our state. It is built on trust and power with state officials. It is a political but totally nonpartisan approach.” —Delaware firefighter
“We are fortunate in this state to have a number of people who have pretty much made their life’s work in the fire service about prevention, and now we see the larger picture of injury prevention.” —Delaware firefighter
• Did You Know? Delaware Fire Facts
Delaware Fire Incident Surveillance Delaware participates in the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) as the Delaware Fire Incident Reporting System (DFIRS). Through DFIRS, the State Fire Marshal’s Office collects data on all fires in the state— including frequency, time, structure,
origin, cause of ignition, the presence of smoke alarms, and injuries and deaths to residents and firefighters. This is a valuable source of information for developing and evaluating fire prevention programs and policies.
• Residential fires and fire deaths are most common in winter.
Residential Fires and Injuries by Day May 2003–December 2004
• Kitchen and cooking areas are the most common places where fires start.
Residential Fires and Injuries by Month May 2003–December 2004 Fires
Injuries
Fires
200
8
500
10
400
8
300
6
200
4
100
2
Injuries
7 150
6 5
100
4 3
50
2 1
0
May J ’03
J A S O N D Jan F M A M J ’04
J A S O N D
0
0
Sun Mon Tue
Fri
Sat
0
Number of Fires Source: Delaware Fire Incident Number ofReporting Injuries System (DFIRS). n=2,480
Number of Fires Number of Injuries n=2,480
F
Wed Thu
• More fires occur on Saturday and Sunday than on any other day of the week, but more people are injured in fires on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
• In about half of fires, smoke alarms alert occupants of a fire. Residents are less likely to be injured or killed in a fire if they have a working smoke alarm. • Many homes in Delaware do not have working smoke alarms, despite the fact that smoke alarms save lives. The Delaware Fire Service provides smoke alarms and batteries free of charge through several initiatives. Source: Delaware Fire Incident Reporting System (DFIRS).
Future Directions
ire prevention is a passion within the Delaware fire service, whose prevention activities demonstrate impressive variety and reach. As with any worthwhile organization, however, the fire service and its activities must continue to be supported. Based on our findings, we suggest the following:
Increase the completeness of DFIRS incident reports. Delaware is heavily invested in DFIRS. Every fire company in the state participates, and the system is managed well. Improving the completeness of the field reports would increase the utility of the system. Evaluate prevention initiatives. Formal evaluation of fire prevention programs and policies will inform prevention initiatives and allow for continuous quality improvement of fire prevention services. Evaluation findings can also be useful in grant writing and fundraising.
Use DFIRS data in combination with policy and program evaluation results. This investment will inform future strategic decision making and ensure the best use of valuable resources. Address challenges to the sustainability of a mostly volunteer fire service. A strong legacy of service enables this vital public service to be staffed in large part, by volunteers. However, in some areas of the state, recruitment is increasingly a challenge, leading to concern about the long-term sustainability of the fire service and the state’s fire prevention initiatives.
“We no longer do fire safety education only during Fire Prevention Week—it is a year-round thing. You need to make fire safety education, fire prevention and life safety a way of life.” —Delaware firefighter
“One thing about our business is that it is ever evolving. There are always new ideas, new challenges coming up, and you have to meet those challenges. It’s all about keeping yourself fresh, getting out there and looking at different ideas and implementing them when it is appropriate.” —Delaware firefighter
“The fire service people have to believe in what they do. It’s more than a job; it is really a conviction.” —Delaware firefighter
Acknowledgements
Center for Injury Research and Policy Making discoveries that make a difference Hampton House, 5th Floor 624 North Broadway Baltimore, Maryland 21205-1996 (410) 955-2221 www.jhsph.edu/InjuryCenter/
Delaware Volunteer Firemen’s Association 122-A South Bradford Street P.O. Box 1849 Dover, Delaware 19903 (302) 734-9390 www.dvfassn.com
For additional information, or a copy of the full report, please contact Shannon Frattaroli at (410) 955-8022 or SFrattar@jhsph.edu.
Photography: Delaware Fire Service News; Dreamstime.com; iStock International, Inc. Design: Jennifer Dyer Graphic Design
Andrea C. Gielen, Shannon Frattaroli, Gwen Bergen, Van Ta, and Keshia Pollack of the Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy are grateful to the Delaware Volunteer Firemen’s Association, and the people of the fire service who gave their time and insights in order to inform this work. We also acknowledge financial and technical assistance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This project was supported under an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security.