NFPA’s Survey and How It Relates to NFIRS Marty Ahrens NFIC December 2007

To Be Covered What is NFPA’s survey? What is NFPA’s survey? What does it do that NFIRS doesn’t? What does it do that NFIRS doesn’t? What does NFIRS do that the survey doesn’t? What does NFIRS do that the survey doesn’t? How are national estimates calculated for specific fire problems? How are national estimates calculated for specific fire problems? Upcoming changes to the survey Upcoming changes to the survey Common questions Common questions A bit about NFPA statistics A bit about NFPA statistics

What is the NFPA Survey? Based on a statistical sample Based on a statistical sample All local departments protecting populations of at least 50,000 All local departments protecting populations of at least 50,000 Random sample, stratified by population, of small and medium communities Random sample, stratified by population, of small and medium communities Collects fire department experience data for past year Collects fire department experience data for past year Summary data only Summary data only

Survey Contents Fire department characteristics Fire department characteristics Responses by broad incident type Responses by broad incident type Greater detail on false alarms Greater detail on false alarms Fires, civilian deaths and injuries, direct property damage by broad incident type Fires, civilian deaths and injuries, direct property damage by broad incident type Structure fires by broad property type Structure fires by broad property type Firefighter injuries by duty Firefighter injuries by duty Firefighter fireground injuries by cause Firefighter fireground injuries by cause Fire department vehicle accidents Fire department vehicle accidents Major fires Major fires

What Does the Survey Do that NFIRS Doesn’t? Projections are possible because of the statistical sample Projections are possible because of the statistical sample Same rules throughout the country Same rules throughout the country In NFIRS, different states have different reporting requirements In NFIRS, different states have different reporting requirements Previous year’s analysis is complete by late summer or early fall Previous year’s analysis is complete by late summer or early fall

What Does NFIRS Do that the Survey Doesn’t? Lots! Lots! More detail More detail Incident based system can answer more questions Incident based system can answer more questions Can compare different jurisdictions if they follow the same reporting policies and practices Can compare different jurisdictions if they follow the same reporting policies and practices

How a Fire Gets Counted Report to state Not sent to state or server Not included in NFIRS -- May be captured by NFPA survey Report done Fire dept. called Not included in statistics Not included in statistics Report not done Handled privately Released or sent to USFA - In NFIRS Not sent to USFA Not in NFIRS

What Do the Survey and NFIRS Have in Common? Both use NFIRS codes Both use NFIRS codes Fire departments fill out both Fire departments fill out both Data quality can be an issue Data quality can be an issue NFPA follows up on vehicle fire deaths NFPA follows up on vehicle fire deaths

How Are National Estimates Calculated? NFIRS provides the details, but not the whole universe of reported fires NFIRS provides the details, but not the whole universe of reported fires NFPA survey is sample-based, so projections can be made about total NFPA survey is sample-based, so projections can be made about total Lacks detail Lacks detail Combine the two to develop scaling ratios Combine the two to develop scaling ratios

National Estimates Calculations Projected totals from NFPA survey NFIRS totals  Different scaling ratios for  Residential structures, non-residential structures, vehicles, and outside and other  Fires, deaths, injuries, and property damage

Upcoming Changes to Survey CPSC wanted survey information on confined fires CPSC wanted survey information on confined fires 2007 survey asks about the number of 2007 survey asks about the number of Confined and non-confined Confined and non-confined Residential and all structure fires Residential and all structure fires Mutual aid is restricted to mutual aid given Mutual aid is restricted to mutual aid given Some departments will not be able to answer these questions the first year Some departments will not be able to answer these questions the first year

Common Questions about the Survey

Why didn’t we get one this year? Random sample for smaller departments Random sample for smaller departments Can only accept surveys from departments in the sample Can only accept surveys from departments in the sample Sample varies by year Sample varies by year Department is likely to be in sample in some future years Department is likely to be in sample in some future years

Can I get a copy of the survey? Blank copies Blank copies Yes Yes For your own fire department For your own fire department Yes, if we have it Yes, if we have it For other fire departments For other fire departments No No

Can I get fire statistics by state? For unintentional injury fire deaths For unintentional injury fire deaths Yes Yes Death certificate data used, not NFPA survey Death certificate data used, not NFPA survey For fires For fires No No Inconsistent reporting practices Inconsistent reporting practices NFPA survey is a national sample NFPA survey is a national sample

Is an incident counted twice if it is in NFIRS and the survey? No No Survey projections are calculated independently of NFIRS Survey projections are calculated independently of NFIRS If all incidents captured in the survey were in NFIRS, the scaling ratio should be 1 If all incidents captured in the survey were in NFIRS, the scaling ratio should be 1

What happens when a major fire is in the survey but not NFIRS? Incident will usually be included in the general scaling ratios Incident will usually be included in the general scaling ratios September 11 and some wildland fires were not September 11 and some wildland fires were not Details of fire will not be in NFIRS Details of fire will not be in NFIRS Station Nightclub fire increased the non- residential fire death ratio Station Nightclub fire increased the non- residential fire death ratio

Why don’t you adjust estimates when you know about a fire not in NFIRS? National estimates are projections National estimates are projections Inclusion or exclusion of serious fires will make big difference when scaled up Inclusion or exclusion of serious fires will make big difference when scaled up We footnote rather than adjust We footnote rather than adjust Adjustments will always be incomplete Adjustments will always be incomplete

NFPA Statistics CD of our reports in packet CD of our reports in packet Also brief statistical fact sheets Also brief statistical fact sheets Sign up for quarterly CDs and/or ed reports Sign up for quarterly CDs and/or ed reports Reports are copyrighted Reports are copyrighted Links are welcome Links are welcome We will send reports to fire service for free We will send reports to fire service for free

More on NFPA Statistics NFIRS used in almost all NFIRS used in almost all Thank you for making it possible Thank you for making it possible With lead time, we can do custom work With lead time, we can do custom work Fee may be waived if it contributes to NFPA’s mission Fee may be waived if it contributes to NFPA’s mission Help us get the statistics to people who provide the data Help us get the statistics to people who provide the data

In Summary NFPA survey and NFIRS are complementary NFPA survey and NFIRS are complementary Both are used for national estimates Both are used for national estimates Thank you for helping us understand the fire problem Thank you for helping us understand the fire problem