Fire Prevention

1. Fire prevention is a term for many safety measures used to keep fires from starting.

2. Three main methods are used to prevent fires: laws and regulations, inspection of buildings and other property, public education about fire safety.

3. Most cities and states have a fire safety code that applies to such buildings as theatres, schools, hospitals, department stores.

4. These buildings shouldn't be made of materials that burn easily.

5. The codes require portable fire extinguishers, a certain number of exits in public buildings.

6. Large buildings should have built-in sprinkler systems and special water lines.

7. High-rise structures must have fire alarm systems.

8. The officials check the operating condition of the fire protection systems.

9. Fire departments inspect public buildings and recommend corrective action.

10. Education is a vital part of fire prevention programs.

11. Fire departments teach children and adults about fire hazard.

12. Most of the deaths caused by fires occur in private homes.

13. It is important to know what to do if a fire breaks out.

14. Fire departments recommend people to have portable fire extinguishers in their homes.

15. A person must call the fire department before trying to extinguish a fire.

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL

TEXT 1

Fire Prevention Laws

Fire prevention laws began with building regulations established in ancient times. One of the first fire fighting organizations was established in ancient Rome. Augustus, who became emperor in 27 B. C., formed a group called the vigils. The vigiles patrolled the streets to watch the fires. About 18 B. C., the Roman Emperor Augustus set maximum heights for houses and minimum thickness for their walls. Later laws required minimum separations between buildings to prevent fires from spreading from one structure to the next. In the A.D. 300's Emperor Julian issued controls on the work of blacksmiths and other trades people who used fire. For example, he banned smoking chimneys that could cause roof fires. Princes in parts of Italy and Germany used some of these laws as late as the 1600's.

Scholars know little else about the development of fire fighting organizations in Europe until after the great Fire of London in 1666. This fire destroyed much of the city and left thousands of people homeless. Before the fire, London had no organized fire protection system. After the fire, insurance companies in the city formed private fire brigades to protect their clients property. Insurance company brigades would fight fire only at buildings the company insured. These buildings were identified by a badge or sign.

In the American Colonies, the earliest fire laws dealt with fighting, rather than preventing fires. In 1896, the National Fire Protection association was formed to develop national fire codes and standards. The first Fire Prevention Day was observed in the United States in 1911. In 1922 the United States and Canada observed Fire Prevention Week, the first campaign to educate the public in fire safety. Since then public education programs have become important supplements to fire prevention Laws.

The fire protection service in Russia appeared in 1472 when Grand Duke Ivan the Third approved the first Fire Safety normative acts. During the reign of Peter the Great the Regular army forces were in charge of the Fire Service. The first fire educational establishment was organized in St. Petersburg in 1906.

The Federal Law of Fire Safety of the Russian Federation was adopted in 1995. It defines the main legal, economical and social foundations of fire safety in Russia.

TEXT 2

Fire Drills

Practice, practice, practice. Fire drills are an essential component of the overall fire safety program in any school building and must be reinforced through practice.

Make them unexpected, and to be fair to all classes, fire drills should be conducted at varying hours of the day, and should not be limited to class time only. It is appropriate and important that students and staff practice evacuation during any possible event that could occur in the facility. These special times could include assemblies, change of classes, or even recess. Students should know and practice what to do, while the staff should practice how to establish control and provide direction. Part of the drill should include the search of ancillary rooms such as restrooms to ensure that all students are accounted for.

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