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GUIDELINE TO DEVELOPING
Introduction The old saying in the fire service is: "The three main causes of fire are MEN, WOMEN and CHILDREN!" One look at the commonly listed causes of fire shows that human carelessness is to blame. If you examine all fire causes, you will find a wrong human behavior of some sort, either accidental or intentional was the cause of most fires. The attitude that "It can’t happen to me" is what keeps most of us from practicing and making fire safety a way of life. However, our statistics prove fire is happening, so someone must be affected. Fire is not a forgiving adversary and many victims are severely injured or killed. Annually we are burning more of our human and economic resources than most of the major nations on our planet. Fires are destroying buildings, killing citizens and fire fighters because someone, out of apathy, ignorance or both, allowed a dangerous condition to exist. 76% of our fire deaths in Manitoba in 1996 occurred in residential dwellings. Many fires result in loss of life or severe injury. This loss of life or injury could be been prevented if people had known how to prevent fires, how to prepare for fires and how to protect themselves in a fire situation. Only through a program of fire safety education can the public learn how to play a role in changing Canada’s fire problem. In most of these situations, it has been found that there has been either an inoperable smoke alarm or no smoke alarm at all. Public fire education in schools, with community groups, seniors and clubs teaches people what they can do to change their life styles to keep fire from happening; how to select and use smoke alarms to give those precious few minutes warning when prevention methods fail; how to survive in smoke and heat through exit drills in the home; and how to get out, notify the fire department, stay out and live! Through public fire education the number of fires will be reduced through safer living habits; death and injures due to fire will be minimized and less property lost through a faster call to the fire department by people awakened by a smoke alarm and peoples’ lives can be saved by their escaping quicker. The fire service is expected to provide expertise in fire safety. Public fire education is an integral part in making your community fire safe. Fire education is a 52-week commitment not just for Fire Prevention Week. Once the fire has started it is too late. It is our responsibility as the Manitoba Fire Service to provide fire education to the citizens of our communities. top
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