Firehouse Insider: Today’s fire prevention: focusing on our behavior

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, October 1, 2025

In 1925, President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed Fire Prevention Week a national observance, set to occur each year during the week of Oct. 9 in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, which began on Oct. 8, 1871. Clallam County Fire District 3 (FD3) has traditionally used this time to teach local preschoolers and elementary students the basics of what to do in case of fire.

Today’s “Fire Prevention” message is a multi-faceted approach, using a data-driven, comprehensive process identifying and prioritizing local risks known as Community Risk Reduction, or CRR. To make our CRR as meaningful as possible, we use the strategy of the “Five Es” to combat local fire and preventable injury issues. The Five Es consist of Education, Engineering, Enforcement, Economic incentives, and Emergency response.

• Education: Education is traditionally the component we all think of when we say fire prevention. Today it is so much more.

Our message, while still aimed at our local youth and their introduction to fire safety, can be tailored and expanded to educate older adults about a myriad of life safety risks. Cooking safety, fall prevention, life-jacket use, and the Firewise USA® program help bring life safety practices to our community for implementation.

While it may be hard to compete with a visit from Sparky the Fire Dog, the official mascot of the National Fire Protection Association, our educational outreach relates directly to those that ultimately benefit the most from the risk aversion.

• Engineering: Analysis of our data collection allows the fire district to promote and implement a variety of engineering solutions. One of the most effective is the improvement of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and fire sprinklers. Our Emergency Medical System (EMS) benefits from innovative data analysis that aims to identify likely repeat clients and enroll them in the Mobile Integrated Heath-Community Paramedicine program to get them the appropriate care they need without placing additional stresses on the limited emergency system.

• Enforcement: Fire inspections of local businesses and manufacturing is the leading way of modifying behavior and reducing risks. This enforcement is a collaborative approach working with business owners, the City of Sequim, and FD3, which together identify potential risks and non-compliance with codes. This task is an important part of keeping firefighters and EMS workers safe in these locations.

• Economic incentives: These incentives come in many forms, some of which can be related to reduced insurance costs, continued operations, and reduced penalties.

• Emergency response: FD3 has a mission of Serve~ Respect~Prevent~Protect. Fire prevention and risk reduction are crucial means to ensure responders have the equipment and training they need to get the job done. Our annual emergency response requirements are on the rise, and FD3 provides a well-trained career and volunteer force — proudly, one of the best! Without community participation these programs can be quickly overwhelmed.

FD3 is committed to the community. CRR is key to addressing the specific needs of the citizens, by giving them the lessons needed to lead a safer and more productive life.

Today’s fire prevention is aimed at changing behaviors and instilling the best practices of safety in the home, workplace, and beyond. Keep an eye out for the most recent newsletter or visit our website at ccfd3.org.

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Christian Turner is battalion chief for Clallam County Fire District 3.