Case Study: Rogers, AR A Community Risk Reduction Model
By Joseph D. Rush, III
Battalion Chief, (ret.) Atlantic City Fire Department, EFO,
Adjunct Instructor,
Atlantic County, NJ Fire Academy
How serious are your local officials about community risk reduction? The National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland believes the issue is extremely important. So much so, that it dedicates an entire year of its Executive Fire Officer’s Program to training leaders within the fire service to identify and address risk reduction within their jurisdiction. At least one small fire department takes the issue just as seriously!
Located in North-west Arkansas, the Rodgers Fire Department serves the City of Rogers and the surrounding areas of Benton County. On July 1, 2015 the City of Rodgers consolidated the Building Inspections Department with the Fire Marshal’s Office to create the newly formed Risk Reduction Division (RRD). According to Battalion Chief Travis Hollis, the division’s head, the eleven-member division has improved efficiency, created a one-stop shop and given the fire department greater oversight on issues that impact the safety of firefighters and civilians.
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