Over the past 5 years our city has averaged over $1,000,000 in fire loss annually. Most of the bigger losses have been in multi-family dwellings and most of those have been in our larger apartment buildings. So far this year our fire loss stands at just over $100,000 for the six month period ending June 30, 2007. This is a very surprising and welcome trend that is developing. If this continues at anywhere near the current rate, it begs the question as to why.
I am not sure I can answer that question with absolute certainty at this point but I do believe there are several influences that may be taking hold to effect our current reduction in fire loss.
First, over the past 5 years we have increased our Fire Prevention staff from 2 people to 5 people. We are now doing more than just inspecting the new buildings as they go up. We now have the resources to get into all of our commercial properties on a regular basis. Routine inspections are excellent opportunities to educate building owners and property managers about safe practices within their spaces. A more informed owner/property manager generally results in better fire safe practices.
Second, our fire department continues to be very active with public education programs, visitng schools and going to neighborhood gatherings. While a lot of the time spent with the younger crowd is showing them the trucks, we also spend a lot of time talking to them about fire safe behaviors.
A third factor is that one of our fire inspectors is assigned to get into every apartment complex at least once per year and into every apartment or civilian rental space at leat once every four years. This new program has been in effect for a little over 12 months and the resutls so far have been impressive. Over 100 illegal grills have been removed from the decks of multi-story apartment buildings, as well as hundreds of improper ashtray containers. Almost all of our apartment bulding fires over the past 5 years have been the result of one of these two causes.
Finally, we could be experiencing good fortune. I am sure this is part of the equation for our dramatic decline in fire loss so far, but I hope that over the next few years the trend continues downward and our increased efforts are the defining factor in reduced loss and not counting too much on good fortune.
Below are a few pictures of what we find and remove as it related to unsafe situations and code violations in some of our rental housing units.

