Author: Department of Homeland Security. Federal Emergency Management Agency. United States Fire Administration

Publisher:

Published: 2006

Total Pages: 93

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The fire departments in the United States respond to an average of 1.7 million fire calls each year. In fact, America's fire death rate is one of the highest per capita in the industrialized world. Over the last ten years, fire losses in the United States have averaged about 1.7 million fires, 3,932 deaths and 20,919 injuries per year, though the rate of fire deaths and injuries has declined over this period. To put this in context, the combined average annual losses in the United States from floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and other natural disasters is a fraction of the casualties from fires. Annually, direct property loss from fire is estimated at more than $10 billion and the total cost of fire - including the cost of volunteer fire departments ($20 billion annually), the cost of insurance overhead, the direct cost of fire-related losses, the medical cost of fire injuries, and other direct and indirect costs to the American economy is estimated to be more than $100 billion. A dismal fire record in the 1970's led to the creation of the United States Fire Administration (USFA). Acting to decrease the tragic losses, Congress established USFA. In 1974, Public Law 93-498 established the National Fire Prevention and Control Administration (NFPCA). In 1978, Public Law 95-422 changed the name from NFPCA to USFA. The USFA's mission is to reduce loss of life and economic losses due to fire and related emergencies by providing leadership, advocacy, coordination and support. This is accomplished in coordination with federal agencies, and in partnership with fire protection and emergency services communities nationwide. The USFA provides public education, training, technology and data initiatives. Since the creation of the USFA, the Nation's fire loss has decreased significantly. Through USFA's public education and awareness initiatives, training, research, technology development, data collection and analysis, and partnering with other fire safety interests, the rate has steadily improved. Over the last 10 years, fires have declined by 18 percent. During this same period of time, an 18 percent decline in civilian deaths and a 32 percent drop in civilian injuries have also been experienced. Although the dollar loss figures have increased since 1995, this can reasonably be explained by normal increases in construction costs and prices in general. USFA with its National Fire Academy (NFA), National Fire Data Center (NFDC) and Program Offices, originally a part of the United States Department of Commerce (DOC) was transferred from the DOC to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) by way of Reorganization Plan Number 3 of 1978 and remained an entity of FEMA from 1978 until October 1, 2005. The Emergency Management Institute, formerly part of USFA, was separated from USFA as part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Act Second Stage Review (2SR) and remains with FEMA. On October 1, 2005, as a result of the DHS Act 2SR Reorganization, USFA was transferred from FEMA to the DHS Preparedness Directorate. While USFA continues to be the federal and national focus of reducing the incidents of fire and fire-related deaths, injuries and property damage, and to better prepare the Nation's fire service as the primary local emergency services, USFA staff are revising the focus of their training, programs and activities to better support accomplishing the goals and objectives of DHS. On March 31, 2007, as a result of the Post-Katrina Management Reform Act of 2006, USFA, including the NFA and most of the other preparedness initiatives within the Preparedness Directorate were transferred to FEMA. Currently, the NFA resides within the USFA at FEMA, while the Emergency Management Institute resides within the new National Integration Center at FEMA that will consist of several other training programs and institutions.

Download or read book United States Fire Administration written by Department of Homeland Security. Federal Emergency Management Agency. United States Fire Administration and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 93 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The fire departments in the United States respond to an average of 1.7 million fire calls each year. In fact, America's fire death rate is one of the highest per capita in the industrialized world. Over the last ten years, fire losses in the United States have averaged about 1.7 million fires, 3,932 deaths and 20,919 injuries per year, though the rate of fire deaths and injuries has declined over this period. To put this in context, the combined average annual losses in the United States from floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and other natural disasters is a fraction of the casualties from fires. Annually, direct property loss from fire is estimated at more than $10 billion and the total cost of fire - including the cost of volunteer fire departments ($20 billion annually), the cost of insurance overhead, the direct cost of fire-related losses, the medical cost of fire injuries, and other direct and indirect costs to the American economy is estimated to be more than $100 billion. A dismal fire record in the 1970's led to the creation of the United States Fire Administration (USFA). Acting to decrease the tragic losses, Congress established USFA. In 1974, Public Law 93-498 established the National Fire Prevention and Control Administration (NFPCA). In 1978, Public Law 95-422 changed the name from NFPCA to USFA. The USFA's mission is to reduce loss of life and economic losses due to fire and related emergencies by providing leadership, advocacy, coordination and support. This is accomplished in coordination with federal agencies, and in partnership with fire protection and emergency services communities nationwide. The USFA provides public education, training, technology and data initiatives. Since the creation of the USFA, the Nation's fire loss has decreased significantly. Through USFA's public education and awareness initiatives, training, research, technology development, data collection and analysis, and partnering with other fire safety interests, the rate has steadily improved. Over the last 10 years, fires have declined by 18 percent. During this same period of time, an 18 percent decline in civilian deaths and a 32 percent drop in civilian injuries have also been experienced. Although the dollar loss figures have increased since 1995, this can reasonably be explained by normal increases in construction costs and prices in general. USFA with its National Fire Academy (NFA), National Fire Data Center (NFDC) and Program Offices, originally a part of the United States Department of Commerce (DOC) was transferred from the DOC to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) by way of Reorganization Plan Number 3 of 1978 and remained an entity of FEMA from 1978 until October 1, 2005. The Emergency Management Institute, formerly part of USFA, was separated from USFA as part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Act Second Stage Review (2SR) and remains with FEMA. On October 1, 2005, as a result of the DHS Act 2SR Reorganization, USFA was transferred from FEMA to the DHS Preparedness Directorate. While USFA continues to be the federal and national focus of reducing the incidents of fire and fire-related deaths, injuries and property damage, and to better prepare the Nation's fire service as the primary local emergency services, USFA staff are revising the focus of their training, programs and activities to better support accomplishing the goals and objectives of DHS. On March 31, 2007, as a result of the Post-Katrina Management Reform Act of 2006, USFA, including the NFA and most of the other preparedness initiatives within the Preparedness Directorate were transferred to FEMA. Currently, the NFA resides within the USFA at FEMA, while the Emergency Management Institute resides within the new National Integration Center at FEMA that will consist of several other training programs and institutions.