Introduction
Fire is a common hazard and threat to safety in the United States at both the residential and commercial levels. Prevention and mitigation of loss have always been a priority for the agencies designated to protect the citizenry from fire hazards. Over the years, such organizations have conducted research to establish common causes and the impacts of the fires on individual lives and the economy. The 1987 and 1973 reports named America Burning were produced by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control, respectively. The documents evaluate the effects of fires in the United States in terms of loss and make recommendations to prevent and recover from the hazard. Analyzing these reports’ findings will establish their relevance to modern living and risk.
America Burning Revisited 1987
America Burning Revisited was produced by FEMA to establish a consensus about America’s fire problem’s position and trends, evaluate progress from previous recommendations, and make further recommendations to reduce risk and loss of life and property at state, local, and federal levels (FEMA, 1987). One of the findings during the 1987 report by one task force was that staffing and funds were the solutions to addressing the information gaps regarding the nation’s fire issue. The task force recognized that significant information gaps undermine fire departments’ ability to comprehensively analyze common fire problems due to a lack of data analysis capabilities. Integrating the available data would help capture and publicize information, which individuals and commercial entities can use to develop prevention protocols and recovery efforts.
The lack of available data also compromises fire departments’ efforts to progress in their work, as common mistakes that lead to preventable loss of life and property keep recurring. According to this report, one of the major causes of this information gap is the lack of staffing and funds to accomplish data collection, integration, and distribution. Most fire departments are stand-alone establishments that gather data from their small localities only. Since no system exists to facilitate information sharing, such departments rely only on their small information and human resources to resolve their fire issues (FEMA, 1987). Unfortunately, they miss out on more modern fire prevention and recovery methods due to a lack of access to comprehensive data. Insufficient funds and a lack of human resources compound this problem.
However, this finding may not be relevant to modern living and risk. Over the years, state and local agencies have significantly invested in data and expert human resources, tremendously reducing the recurrence of common fire problems. According to Kodur, Kumar, and Rafi (2019), technological innovations have contributed to the efficient use of data in managing fire hazards. Innovations have also contributed to developing modern protection systems, coupled with current legislations and protocols that ensure buildings and individuals adhere to strict measures to prevent fire hazards. Fire departments can now use technology to share data effectively between agencies, enhancing response rates to incidents when they occur (Kodur, Kumar & Rafi, 2019). In addition to the more current fire prevention measures, technology has also enabled the sharing of information across departments, which ensures that even smaller departments without substantial funds and renowned experts have access to such data.
America Burning 1973
Before the America Burning Revisited report by FEMA, The National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control produced documentation in 1973 intending to create a guideline to address the fire problem. The commission also offered various recommendations to all relevant stakeholders on reducing fire hazards, recovering from threats more efficiently, and suggesting strategies for recovering from fire incidents. One of the findings that the commission presented in the report was that the Urban Mass Transportation Administration needs a detailed plan for fire safety (The National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control, 1973). According to the documentation, the transport administration’s grants for the tail transit systems did not request detailed fire safety plans from the organizations (The National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control, 1973). As a result, the tail transit systems could receive grants without being required to fulfill the safety mandate, which led to the rising risk of fire hazards in the National Mass Transportation infrastructure.
Requiring organizations applying for grants through the Urban Mass Transportation Administration to fulfill fire safety measures for the tail transport system would mandate the organizations to implement the safety measures. The requirement would mean that the agencies are legally liable for any incidents involving fires within the transport infrastructure. Without such protocols and regulatory laws, Tail transit systems can develop their infrastructural projects without safety in mind. In light of these findings, the National Transportation Board recommended that grants given by the Urban Mass Transportation Administration attach the requirement for safety protocols against fires to enhance the safety of the transport systems (The National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control, 1973). Since these recommendations, the urban mass transportation agencies have continuously developed other security and safety protocols to reduce the risk of fires within the rail and road infrastructure.
This finding may not be relevant to modern living and risks because the relevant authorities have implemented multiple protocols that require all stakeholders to play an active role in fire safety in rail and road infrastructure. By the time of the report’s publication, the United States had approximately 200,000 miles of the main track, which played a critical role in the country’s economy. Infrastructure contributes to the productivity and growth of an economy by facilitating the transportation of raw materials, finished products, and labor to and from production to consumer points (Angle et al., 2019). Derailment by a fire incident would not only affect individuals and destroy property but can potentially derail the economy of a country (Angle et al., 2019). Therefore, the transport department in the United States has been actively reviewing and deploying strategies and policies to reduce the risk of fires through prevention and to guide the recovery process to limit losses. These protocols have made a difference in the findings reported in the documentation and modern living and risks.
Conclusion
A review of the two documents by FEMA and The National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control revealed significant gaps in the agencies’ preparedness and response to fire incidents. FEMA found significant informational gaps due to a lack of funds and expertise. However, the relevant agencies have been continuously developing crucial protocols to ensure that departments are sufficiently funded and staffed. As a result, these departments respond more effectively to fire incidents, reducing the extent of loss and fatalities compared to previous times. Similarly, the National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control’s report found that the Urban Mass Transportation Administration did not require applicants for the Tail system to fulfill fire safety requirements. However, these protocols have since been implemented, reducing the prevalence of fire incidents within the road and rail network.
References
Angle, J. S., Gala Jr, M. F., Harlow, D., & Lombardo, W. B. (2019). Firefighting strategies and tactics. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
FEMA. (1987). America burning revisited: National Workshop – Tyson’s Corner, Virginia. Web.
Kodur, V., Kumar, P., & Rafi, M. M. (2019). Fire hazard in buildings: review, assessment and strategies for improving fire safety. PSU Research Review, 4(1), 1-23. Web.
The National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control. (1973). America burning. Web.