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October 3, 1997
(Municipal and Provincial Affairs)


Fire Prevention Week

"Know When to Go; React Fast to Fires" is the theme for the 1997 Fire Prevention Week which is being observed from October 5 to 11 throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

The minister responsible for Fire Protection, Art Reid, said this special week is set aside to recognize the province's 6,500 paid and volunteer firefighters who are responsible for protecting the lives and property of our citizens. Fire prevention is a big part of the mandate of the province's 300 fire departments and, throughout the week, special emphasis will be focused on education and fire prevention programs in homes, schools, businesses and the community. It is also an ideal time for citizens to take positive actions to eliminate fire hazards in their homes and to test and ensure that smoke detectors are in proper working order.

Mr. Reid said: "Firefighters are special people; they are often called upon to put their own safety on the line in times of life threatening fires and the service they are providing to citizens of the province is one that is beyond price."

Fire Prevention Week in 1997 will have special significance in Newfoundland and Labrador. It marks the expansion of the nationally recognized "Learn Not to Burn" program in provincial schools. As well, a Memorandum of Understanding will be signed during the week between Memorial University and the Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs relating to the training and certification of firefighters.

Learn Not to Burn - The Office of the Provincial Fire Commissioner has assigned a full-time coordinator to undertake the implementation of the Learn Not to Burn program in all kindergarten to Grade 2 classrooms throughout the province.

The Minister of Education, Roger Grimes, said he is happy to support the expansion of this program in provincial schools. "This program reaches school aged children with vital life safety information; it stresses the teaching of positive, practical fire prevention behaviour and I am pleased with the plan which calls for full implementation of the program by the spring of 1998."

The program coordinator will work with a steering committee comprised of representatives of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Fire Chiefs and Firefighters, the Office of the Fire Commissioner and the Department of Education. Kindergarten to Grade 2 classes will be provided with curriculum packages and resource books on the Learn Not to Burn program. (See background information attached on the Learn Not to Burn program.)

Wilson Wiseman, President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Fire Chiefs and Firefighters, said the support of the provincial government in fire prevention through the Learn Not to Burn curriculum will ensure that future generations will be more conscious of fire safety.

"The success of the Learn Not to Burn Champion Pilot Project in four areas of the province has proven that this is a successful program. With the complete introduction during the coming months, it will mean that over 300 primary schools will reap the benefits," said Mr. Wilson.

Memorandum of Understanding - Minister Reid said he is pleased to announce a partnership arrangement between Memorial University and the Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs relating to the training and certification of provincial firefighters.

The Marine Institute Offshore Safety and Survival Centre (OSSC) of Memorial University is providing a comprehensive training program for new firefighters. Upon completion of the program, these firefighters will be tested by the Office of the Fire Commissioner and successful recruits will acquire either Firefighter I or Firefighter II certification in accordance with the international standards of the National Fire Protection Association.

Mr. Reid said the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding between the Office of the Fire Commissioner and the Marine Institute Offshore Safety and Survival Centre will serve to enhance the capability of the Newfoundland and Labrador fire service.

Captain Mark Turner, Director of the Offshore Safety and Survival Centre said: "The alliance between the Offshore Safety and Survival Centre of the Marine Institute and the Fire Commissioner's Office is a significant milestone in the cooperative provision of quality fire fighting training and education to Newfoundland and Labrador. Such internationally recognized standards (NFPA) enhance our capabilities and help create a first class centre of excellence of which we can all be proud."

Contact: Gary Callahan, (709) 729-3142.

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BACKGROUND:

LEARN NOT TO BURN PROGRAM
THE CANADIAN EXPERIENCE

In 1993 a partnership between Fire Prevention Canada, the Canadian Tire Child Protection Foundation, and the National Fire Protection Association was developed to provide all elementary schools across Canada with Level I Curriculum for four Resource Books for the Learn Not to Burn program.

Fire Prevention Canada, a national not-for-profit association and charitable organization dedicated to providing Canada with dynamic leadership and national focus in the field of fire prevention through education, provided the leadership and management necessary for the implementation and delivery of the LNTB Program.

The Canadian Tire Child Protection Foundation funded the program at a cost of over $1 million in funding and marketing support over a four year period to provide approximately 13,000 sets of materials available in English and French to all schools across Canada.

The LNTB Program was selected for the national initiative, as it was designed and developed by the NFPA in consultation with educators, fire and burn prevention experts and curriculum experts. It was endorsed by the Canadian Teachers' Federation and Provincial educational authorities and the Fire Service, and directed to children which make up a large percentage of the fire deaths and injuries' statistics in Canada.

In addition to the Learn Not to Burn materials, promotional videos in English and French were developed, along with media kits for Fire Chiefs and 42 Sparky costumes, and distributed to Fire Marshals and Fire Commissioners to assist in the implementation in their provinces. The Canadian Tire Child Protection Foundation developed a complimentary LNTB Family Fire Safety Activity Sheet, life size Sparky display, posters and colouring sheets. These materials are all available free of charge in unlimited quantities to community groups, schools and the fire service.

The rate of implementation of the program varied across Canada, dependent on the strategies developed by the Fire Marshals and Fire Commissioners and resources available. The program is in place throughout Canada and, as of October 1996, over 75 per cent of the materials were in schools, and the provincial implementation was ongoing. Strategies to ensure the remaining materials are delivered to schools are being reviewed for the 1997-98 school year.

The program is on target.

In reviewing and analysing the Canadian scene, the following has been achieved:

Public education of school-aged children through the Learn Not to Burn Program saves lives and reduces property loss from fire. A total of 15 "Saves" incidents have been recognized, resulting in 36 lives being saved since the introduction of the program in six provinces across Canada.)

Where implemented, the knowledge of school children of fire safety practices has increased and they are able to put the knowledge gained into practice.

This program will continue to be available in the future and Canadians will benefit through the knowledge and behaviours learned for a lifetime.

The successes that have been achieved are the direct result of the commitment of educators and the Fire Service and would not have been possible without the NFPA Learn Not to Burn Program, and the funding of over $1 million and marketing support by the Canadian Tire Child Protection Foundation to implement the program in all schools across Canada serving approximately 3.5 million students.

As Canadians, we should all be proud of this achievement.

A new three year agreement between the Canadian Tire Protection Foundation, Fire Prevention Canada and NFPA to promote the program through enhanced communications, recognition and promotional opportunities is in the final stages of development. We look forward to a continuing partnership and the resultant successes through the support of the Canadian Tire Child Protection Foundation.

1997 10 03 12:45 p.m.

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