Fire Prevention Services Bureau
Introduction
The Fire Prevention Services Bureau provides a number of programs designed to reduce the incidence and severity of fire loss through preventative measures. These programs are centered on four general areas; code enforcement, plan review and construction inspection, fire investigations and public education.
Code Enforcement
Business and Multi-family Dwelling Inspection Program
Perhaps the most visible activity of the Bureau, the code enforcement area's primary focus is the Business and Multi-family Dwelling Inspection Program. Every year, fire department personnel conduct over 3,800 inspections of every business and apartment house in Brisbane, Daly City, and Pacifica. The program serves to educate business and property owners in fire safety by increasing their knowledge and helping to develop or change attitudes towards fire prevention. Other specialized inspections are performed by the Fire Prevention Inspectors. A Fire Inspection Checklist has been provided to help business owners correct violations and avoid re-inspection fees.
Vegetation Management Program
Another important part of code enforcement activities is the vegetation management program. This program seeks to reduce the urban/wildland interface fire hazard potential in the our cities. As a result of the program's success, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reduced the fire hazard rating for Daly City's Southern Hills Area from a "Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone" to a "Low-Hazard" area. This was the first such reduction in the State of California. The on-going program has consistently achieved a 99% voluntary compliance rate.
Back to top
Plan Review and Construction Inspection
Through the plan review and construction inspection process, the Fire Prevention Bureau seeks to ensure that all new buildings meet all of the State and local Building and Fire Code requirements. Bureau personnel conducts over 1,500 plan reviews and construction inspections annually.
Members of the Fire Prevention Bureau attend meetings during the design and development stage with architects, fire protection engineers, and contractors to assure code compliance, accelerate the review and approval process, and minimize construction delays. A Contractors Information Package has been prepared to give detailed guidance on local requirements.
One of the most important local requirement for Brisbane, Daly City, and Pacifica is that every new building constructed is equipped with an automatic fire sprinkler system. By installing sprinkler systems in all new construction, our cities not only help to protect the structures and their occupants, but also help to reduce the need for additional fire department resources as a result of new development.
Back to top
Fire Investigation
The Fire Prevention Bureau provides trained fire investigators to help determine the cause and origin of all fires within the jurisdiction of the North County Fire Authority. By identifying the leading causes of fires, the Department can better allocate resources to deal with specific problems. For example, investigators were able to determine that residents in Daly City were twice as likely to have kitchen fires as the national average. This resulted in public education program specifically focused on kitchen fire safety.
Public Education
Public education is an important part of any fire prevention program. The best way of preventing fires is to change the attitudes and behaviors that directly contribute to them. The Fire Prevention Bureau conducts a variety of educational and community out-reach programs to get fire safety messages out to our citizens. These include school programs, speakers bureau, station tours, exhibits and public displays, media releases, door-to-door canvassing, CPR training and certification, blood pressure screening, "Every 15 Minutes", Child Identification and DNA Kit distribution, and Community Emergency Response Team (Daly City and Pacifica) and Community Emergency Volunteer (Brisbane) programs. Last year, as a result of the Department's efforts, over 30,000 residents were directly contacted as part of 236 separate activities. For information on any of these programs contact North County Fire Authority at (650) 991-8138.
School Programs
The Fire Department teaches fire safety awareness classes in 33 elementary schools, instructing over 11,000 students in grades K-6 in all three cities. Fire companies teach various public safety lessons that children need in order to be safe from fire and other accidents. These programs are presented in October, in conjunction with National Fire Prevention Week.
Speakers Bureau
The Fire Department provides free 45-minute presentations to community groups on two topics:
1. Fire Safety - This program focuses our local causes of fire and their prevention. Free handout materials are handed out following a question and answer period.
2. Earthquake Preparedness -- This program gives an overview of our local earthquake threat and teaches the essentials of citizen safety and preparedness in the event of an earthquake or other disaster.
These programs are provided to groups throughout the year, and are available at no cost.
Back to top
Station Tours
The Fire Department offers station tours to school groups. The tour covers a typical day in the life of a firefighter as well as specific fire safety messages. Tour arrangements must be made in advance. Drop-in tours are not permitted. Call (650) 991-8138 for information.
Exhibits and Public Displays
The Fire Department provides staffed exhibits and public displays at a number of community events, such as health fairs, the Fil-Am Festival, the Fog-fest, the Gateway Festival, Harbor Festival, etc. Personnel distribute safety information and handouts and conduct safety demonstrations.
CPR Training and Certification
The Fire Department teaches CPR to residents. Call (650) 991-8138 for details.
Community Emergency Response Team (Daly City and Pacifica), Community Emergency Volunteers (Brisbane).
The Cities of Brisbane, Daly City and Pacifica have programs that provide education and training to residents and citizens groups so that they are better prepared to survive a major disaster. Neighborhoods, businesses, and homeowners' associations are taught valuable skills to use, particularly in the 72 hours immediately after a disaster, when services of emergency personnel may be overwhelmed. Classes include information on earthquake preparedness, disaster medicine, fire-fighting techniques, search and rescue, and team organization.
Back to top
"Every 15 Minutes"
Each year the Daly City Police Department along with the Fire Department, present "Every Fifteen Minutes," a two-day program focusing on high school junior and seniors. This program challenges youth to think about drinking, driving, personal safety and the responsibility of making mature decisions. It also focuses on the impact their decisions have on the family, friends and many others.
The program's name was derived from the fact that in the early 1990's, every fifteen minutes someone in the United States died in an alcohol-related traffic collision.
Through several efforts, the death rate is now every thirty minutes, a figure which continues to be unacceptable.
The program brings together a broad coalition of interested local agencies with the goal of reducing alcohol-related incidents among youth.
Library Program
This year, a number of new and innovative public outreach programs were instituted. The Department initiated a twice-monthly reading program by our Fire Companies for children at local libraries. This program allows fire personnel to develop positive relationships with our youngest citizens and insert fire safety messages in a fun an entertaining way.
DNA Kits and Blood Pressure Screenings
The Department initiated fire station based outreach programs consisting of monthly blood pressure screening for seniors and a Child Identification and DNA Kit distribution program. This drop-in program is conducted at all fire stations on the 2nd Saturday of each month.
For information regarding any of these programs, please contact us at (650) 991-8138 or e-mail us at North County Fire Authority.
Back to top
|