History of the Fire Prevention Code Fire codes, fire protection systems, and increased preparedness drills have significantly reduced the risk of fire in educational facilities. Inappropriate preparedness against the threat of violence can jeopardize the progress made in reducing fire risk.

Let’s See If We Can Prove This Guy Wrong!

Top 8 Deadliest Fires (schools) Our Lady of Angles School 1957 95 deaths Cleveland Hill School Fire 1954 15 deaths Consolidated School 1937 294 deaths (explosion) Bath Consolidated School 1924 46 deaths Babbs Switch School 1924 62 deaths Cleveland School 1923 77 deaths St. John’s Parochial School 1915 21 deaths The Lake View School 1908 175 deaths

Top 10 Deadliest School Shootings (listed by year) Santa Fa High School 2018 10 dead* Parkland High School 2018 17 dead Umpqua Community College 2015 9 dead Sandy Hook Elementry 2012 26 dead Oikos University 2012 7 dead Virginia Tech 2007 32 dead West Nickel Mines School House 2006 7 dead Red Lake Indian Reservation 2005 10 dead Columbine High School 1999 13 dead UT Tower / University of Texas 1966 14 dead

So in comparison School Fires 1908 - 1952 785 deaths School Shootings 1976 - 2018 145 deaths School Fires compared to school shootings have deadlier consequences, the code enforcement official should note that since the implementation and enforcement of todays fire codes and built in protection, a substancial loss of life in a school fire has not occurred.

Top Mass Shooting in US History 58 killed - 2017 - Outdoor Concert 49 killed - 2016 - Night Club 32 killed - 2007 - College 27 killed - 2012 - Elementary School 25 killed - 2017 - Church 23 killed - 1991 - Restaurant 21 killed - 1984 - Restaurant 18 killed - 1966 - College (bell tower) 17 killed - 2018 - High School 14 killed - 2015 - Office Building 14 killed - 1986 - Military Base 13 killed - 2009 - Community Center 13 killed - 1999 - High School 13 killed - 1983 - Social Club 13 killed - 1982 - Residential 13 killed - 1949 - Street 12 killed - 2013 - Military Base 12 killed - 2012 - Movie Theater 12 killed - 1999 - Residential 10 killed - 2009 - Residential 10*killed - 2018 - High School . Statically, you have a greater chance of being injured and/or killed while eating out, attending a entertainment event or going to church.

The Fire Service Needs To…. Get in front of these potential problematic solutions; Work with legislators to develop fire safe solutions; Educate the decision makers as to the effectiveness of current fire safety practices in our schools; Listen to and work with our community partners to develop the best possible solutions; Develop reference standards to utilize when in the planning phase of these situations (like NFPA 3000);

NFPA 3000 Standard for Active Shooter/Hostile Event Response (AHSER) Program Released May, 2018 NFPA 3000 was released in May of 2018 and has been the focus of the fire service as a tool to utilize. Unfortunately, NFPA does not address a lot of the challenges we as code enforcement officials have faced.

Scope of the Document 1.1 Scope. The scope of this standard is limited to the necessary functions and actions related to preparedness, response, and recovery from an active shooter/hostile event response (ASHER). 1.1.1 This standard applies to any community, authority having jurisdiction (AHJ), facility, and member of any organization who responds to or prepares for ASHER incidents. 1.2 Purpose. The purpose of this standard is to identify the program elements necessary to organize, manage, and sustain an ASHER program. 1.2.1 Specific polices, tactics, and protocols shall be the responsibility of the AHJ. 1.3 Equivalency. Nothing in this standard is intended to prevent the use of systems, methods, or devices of equivalent or superior quality, strength, resistance, effectiveness, durability, and safety over those prescribed by this standard.

Code Enforcement Considerations 9.3 * Emergency Action Plans. 9.3.1 Emergency action plans shall include evacuation, relocation, and secure-in-place procedures appropriate to the building, its occupancy, and risk. 9.3.2 The plan for active shooter/hostile events shall include the location and identification of lockable spaces and rooms as well as the locations of exit doors that lead directly to the outside or to a stairwell. 9.3.3 The plan for active shooter/hostile events shall include procedures for locking of doors from inside of the designated areas. 9.3.3.1 Plans and procedures for doors for areas designated in 9.3.3 shall comply with locking and unlocking and unlatching requirements of NFPA 101. 9.3.3.2 The procedures for unlocking doors from outside the designated areas shall be included in the plan. 9.3.4 The plan for active shooter/hostile events shall include identification of doors designated as a means of egress or escape. 9.3.5 Doors in the means of egress shall comply with NFPA 101 requirements for doors in the means of egress. 9.3.6 Facilities shall make emergency action plans available to the AHJ.

Fire As A Weapon? We as a society have become focused on the issues of “shootings.” The criminals have exposed a significant deficiency in our system. By eliminating fire safety standards, are we opening ourselves for the use of fire as a weapon?

In Summary Code Enforcement must communicate with its stakeholders as it relates to active shooter and hostile event planning. A “NO” may have unattended consequences if the “logic” behind the “NO” is not understood

Code enforcement must take a active part in the planning processes for these tragic events. History can and will repeat it’s self, we have proven codes and standards that prevent the loss of life! Let’s keep it that way!