Fire Prevention

FIRE PREVENTION DIVISION

Fire Prevention Structure

Fire Prevention falls within the operational arm of the Brigade and is under the leadership of the Commissioner through the Deputy Commissioner of Operations. Personnel may be either a part of the FPHQ or Divisional FP staff compliments. FPHQ staff is under the direct supervision of the Chief Fire Prevention Officer and carry out duties relative to the review and formulation of policies, programs and procedures that govern Fire Prevention Island wide. Divisional FP staff is under the direct supervision of their respective divisional heads and carry out FP duties that are specific to each division as directed by FPHQ.

ROLE OF FIRE PREVENTION:

The role of fire prevention is to educate the public on how to take precautions to prevent potentially harmful fires, and how to survive them. It is a proactive method of reducing emergencies and the damage caused by them.

Fire Prevention encompasses all of the means used by fire departments to decrease the incidence of uncontrolled fire.

POLICY GUIDED OBJECTIVES OF THE FIRE PREVENTION DIVISION

It is the policy of the Jamaica Fire Brigade’s Fire Prevention Division to achieve the following through its ongoing fire prevention program:

• Broaden the nation’s fire and life safety awareness
• Reduce the number of incidents of fires
• Reduce the instances of death or injuries caused by fires
• Engage the public in active fire protection efforts
• Continue developing a sustained public fire safety education programs
• Informing the public of the Jamaica Fire Brigade’s role, function and career opportunities

FUNCTIONS OF THE FIRE PREVENTION DIVISION ARE AS FOLLOW:

The main function of the Fire Prevention Division is, just that, Fire Prevention. Through public education and thorough fire inspections of specified buildings; including schools, hospitals, places of amusement and hospitals etc in Jamaica

To carry out its mandate the fire prevention division is divided into five (5) units;

• The Public Education Unit
• The Research, Development and Training Unit.
• The Inspection and Enforcement Unit
• Plan Review
• The Fire Investigation Unit

Education Unit

Education unit focuses on using education as the primary method used to instruct and inform groups and individuals of the dangers of fires and precautions to take to prevent them. This is done by conducting and participating in the following:Home Safety Surveys

• Evacuation Drill Evaluations
• Career Presentations
• Fire and Life Safety Presentations
• Safety Monitors Training
• Expositions
• Print and Electronic Media (public service announcements, interviews, articles, social media; face book and WhatsApp messenger)
• Fire Safety Workshops
• Community Fire and Life Safety Education Program (Community based initiatives, trainings, demonstrations, simulations competitions etc.)

Research, Development and Training

This unit in Fire Prevention Headquarters has the responsibility of creating new products, services, programs and procedures as well as improving those that already exist. All of which are done in response to findings achieved through careful internal and external research relating to Fire Prevention’s responsibility in the achievement of the Brigade’s goals and objectives. The function of this unit is to constantly research fire related statistics to create and design specific programs to address fully the issues observed.

The Research, Development and Training unit also designs, conducts and coordinates both internal and external training programs for Fire Prevention staff that are geared towards capacity building. This unit also designs projects and acts as a project management office to manage projects and seek sponsorship, partnerships and grants to assist with programs and projects.

Activities in which the unit is involved include:

• Legislative Framework (assist with the development of Fire prevention regulation, inspection policy, community fire and life safety education policy, and amendment to fire Brigade Act)
• Creation of S.O.P’s for new and existing programs and processes
• Creation of the necessary S.O.G for new and existing programs, services and procedures
• Review and prepare policies and procedures relevant to fire prevention and life safety
• Regular evaluation of existing products, services and programs
• Research and Develop all educational tools to fire brigade standards used to educate the public
• Create or source appropriate training for staff for capacity building
• Research and create new or improve existing fire prevention programs
• Collection, collation and analysis of fire related statistics on a daily, monthly and quarterly basis
• Monitor and evaluate programs and processes
• Create databases
• Conduct thorough study to support new projects and programs
• The department has an intimate knowledge of the requirements and specification of products, services and programs to ensure team members to ensure these standards so the fire prevention division puts out quality work.
• The department constantly research and analyze the products services and processes of other fire prevention divisions in other jurisdictions as well as new trends within the industry, this helps in the developing and updating of existing products, services and programs.
• Seek and create partnerships and synergies with agencies and stakeholders who share common goals and mandate
• Seek sponsorship, grants and partnerships to fund programs and projects

The Research, Development and Training Unit is also responsible for the development of all Public Education Initiatives inclusive of Social Media Campaigns, City Tours, School Tours, Print Media Campaigns as well as the Production of Television Programs.

Plan Review and Hydrant Maintenance Unit

The Plan Review Unit reviews building and sub-division plans submitted by the parish councils and other clients to ensure compliance with acceptable fire prevention standards. These reviews involve:

• Determining the adequacy of active and passive fire defense mechanisms within structures and parcels of land to be developed. If standards are not met plans are refused approval and the basis of the refusal formally outlined.
• Plan review personnel also conduct site visits during the building construction phase to ensure that construction is being done in accordance with the approved plan.

Island wide maintenance of the fire hydrant network is executed by the members of the hydrant maintenance crew, this is achieved through;

• Continuous mapping, assessment and repair of hydrants. Repair and maintenance activities include replacement of parts, clearing, chipping and painting.

Fire Investigation Unit

Members of this unit collect, sort and analyse information gathered at fire scenes to establish the fires’ origin.

• Fire investigators visit fire scenes at the request of turnout officers and gather evidence and information to determine if fires were deliberately set and to reveal unsafe practices.
• The evidence is acquired by careful scrutiny of the scene as well as interviewing of witnesses including responding crews.

Inspection and Enforcement Unit

Enforcement is the legal means of correcting deficiencies that pose a threat to life and property and is implemented when other methods fail.  Enforcement is primarily achieved through Fire Safety Inspections. As outlined by Section 22 of the Fire Brigade Act 1988, members of the Jamaica fire Brigade are authorized to enter any specified building or part thereof at any reasonable time for the purpose of determining the condition of the building with regards to its safety against fire or other disasters. Inspection of specified buildings which includes but not limited to; Hotels, places of amusement, Apartments, Offices, industrial and commercial, Gas Stations, Home for the age, schools, churches, Health Centre and hospitals. The goals of these inspections are:

• To determine life safety conditions
• To identify and eliminate fire hazards
• To check the adequacy and maintenance of fire protection equipment
• To garner information pertinent to the Fire Brigade
• To enforce standards, codes and ordinances

The fire prevention methods employed by fire department personnel involve a combination of engineering, education, and enforcement.

ENGINEERING

Good engineering practices are endorsed and monitored by the brigade and provide built-in safeguards that help to prevent fires from starting as well as help to limit the spread of fire should it occur. This monitoring is achieved through:

• Building Plan Review: The process of reviewing proposed building designs and specifications to determine the safety characteristic of the building and its conformity to local and international codes and standards.
• Sub–division review: The process of reviewing proposed specifications for land to be sub divided with a view of providing adequate water supply coverage for firefighting

EDUCATION

Education is the method used to instruct and inform groups and individuals of the dangers of fires and precautions to take to prevent them. This is done by conducting and participating in: 

• Home Safety Surveys
• School Tours
• Evacuation Drill Evaluations
• Career Presentations
• Fire Safety Presentations
• Safety Monitors Training
• Expositions
• Media Interviews
• Fire Safety Workshops

ENFORCEMENT

Enforcement is the legal means of correcting deficiencies that pose a threat to life and property and is implemented when other methods fail.  Enforcement is primarily achieved through Fire Safety Inspections. As outlined by Section 22 of the Fire Brigade Act 1988, members of the Jamaica fire Brigade are authorized to enter any specified building or part thereof at any reasonable time for the purpose of determining the condition of the building with regards to its safety against fire or other disasters. The goals of these inspections are:

• To determine life safety conditions
• To identify and eliminate fire hazards
• To check the adequacy and maintenance of fire protection equipment
• To garner information pertinent to the Fire Brigade
• To enforce standards, codes and ordinances

Key Performance Indicators