NVFC B.E.S.T. Practices for Volunteer Firefighter Health and Safety - Part 3 - Standards and Codes

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The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) established its Health and Safety Committee in 2008 to continue their focus of protecting first responders.  A guidance program for volunteers was established called B.E.S.T. Practices which stands for Behavior, Equipment, Standards and Training. Part three of this series focuses on Standards and Codes.

Of the three parts under standards and codes the first encourages the use of smoke and fire detectors including fire sprinkler systems, like the City of Sierra Madre, California.

"We've had a sprinkler ordinance for the past 20 years in this town. So any new construction or any remodel over 50% they put in household sprinklers," said Stephen Heydorff, Sierra Madre Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief.  

Sierra Madre covers about 3 square miles and is home to more than 12 thousand people. The entire north part of town is wildland urban interface so education and checking residences for proper brush clearance is something this department is vigilant about.   

"We give them a notice and then we'll re-inspect them in 30 days and then if that doesn't happen they get another notice and eventually, although that hasn't happened in the last few years, if they don't comply then the city will go and do it and then it gets put onto their taxes," Heydorff said. 

Residents are aware of the problems, a year and a half ago half of the north part of the wildland burned and recently, the Station Fire burned in the mountains above the city which is part of the Angeles National Forest. Residents also have to be prepared for mudslides following the burn. The fire department has a flag system set up to alert residents to possible evacuations.

Another part of this Priority is to vigorously enforce all safety codes and ordinances, many developed by the International Code Council. This is not just for the safety of the public but also for the safety of the volunteers.

"It's difficult for the volunteer firefighters to go and do these inspections. But, we don't want to show up and have an egress blocked. Where at 3 in the morning we have to try and get into there, and all of a sudden it's blocked. So inspections are critical," according to Deputy Chief Kevin Quinn of the Union Fire District in South Kingstown, Rhode Island and an NVFC Board Member. 

For more information on the NVFC's B.E.S.T. Practices visit www.nvfc.org/Health_Safety.

Sunday, join FDNNTV.com for the final part of the series, which will look at the fourth Priority, Training. 


Author:Barbara Brooks - FDNNTV.com