REDUCING FIRE DEATHS IN VERMONT THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION Executive Planning

This applied research project was undertaken to study the problem of increased fire deaths in Vermont. The area of primary interest was fire deaths in single family homes. These deaths account for at least seventy percent of annual fire deaths in Vermont. This research project used the action research methodology. The results of this study will hopefully be translated to action. The purpose of this research project was to look at public fire safety education as the method to reach people living in single family homes. In Vermont single family homes are not subject to fire prevention and building codes at the state and local level. It was found that the best way to reach this group is through additional public fire safety education. The questions asked in this research project included: How many people died in fires in Vermont in 1997? What has the trend in fire deaths in Vermont been over the last fifteen years? What are some reasons for the high number of fire deaths in Vermont? What is the State of Vermont doing to reduce fire deaths? What is the fire service in Vermont doing to reduce fire deaths? What are some of the barriers to further reduction of fir