Agenda - 05-16-1978 - Laserfiche WebLink

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AGENDA ATTACHMENT i ` Research Rural areas face greater risk of fire losses People living in the rural areas of the be generally a higher per capita fire ex- « Small populations from which to United States face a greater risk of loss perience rate for rural communities draw fire fighting. personnel (generally of life and property by fire than people (10,000 in population and under)than for less than2AOD); living in urban areas, regardless of larger,urban communities. • Large areas that are protected by which type of community is 1'zvpd in.the « A recent HUD funded study per- volunteer fire departments (which re- culture,or the way of life. formed by the National American Indian suits in longer response times); Safety Council and NFPA found that the • A shortage of funds for fire sup- This was the theme of a presentation rate of fire-related insurance claims and pression equipment and apparatus; made by Joseph A. Swartz.Director of associated loss involving HUD-assisted • Limited opportunities for fire ser- NFPA's Research Division,at the Rural Indian housing was greater than in other vice training; Community Fire Protection i Excess areas of the country. • Frequent dependence on contract Property Workshop, sponsored by the « Finally, during the first h and mutual aid fire suppression services; USDA Forest Service held in Denver on Y g phase o€a and National Safety Council stud ducted March 6-9. y con • Lower levels of code enforcement by the search Institute and fire prevention activity. During his talk concerning the NFPA NFPA and the Internationa .ity mission and programs relating]to rural Management Association, it was found Solutions to some of the problems fire protection, Swartz said s udies of that the incidence of fire and the fire loss caused by the characteristics cited the fire problem in the United per capita in towns with populations of should include identifying sources of have consistently estimated th t losses under 5DO0 it disproportionately funding for organizing, training and (life and property) and rates (incident, higher than in other areas. The study equipping fire fighters;the development death and injury) are greater in rural surveyed fringe"or rural communities of occupant-oriented educational pro- areas than in urban areas. He also as well as ring' and center com- grams,including those pertaining to fire described the nature of the pr blem as munities within 200 Standard Metropolitan statistical areas. preventian,'escape planning and use of well as some solutions. extinguishing devices; and enactment Swartz cited three studies w ich show According to Swartz,the nature of the and enforcement of codes pertaining to fire problem basically similar across installation and maintenenace of fire the gravity of the rural fire pro lem. p y detection devices. all rural areas in the country.In general, • As a result of the NFPA urvey of rural areas are characterized by: 1975 fire experience,there was found to t, '�iti