FIRE PREVENTION

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FIRE PREVENTION

• Texarkana, Texas Fire Department

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BASIC RESPONSIBILITIES

• All departments in the U.S. have some type of
  involvement in fire prevention
• TTFD has a 4-man staff in fire prevention
• Specialize in development and delivery of public
  education
• All other employees have a role in public
  education

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BASIC RESPONSIBILITIES

• Promote fire prevention and fire safety through
  public education
• Certified Fire Investigators (TCFP)
• Certified Inspectors (TCFP)
• Licensed Peace Officers (TCLEOSE)
• Code Enforcement
• Plan Review Specialists

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FIRE PREVENTION PROGRAMS

• Commercial Building Inspections
• Smoke Detector Program
• Fire Extinguisher Training
• Home Inspections
• Safety Programs Industrial Sites
• Prevention and safety at other local businesses
  (Mall, etc.)

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NATIONAL PROGRAMS

• Learn Not to Burn
• Risk Watch
• Stop, Drop, and Roll
• Change Your Clock and Battery
• Fire Safety for Babysitters
• Fire Safety for Seniors

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FIRE PREVENTION WEEK - OCTOBER 8TH

• Deliver programs at every Texarkana, Texas
  elementary school (6,000 students)
• Trucks on site
• Field trips to fire stations
• Talks at civic organizations
• Most activities done year round

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GREAT CHICAGO FIRE

• October 8, 1871
• 300 died
• 17,000 structures destroyed
• 90,000 homeless
• Peshtigo, Wisconsin fire on same day
• 2,200 died
• 262 miles north of Chicago

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FIRE INVESTIGATION

• Fire Investigators are certified through Texas
  Commission on Fire Protection
• Must be Certified Peace Officers
• 20 hours continuing education required annually
• Attend specialized schools
• Electrical Investigation
• Natural Gas Investigations
• Kinesic Interview/Interrogation

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INSPECTIONS

• 2500 business inspections
• Engine companies do inspections in primary
  response areas
• Night inspections in public assemblies
• Fire Prevention does special hazards inspections
• Hospitals
• Nursing Homes
• Jails
• Government buildings
• Industrial complexes
• Opportunities, Inc.

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PLAN REVIEWS

• New construction
• Modifications to existing buildings
• Kenneth Steele does most
• Officed in City Hall
• Supplemented by other Fire personnel
• Conduct Systems Tests Fire Prevention Personnel

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CODE ENFORCEMENT

• Adopted in reaction to fire disasters
• Purpose To legally enforce minimum safety
  standards
• 2006 International Fire Codes
• May be in state statutes
• Example NFPA 101 (Life Safety)
• City codes more stringent
• Vary from city to city
• Example Burn ordinances

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FAMOUS FIRES

• 1903 Iroquois Theatre (Chicago 602 died)
• 1942 Cocoanut Grove Nightclub (Boston 491
  died)
• 1944 Ringling Bros. Circus (Hartford 68 died)
• 1977 Beverly Hills Supper Club (Southland 164
  died)

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MORE FAMOUS FIRES

• 1980 MGM Grand (Nevada 84 died)
• 1990 Happy Land Social Club (Bronx 87 died)
• 2003 Station Nightclub (Rhode Island 100 died)
• Set into motion many modern codes
• Made citizens aware of consequences of unsafe
  buildings

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CONCLUSION

• Texarkana, Texas Fire Department promotes safety
  and fire prevention through aggressive public
  education
• Witness to many tragic events that could have
  been avoided
• Constantly looking for new and better ways to
  make our community safe