Over the year’s safety and prevention programs have offered the Lehigh Acres Fire and Rescue District a cost-effective method for reducing expenditures through fire mitigation and EMS delivery.

During the last two years the District developed several programs to broaden or enhance injury prevention and fire prevention. However, the reduction in revenue has caused these programs to be placed on hold. Given the diversity of Lehigh Acres’ population, it is important that most of these programs, to be effective, contain a multi-lingual component.

In addition, efforts to broaden existing programs for indigent care have the potential to reduce EMS costs by addressing fire and medical conditions while they are still at manageable levels and do not require a full response.

Although public satisfaction with the level of services provided by the District is demonstrably high, it is also true that many, even within the community, are not aware of the responsibilities and efforts of the various programs provided by the District.

Public education and media programs for both fire and EMS, designed to highlight both the statistical and human elements, were vital dividends in terms of both heightened awareness of the benefits of fire and EMS safety which enhanced our system. As a result of the downturn in the economy there have been significant changes in our fire service delivery and ambulance service.

These changes are anticipated to continue over the coming 24 months. Normally this time of the year the District is busy developing and providing a Fire Prevention Day with many citizens in our community attending the event to learn about fire safety and injury prevention. Nonetheless, we as a community now have to shift towards a greater emphasis on fire prevention measures in our businesses and homes in order to accomplish the mission of saving lives and property.

With the month of October being the traditional Fire Prevention month, I would like to encourage everyone to participate in making sure their homes or businesses are safe. The fire service uses the three “E’s” to emphasize fire prevention. The three “E’s” are engineering, education and enforcement. The first “E” is engineering which involves building materials and components, construction methods, and code enforcement.

As a citizen the first “E” is difficult to change or make changes. However, you can focus on the other two “Es” to make your life safe. The second “E” is education. As a home or business owner you can learn the importance of fire-safety through many resources available on the internet or by contacting our Life Safety Management Division. The District would be glad to provide factual information on fire safety and EMS injury prevention.

The last “E” is enforcement of existing building and fire codes. This has a direct impact on the safety of firefighters and any occupant within the unsafe structure. Building code violations have been documented to play a significant role in the development of fire and the tragic loss of lives, both citizens and firefighters.

If you live in a wildland interface area where vegetation, such as pine trees, scrub oaks, Brazilian pepper trees, saw palmettos, and other brush are close to your home, maintain a defensible space. What is a defensible space? Defensible space is an area around a home or structure where fuels and vegetation are treated, cleared or reduced to slow the spread of wildfire towards the structure.

It also reduces the chance of a structure fire moving from the building to the surrounding forest. Defensible space provides room for firefighters to do their jobs. Your house is more likely to withstand a wildfire if grasses, brush, trees and other common forest fuels are managed to reduce a fire’s intensity.

Some things you can do to reduce the spread of fire are: Prune and maintain plants periodically to maintain vigorous growth; Remove dead stems from trees and shrubs annually; Limit the number of dead trees (snags) retained in this area; Mow grasses (or remove them with a weed trimmer) as needed through the growing season to keep them low, a maximum of 6 to 8 inches.

Clear and keep away flammable vegetation within 30 feet of any structure. These are only a few of the things to look for. If you have any questions, or you see something and are not sure it is safe, please contact the District at 239.303.5300. As the month of October is Fire Prevention week, p1ease inspect your homes and business for any possible fire hazards which could lead to an unnecessary fire.