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STRATEGIES aimed at reducing fire deaths in rural America are outlined in a new report from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the US Fire Administration.
As the report explains, communities in the USA with fewer than 2,500 residents have a per capita fire death rate that is almost twice the national rate – underlining the need for more effective fire safety measures.
The report was developed in consultation with fire service organisations and community agencies in rural areas to learn more about their successes and challenges. It looks at issues ranging from fire protection and suppression, to public education, codes and consumer product safety.
With rural areas typically populated by people on the lower end of the economic scale, the report singles out poverty as the key factor driving the higher fire risk in these communities. ‘While rural populations have a greater need for safety, they have a reduced ability to fill that need without outside help’, says the NFPA.
The report includes ‘train-the-trainer’ presentations to help the rural fire service deliver successful outreach programmes, as well as fire safety presentations for residents.
Mitigation of the rural fire problem: Strategies based on original research and adaptation of existing best practices is available from: www.nfpa.org
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