Appendix B: List of Risk Assessment Resources
Training Programs
Community Risk Issues & Prevention Interventions (W0347)
U.S. Fire Administration
This 2-day course is designed for students who work in the field of prevention. Students learn a basic overview of the “three E’s” of prevention–education, engineering, and enforcement. The course concludes that the most effective way to combat community risk issues is to develop strategies that use all “three E’s.” Course content includes evaluation of the types and levels of community prevention; how injuries, fires, and burns can be prevented; strategies and countermeasures to help people understand the injury, fire, or burn event and reduce the loss; and* prevention approaches—behavior changes, legislation, and enforcement and engineering.
Executive Analysis of Community Risk Reduction (R0274)
U.S. Fire Administration
This 10-day course is the second course in the Executive Fire Officer Program (EFOP). The course is a mixture of philosophy and application–the value of the community risk reduction and the process of applying risk reduction to the community. It involves developing partnerships with the community to implement programs, initiatives, and services that prevent and/or mitigate the risk of human caused or natural disasters. Traditional fire prevention programs are addressed.
Leadership Strategies for Community Risk Reduction (R0833)
U.S. Fire Administration
This 6-day course is designed to enhance knowledge and skills necessary to lead, manage and apply fire prevention strategies and community risk reduction initiatives at the local level. This course will give students tools and techniques to raise the level of importance for prevention within their organization. The course will demonstrate how fire prevention and other risk reduction initiatives can benefit them directly and individually.
Cultural Competence in Risk Reduction (R0394)
U.S. Fire Administration
This new six-day NFA course seeks to improve cultural and linguistic determinants within the application of risk reduction strategies. This course aims to connect fire/EMS prevention personnel with diverse and cultural groups with the community(s) they serve, specifically to increase the reach and effectiveness of fire/life safety prevention services and programs. CCIRR is designed for a variety of prevention specialists such as public fire and life safety educators, inspectors, juvenile fire setter intervention specialists, fire marshals and code enforcers.
Advanced Technology for Community Risk/Standards of Cover
Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE)
Designed for accreditation managers and their GIS specialists, this one-day seminar (or five-week webinar) focuses on using GIS and related tools to conduct the analysis required to complete the CFAI Community Risk and Standards of Cover (SOC) process. The workshop covers the data necessary to use GIS and Excel software and produce the exhibits necessary for a defendable Community Risk/SOC study.
Publications & Other Documents
RHAVE and Community Risk Assessment for Volunteer Fire Departments
Ronny J. Coleman, Senior Fire Protection Consultant
A short paper discussing the Risk, Hazard, and Value Evaluation (RHAVE) tools.
Guide for the Evaluation of Fire Risk Assessments, 2013 Edition (NFPA 551)
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
This document identifies various types of fire risk assessment methods and describes the properties these methods should possess.
Funding Alternatives for Emergency Medical and Fire Services (FA-331/April 2012)
U.S. Fire Administration/FEMA
The purpose of this manual is to identify the various grants and innovative funding alternatives available for emergency medical services (EMS) and fire protection services. Where appropriate, a discussion of the pros and cons of a particular funding source are discussed. In some instances, examples are given to illustrate how alternative funding is being successfully implemented in EMS agencies and fire departments across the country.
Addressing Community Wildfire Risk: A Review and Assessment of Regulatory and Planning Tools
The Fire Protection Research Foundation and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
A study conducted to review and assess the effectiveness of regulatory planning tools designed to address community wildfire risk, and to communicate lessons learned to communities considering such regulation. The project deliverables define the WUI regulatory landscape through the identification of regulatory tools, categorization of these tools, and their evaluation to clarify their effectiveness.
Managing Fire & Rescue Services
ICMA
Includes a chapter on community risk assessment and management.
National Fire Protection Association ()
Contains various information and tools concerning the NFPA’s Firewise program.
A short paper discussing the roles and responsibilities of public officials in community risk analysis.
Risk Assessment Worksheet: A Tool for Company Officers & Fire Prevention Inspectors
John Kobarda, London Fire Services, Ontario, Canada
A research paper developed to provide a risk assessment worksheet for the fire service.
Basics of Risk Assessment
U.S. Fire Administration
A one-page “coffee break” document discussing the basics of risk assessment.
Risk Assessment for CRR Effort
Mike Senchyna
A synopsis of methods promoted in the NFA’s “Conducting Local Risk Reduction by Company Officers.”
Internet Resources
U.S. Fire Administration/FEMA, Fire Prevention & Public Education:
Contains a wide variety of information and resources on community risk assessment.
Center for Public Safety Excellence
Provides a community risk and standards of cover course. As part of the accreditation process, outlines standards for community risk analysis.
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
Website has a number of publications for download on risk assessment; particularly on wildfires, and other publications that must be purchased.
The Firewise Communities Program was developed in 1986 in response to the realization that the problem of home destruction from brush, grass and forest fires was one of national scope. The program teaches people how to adapt to living with wildfire and encourages neighbors to work together and take action to prevent losses.
Fire Risk Assessment, Fire Risk Assessment Guide
A website that lists a step-by-step guide to doing a risk assessment, along with other resources. It aims to provide business owners and managers with online information and advice on a range of workplace safety issues that affect all business premises. This site does not sell any product or service, so the information provided will be unbiased as well as free. The information is provided as a free resource, not from the viewpoint of the fire authority.
Public Risk Management Association (PRIMA)
The website of an association dedicated to promote effective risk management in the public interest as an essential component of public administration.
International City/County Management Association (ICMA)
Provides a list of assorted fire service documents and resources.
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Injury & Violence Prevention
Has a wide variety of information and statistics concerning traumatic injuries and violence. Also includes information on burn injuries and fire deaths. Other web pages include substantial information on heart disease, stroke and other diseases. It contains the WISQARSTM (Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System); an interactive database system that provides customized reports of injury-related data.
Includes a weather safety web page, along with weather-related statistics concerning various weather fatalities and injuries.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Contains a wide variety of information on disaster planning and other disaster-related issues.
U.S. Energy Information Administration
Information, statistics and publications on commercial buildings; including building energy consumption.
Real-time weather reporting for Oklahoma only. Has a specific page for public safety officials.
National EMS Information System (NEMSIS)
The NEMSIS Project is an effort to create a National EMS Database. The database will contain data from local and state agencies from across the nation.
National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data (CCD)
A program of the U.S. Department of Education that annually collects fiscal and non-fiscal data about all public schools, public school districts and state education agencies in the United States.
Demographic data available for specific cities, towns and communities. Numerous other data on business, economics and housing.
Company has multiple resources that can help with risk assessment; especially concerning wildfire issues.
Other Census Bureau web pages
American Community Survey: www.census.gov/acs/www/
Computer Software & Applications
Geographic Information System (GIS) for Public Safety
Esri provides a number of tools and applications that could be potentially useful in planning and community risk analysis.
Used to identify and quantify properties that should be targeted for pre-incident planning to mitigate such a loss. Requires ArcGIS for Desktop (Standard or Advanced).
Lifestyles-Esri Tapestry Segmentation
Enables fire and emergency service agencies to analyze and categorize community risks and hazards. There are three different versions with various features.
A multi-directional data analysis tool to evaluate the data collected from all modules of Firehouse (FH) Software. Must have FH software to utilize this module.
ImageTrend Fire Department Management System
Fire service software that has add-on modules with an advanced visual analysis and reporting system, and a mapping and reporting system. Requires the basic system to utilize the add-on modules.
Formerly NFIRS 5 Alive, the software utilizes existing raw NFIRS data to generate a variety of reports and analyses of community risks (based on occupancy and operational data) and operational performance. Generates heat maps and 3D geographic models.
Allows users to analyze data by providing a snapshot of recent events displayed in the form of maps, charts and reports. It is a browser-based solution that can be customized to meet the needs of each user.