The Institution of Fire Engineers-USA Branch has been awarded a grant by the Department of Homeland Security Fire Prevention and Safety grant program to continue the work of the landmark Vision 20/20 project. Vision 20/20 has played a central role since 2007 in bringing together the nation’s fire safety organizations to develop common strategies for reducing the loss of life and injury from fire.
There are five strategies that have been collaboratively developed, including:
- Increasing advocacy for fire prevention
- Conducting a national safety education/social marketing campaign
- Raising the importance of fire prevention within the fire service
- Promoting technology to enhance fire and life safety
- Refining and improving the application of codes and standards that enhance public and fire fighter safety and preserve community assets
Community Risk Reduction
Community Risk Reduction is a way of identifying high risk areas and designing strategies including home safety visits and smoke alarm installations. Through extensive data collected during home fire safety visits, information has emerged to help other towns and cities put Community Risk Reduction into practice. On average, fire departments respond to fires every 23 seconds, someone is injured every 31 minutes and a person is killed every 3 hours, daily. Fires cause an estimated $12.5 billion in property damage yearly.
The Community Risk Reduction program is a multi-faceted initiative to reduce the occurrence and negative impact of fires in the community. Division participation in the program will include:
- Conducting community analysis to target areas at greatest risk of fire loss
- Acquisition, distribution, installation and home inspection of 2500 Dual Sensors Smoke Alarms, and 300 Carbon Monoxide Alarms
- Acquisition, distribution, installation and home inspection of 220 Smoke Alarms for the hearing impaired
- Advertising to announce the project and handing out materials with each installation
The Division of Fire will be working in collaboration with the American Red Cross, Cleveland Department of Aging and the Cleveland Department of Community Relations.
The Division will be conducting outreach via the Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center, Head Start agencies, churches, and other grassroots organizations. Those seeking additional information about this project may call 216.664.6388 or email JBrewington@city.cleveland.oh.us
