Adopt a proclamation that designates October 9-15, 2016 as "Fire Prevention Week" in Shasta County.

This year the National Fire Prevention Week theme is “Don’t Wait – Check the Date!  Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years.”  This campaign focuses on preventing the leading causes of home fires -- cooking, heating and electrical equipment, as well as candles and smoking materials. Additionally, the campaign urges people to protect their homes and families with life-saving technology and planning.  Educating the residents of Shasta County about how to be aware of the fire hazards in and around where they live, as well as the benefits of working smoke alarms, will help to mitigate and prevent residential fires, protecting residents and their families.

In 2011, 2,520 people died in home fires nationally.  Nearly all of these deaths could have been prevented by taking a few simple precautions like having working smoke alarms and a home fire escape plan, keeping things that can burn away from the stove and always turning off space heaters before going to bed.  Between 2013 and 2015 there were no residential fire civilian fatalities in the Shasta County Fire response area.  Fire is a dangerous opponent, but by anticipating the hazards, residents of Shasta County are much less likely to be one of the nearly 14,000 people injured in home fires each year.

The focus of Fire Prevention Week for 2016 is on the importance of knowing the age of smoke detectors in the home for proper maintenance and replacement of smoke alarms.  Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in reported home fires in half.  When smoke alarms fail, it is usually because batteries are missing, disconnected or dead.

While preventing home fires in Shasta County is always the number one priority of the Shasta County Fire Department, it is not always possible.  In the last three years (2013-2015) there have been 153 residential structure fires resulting in over $9.2 million dollars damage to structures within the County Fire Department jurisdiction.  The residents of Shasta County can provide the best protection to keep their homes and families safe in the event of a fire. This can be achieved by developing an escape plan which is practiced regularly and equipping homes with life-saving technologies like smoke alarms and home fire sprinklers.

Shasta County Fire Prevention Officers will be visiting 12 area schools between October 9^th and October 15^th, teaching nearly 3,000 students about the importance of fire prevention.  Declaring October 9^th through the 15^th, 2016 as Fire Prevention Week will provide residents of Shasta County with education and increased awareness of their responsibility to assure that their homes and families are protected from fire, and how to respond in the event of a fire. 

The Board may elect not to sign the proclamation declaring October 9-15, 2016 as “Fire Prevention Week.”  The Board may direct the department to choose a different week as “Fire Prevention Week”.

The County Administrative Office has reviewed the proclamation.

There is no additional general fund impact associated with this recommendation.  The Shasta County Fire Department activities associated with “Fire Prevention Week” have been included in the Department’s FY 16/17 Adopted Budget.