United States Fire Administration (USFA) News

According to the National Fire Protection Association, there are over 354,000 residential fires a year, causing, on average, around 2,600 deaths and over 11,000 injuries. The majority of fire-related deaths occur at night while people sleep. The important role of well-placed, quality smoke alarms is easy to see. There are two main types of smoke alarms – ionization and photoelectric. Understanding the difference between the two can help users make the best decision, regarding installing t...

Good outcomes in communities before, during, and after a wildfire event are dependent upon a holistic look at the risk and effective, ongoing community engagement by firefighters, residents, and all partners in an area. Whole Community approach Good communication allows all participants to feel that their perspectives are heard and valued and increases their willingness to participate in promoting wildfire safety. This is the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Whole Community approach. Use...

For anyone starting a new restaurant, navigating the complex maze of fire protection regulations can seem like a daunting task. In this post, Koorsen Fire & Security will provide an overview of the basic requirements that anyone needs to be aware of along with the relevant codes in which they can be found. To simplify the topic, on the basis of the requirements for restaurants, they will be grouped into two main categories, life safety and fire protection. Life safety requirements apply to...

Many studies have shown that firefighters and emergency medical services (EMS) responders have a high likelihood of experiencing verbal or physical violence at least once in their career. Fire-based paramedics and EMS are at particularly high risk of experiencing an assault, since they respond to calls in varied locations, often paired with only one or two colleagues. In these situations, they may come into close contact with people who have mental health issues. Mitigating the risk of assault...

Standpipe systems are installed in buildings to help firefighters deploy attack hose lines quickly and with adequate water pressure and volume. They may be designed for heavy-stream applications, first-aid fire appliances, or have features of both. Understanding the differences and recognizing their designs can help you to plan your fire attack and protect lives and property. Standpipe classifications Standpipe systems are described by classes to indicate their fire protection performanc...

Before winter weather arrives, the USFA fire department should make plans with agencies and organizations responsible for snow removal and water distribution to ensure personnel has access to fire hydrants, buildings, and critical fire protection features, such as fire sprinklers and standpipe connections. The code The International Fire Code (IFC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Uniform Fire Codes have requirements to ensure the safety of the public and firefighters....

Fire chiefs endorse position papers on hot work safety, the economic impact of firefighter injuries, suicide prevention, the National Firefighter Registry, data analyst/chief information officer, and the Centre for Homeland Defence and Security Fire chiefs from Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States participated in the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Urban Fire Forum (UFF) last week at NFPA headquarters in Quincy, Massachusetts. NFPA President and CEO Jim Pauley welcomed...

Evacuation planning is one of the most difficult tasks in emergency management. Bottlenecks on evacuation routes have resulted in deaths. Because of this, StreetLight Data researched small towns across the U.S. and their evacuation routes. The results are available free to government agencies looking to develop disaster evacuation plans or improve infrastructure. Research details  The research involved 30,000 towns in the U.S. with populations under 40,000. These communiti...

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder exchange stands are a popular feature in many big-box stores and bulk refueling areas. Users can find these caged cylinders at gas stations, convenience stores, home improvement stores, or supermarkets. To mitigate LPG fire or explosion risk, it’s important for code officials to make sure that sellers follow the fire code requirements for safe distances between LPG storage cabinets and other exposures. Fire code requirements When the total qua...

The Thomas Fire in December 2017 claimed two lives, burned 281,893 acres, and destroyed more than 1,000 structures before it was contained on Jan. 12, 2018. The Montecito Fire Protection District (MFPD), a small coastal community in California, saw the loss of only seven structures, a remarkably low number given the extreme fire behavior it experienced. The low fire loss was due to the successful mitigation strategies the Montecito community pursued for over two decades beginning in 1994....

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) released its annual “U.S. Firefighter Fatalities in the United States” report, which showed a total of 64 U.S. firefighter fatalities while on duty in 2018. This continues a five-year trend of fewer than 70 deaths per year. It is also the eighth time in the last 10 years that fewer than 70 on-duty deaths have occurred; the death toll is half what it was in the first five years that NFPA conducted this study. Of the 64 fatalit...

There are over 1 million electric and plug-in cars on U.S. roads. The batteries used in these cars have special safety concerns for first responders if there is a car fire. These cars can experience multiple classes of fires: Class A (tires, fabrics, plastics). Class B (fuel). Class C (lithium-ion batteries in hybrid and electric cars). Class D (magnesium, titanium, aluminum, and lithium). common risks Electric vehicle fires can be thousands of degrees hot. Applying water or foam...

The Metropolitan “Metro” Fire Chiefs Association, a Section of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) held its 2019 annual conference in Edmonton, Alberta June 8-14. More than 110 Metro chiefs from Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Mexico, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States attended the conference and elected the Association’s 2019-2020 officers and board members. The officers are: Chi...

Every year, about 10,000 people are treated for injuries in hospital emergency departments due to the mishandling of live, misfired, and waste consumer fireworks. In addition, fires resulting from fireworks cause over $100 million in direct property damage. Many U.S. cities are seeing a surge in consumer fireworks usage by the public in 2020. Consumer fireworks Consumer fireworks are defined as any small firework device designed to produce visible effects by combustion and...

Oliver Holmes, Sr. once said, “It is the province of knowledge to speak and the privilege of wisdom to listen.” Each year, the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) conducts the National Fire and Emergency Services Symposium and Dinner program to provide opportunities for fire service leaders across the nation to both speak and listen. And, it was for this reason that the theme selected is ‘Exchanging Knowledge to Advance Our Mission’. There is much to learn about...

Follow these steps when a required fire protection system is out of service for repair, replacement, or another problem. Like any electronic or mechanical device, fire protection systems require periodic maintenance to assure a high degree of reliability. Occasionally, they are damaged and need repair. Often, they need replacement or upgrades. Regardless of the reason, there are times fire protection systems are shut down on purpose. Shutdown steps If there is a planned shutdown, advise...

Nanotechnology, manufactured at scale and low cost while posing minimal health risks, may point to a future with fewer fires that are less lethal and less damaging. The U.S. Fire Administration reported over 1.3 million structure fires in 2017 causing an estimated 3,400 deaths, 14,670 injuries, and 23 billion dollars in damages. The high cost of current fire problems in lives and property leads some researchers to look for innovative fire protection solutions. Nanotechnology One such sol...

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) guide walks fire chiefs and other officials through wildfire planning using the four phases of emergency management: preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation. Using case studies from all parts of the country, the guide details successful best practices already in use, giving fire departments new to wildfire planning a leg up and the ability to get started without reinventing the wheel. Wildfire risk  In 2018, federal wildfire su...

Fires at buildings under construction can be severe and the challenges they present are unique. Some of these may include: Poor site access Water supplies are not fully developed or readily available Construction equipment and debris on the ground and each floor under construction Difficulty finding one's way around the job site Firefighters need to be aware of these dangers and the tools available to them to prepare for these incidents. One tool that helps firefighters at building cons...

Metropolitan Fire Chiefs from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom participated in the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Urban Fire Forum (UFF) at NFPA headquarters in Quincy, Mass. NFPA President and CEO Jim Pauley welcomed the chiefs and provided an overview of the association’s Fire and Life Safety Ecosystem, reinforcing the critical role urban fire chiefs play in ensuring safe communities. Special guests at the Forum included the President of the Canadian Associ...

NFPA’s James M. Shannon Medal awarded to Jim Dalton in recognition of his work The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) announced Jim Dalton as the 2018 James M. Shannon Advocacy Medal for his career long commitment and passion for fire safety culminating with his efforts that led to the passage of the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act. NFPA’s Fire and Public Safety initiatives The James M. Shannon Advocacy Medal was established in honor of Jim Shannon, who ser...

NFPA’s 2017 U.S. Firefighter Fatalities report reflects lowest on-job deaths in 40 years The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) released its annual U.S. Firefighter Fatalities report, which showed a total of 60 U.S. firefighter fatalities while on duty in 2017. This number represents the lowest total reported since 1977, when NFPA began reporting on-duty firefighter fatalities; it is the sixth time in the last seven years that the total has been below 70 deaths....

Between 2011 and 2015, portable and stationary space heaters accounted for more than two of every five U.S. home heating fires and five out of six home heating fire deaths Keeping sufficiently warm during the winter months can prove challenging, particularly when frigid temperatures persist, as they have recently for much of the country. While portable space heaters can help generate heat, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is reminding the public that they do p...

CPSC and USFA are working to further reduce fires and fire deaths through education In recognition of Fire Prevention Week, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) have provided new statistics on fires in American homes and urging consumers to install smoke alarms in their homes and check to make sure all smoke alarms are working properly. It is also vitally important to develop and practice a family fire escape plan. In a re...

The report is based on 2008 to 2010 data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) announces the release of a special report examining the characteristics of portable heater fires in residential buildings. The report, Portable Heater Fires in Residential Buildings (2008-2010), was developed by USFA’s National Fire Data Center and is based on 2008 to 2010 data from the N...

2012 Career Fire Chief Kelvin J. Cochran,of the Atlanta Fire Rescue Departmentin Atlanta, GA. Fire Chief Magazine, part of Penton Media, Inc.’s Public Infrastructure Group, and Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE: OSK) company, today announced the 2012 winners of the annual “Fire Chief of the Year” awards. Career Fire Chief Kelvin J. Cochran of the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department in Atlanta, Ga. and Volunteer Fire Chief Jona Olsson of the...

An estimated average of 3,800 university housing fires occur each year The Federal Emergency Management Agency's United States Fire Administration (USFA) has issued a special report focusing on the causes and characteristics of fires in college and university residential buildings that include dormitories and fraternity and sorority houses.  The report, University Housing Fires (2007-2009), was developed by the National Fire Data Center and is a part of the USFA's Topica...

FEMA and the National Commission on Children and Disasters are promoting fire safety awareness USFA have issued a new report on the high risks fires pose for children based on the latest available data released by the National Centre for Health Statistics.With home fires on the rise in winter months and a new study showing that young children are at an especially high risk of getting seriously injured or dying in residential fires, the Federal Eme...

The EMS curriculum now offers courses specifically identified as gaps in EMS education  The two new EMS courses are Emergency Medical Services Quality Management (EMS QM) and Emergency Medical Services Functions in the Incident Command System (EMS FICS). The U.S. Fire Administration's (USFA), National Fire Academy (NFA) has completed development of the first two new Emergency Medical Services (EMS) courses in response to the U.S. Fire Administration Reauthorization Act o...

The Fire Prevention and Safety Grants are meant to enhance the safety of public and firefighters Fire Prevention & Safety grants support projects that enhance the safety of the public and firefighters from fire and fire-related hazards. The Department of Homeland Security posted the FY2011 Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grants Program Guidance on the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Program Web site. The application period is scheduled to begin on Jan. 3, 20...