NFPA Journal - May/June 2013 - (Page 53)

urban interface is becoming one of the nation’s most urgent public safety concerns. On this anniversary of America Burning, though, it is important to remember the legacy of this important document, and how, in spite of our ongoing challenges, it has helped make us safer. Increased federal involvement America Burning had its roots in the 1968 Fire Research and Safety Act, passed by Congress and enacted by President Lyndon Johnson. The act called for the presidential appointment of a 20-member panel, known as the National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control, that would assess the country’s fire problem and make recommendations to address contributing issues. A panel representing an array of stakeholders— insurers, firefighters, researchers, standards developers, and more—was appointed by Nixon in 1971 and included Percy Bugbee, NFPA’s former general manager and CEO, who at the time served as the organization’s honorary chairman. The commission was charged with finding “predictable and effective measures for reducing the destructive effects of fire throughout the country.” It sought to define the problems, identify what was known and where the gaps were, and develop recommendations to move forward, Illustration: Rafael Ricoy all on a national scale. The commission’s report was based on its own research, as well as on the testimony received at public hearings held across the country. America Burning acknowledged that local governments bore, and should continue to bear, the brunt of protecting people from fire. It also defined a range of appropriate new federal roles and explained why they were needed and how they should be created. The federal government, according to the commission, should provide technical and educational assistance to local and state authorities, collect and analyze fire information, regulate material flammability, and provide financial assistance when necessary. It also called for improved communication across the disciplines involved in fire safety and for more and better data to help protect the citizenry and firefighters from the ravages of fire. The commission listed 90 specific recommendations in its report, and at the top of the list was a fire-focused federal agency to serve the needs of local fire departments. At the time, a hodgepodge of stakeholders—various federal agencies, state and local governments, academic institutions, nonprofits, and private organizations—was conducting research, issuing regulations, and establishing best practices and safety requirements. No single entity was monitoring or coordinating this activ- MAY/JUNE 2013 NFPA JOURNAL 53

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NFPA Journal - May/June 2013

NFPA Journal - May/June 2013
Contents
First Word
In a Flash
Perspectives
Firewatch
Research
Heads Up
Structural Ops
In Compliance
Buzzwords
Outreach
Electrical Safety
Wildfire Watch
Treasurer's Report
Work in Progress
Amping It Up
Drill Team
Working Together
Code Process 2.0
Routine Maintenance
Here, There, Everywhere
Section Spotlight
Expo Preview: Exhibitors' Showcase
Looking Back

NFPA Journal - May/June 2013

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