The Roseville Fire Department has been selected by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to participate in the second phase of a pilot program to build a digital community risk assessment tool.
The tool enables communities to collect information and make data-informed decisions around fire prevention and other risk-reduction activities in their communities.
According to NFPA, community risk reduction (CRR) is a process to identify and prioritize risks and successful mitigation initiatives. It has been gaining traction across the country, and the innovative technology, access to data, and shifting focus to prevention have resulted in new energy around this process.
The CRR tools help fire departments collect and distribute data that identify the greatest risks in a community, helping the city make informed decisions about where to focus efforts and resources.
NFPA’s CRR tool will help fire departments across the United States to compile relevant data so stakeholders can create effective risk reduction plans that incorporate education, engineering, enforcement, economic incentives, and emergency response.
The first phase of the pilot project included participation from 50 fire departments across the country. It identified features of the digital dashboard that worked effectively and those that needed fine-tuning.
During the second phase, which involves participation from 250 departments nationwide, the Roseville Fire Department will provide insights around the use of dashboard through June of 2021. That information will help continue refining and enhancing its effectiveness.
As a participant in the pilot program, Roseville Fire will have free access to the dashboard, which includes customized maps, charts and graphs that illustrate community risks and hazards across a variety of categories, including demographics, geography, building stock, economics, infrastructure, and event loss history. The dashboard will provide a snapshot of local capacity for risk reduction and information about public safety response agencies and community service organizations. Participants will also have networking and professional development opportunities with other communities engaged in CRR.
“We are very excited to be selected by the NFPA and to start utilizing this tool,” said Assistant Fire Chief David Brosnahan. “Not only will access to the tool give us invaluable information about our community’s needs, but it will better prepare us to meet those needs.”
About the National Fire Protection Association
Founded in 1896, NFPA® is a global self-funded nonprofit organization devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards. For more information, visit www.nfpa.org.