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
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