“Comfortably Numb” is a song from Pink Floyd’s The Wall; it’s also how Las Vegas Fire & Rescue Chief Ozzie Mirkhah described the U.S. fire service’s response to 4,000-plus fire fatalities and 100-plus firefighter line-of-duty deaths each year.
This week, Mirkhah was a speaker at the Annual Residential Fire Sprinkler Summit hosted by the Illinois Fire Inspectors Association, Illinois Fire Chiefs Association and the Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board. More than 270 fire chiefs, officers, inspectors and local government officials attended the program devoted to the importance of codes and residential fire sprinklers.
If you’ve never heard Mirkhah speak, please, make a point of it. Not only does he passionately believe in fire prevention, but he is a voice of reason who asks some hard questions. Mirkhah’s extensive research shows that billions of dollars spent on property loss from fire proves something is wrong with the fire service’s reactive versus proactive approach to fire.
“The message is from my heart,” Mirkhah began. “I am a proud member of the fire service. More importantly, I am a public servant. We, as public servants, are trusted by our communities to provide the highest level of safety for our community and our country.”
It’s lessons from the past that prove the fire service must plan for the future, and Mirkhah offers his passionate criticism as tough love. Mirkhah quoted Chief D.W. Brosnan, who in 1928 said that “Any person who is at all conversant with fire safety knows that at least 85% of fires could be prevented.” Brosnan had a fire sprinkler system in his home 60 years ago, as sprinkler technology became available in 1947.
“We had a means of stopping the fire problem back then and we failed to use it,” said Mirkhah. “Responding to fire alarms is not going to reduce the fires. We need to be more focused on fire prevention. We’re still where we were 60 years ago! It’s our responsibility to explain to the public why we had the technology and why our we’re not using it.”
The U.S. Fire Administration’s push for smoke alarm technology 30 years ago helped reduced the annual number of fire fatalities down from the ten thousands, but the number remains around 4,000 annually.
“Are we comfortably numb with 4,000 people dying each year?” Mirkhah asked. “We have the means to save those people. Shame on us! Is that the way to protect our people? Do we believe that the current statistic of 4,000 annual fire fatalities is an acceptable loss?”
Mirkhah said that in the four years of war in Iraq, “We have spent $433 billion and lost 3,464 soldiers. In that same time, we have spent a trillion dollars in fire loss and lost three-and-a-half times that many citizens [fire fatalities]. What is your exit strategy?”
Mirkhah asked the attendees for their game plan and about accountability. “Why don’t we have to be accountable for our actions? The president of General Motors is accountable to the stockholders.”
I remember, it took 10 years of budget cuts, liability issues and new technology to prove that preventive maintenance on emergency vehicles was worth the investment. It took another 10 years for exercise to be acknowledged as important for firefighter health and it’s taken five years to understand we need to change the culture of the fire service with regards to firefighter safety. How long before fire prevention becomes an accepted part of the mission?
February 22nd, 2008 @ 12:11 pm
Wow! Powerful message. I especially appreciate the comparison of costs (money vs. lives) regarding our efforts in Iraq and the fight against fire losses.
The Wall? You’re dating yourself Janet!
Duane
February 22nd, 2008 @ 12:15 pm
Accountable for your actions is a bad word for the government workers who are only accontable to the Unions.
The Fire Department here in San Diego continnues to spend the tax payers money on stations more equipment, man power and their retirement fund. Last year San Diego had aother fire storm that could of been advoided with a good fire prevention program that addresses the wildland fire problem. The investigation into the fire storm of last year conclustion was San Diego Fire Department needed more money from the tax payer. It didn’t take the accountably of the fact that the San Diego Fire Dept. didn,t have aggrestive fire prevention program. Such as requireing fire sprinkler systems for homes in high risk wildland fire areas. They continue to think more money for the Fire Dept. will fix the problem.
February 22nd, 2008 @ 3:10 pm
I was at the summit and Ozzie challenged us all, when you can have 270 people in one room stay quiet and take it allin when he is giving it to you that says something for the speaker. Every point he made had a reference in fact and he needs to take his message on the road for all to hear. Thanks Ozzie for your inspiration! tom
February 22nd, 2008 @ 9:13 pm
Hello,
Chief Mirkhah is again speaking as many of us have for years but with not enough people or the right people actively listening to the message.
The fire service continues to spend millions on being a “reactive” service as opposed to being “proactive” and prevent fires from starting and if they do suppress them early with built in systems such as sprinklers.
In 1994 I built a new home with a residential sprinkler system in it and the community charged me quarterly for a sprinkler surcharged on my water bill. Fined for being proactive! We should be giving tax credits to businesses, industries, and homeowners who install suppression systems.
It’s almost like we need to allow fires to justify the existance of the fire depratment.
Try passing a residential sprinkler code and watch the builders complain and the politicians lean towards them.
NFPA 1500 Firefighter Safety and Health Standard has been around now for over 20 years and we still have the annual death toll of 100 firefighters. Why?
We are still not paying attention and enforcing the rules (standards) for whatever inexcusable reasons.
Thanks Chief Mirkhah for continuing the frustrating battle and don’t be too disheartened when the people that need to listen and act do not.
Sincerely in Fire Safety,
Ted J. Pagels, Fire Chief (ret.)
FIREPROSe, LLC
Green Bay, WI
February 23rd, 2008 @ 10:29 am
Anyone having the chore to inform a family that their loved one(s) didn’t survive a fire knows it is not an impervious duty, especially if it is for a fallen firefighter. Everyone knows that vigilance can prevent fires but they still happen. Attendees to the Summit should have been infuriated with Ozzie’s message. His passionate expression of failure to recognize the technological answer to lowering the numbers of fire fatalities was one that should wake up the fire service, legislators, homebuilders and citizens alike.
He went back to President Truman as giving direction to the country to take advantage of suppression technology for America’s fire problem. Yet, sixty years later, it the status quo when it comes to outside influences to fire safety code development.
His comparison of the auto industry’s 1.7% increase in vehicular cost to that of 1.5-2% cost of the installation of residential fire sprinklers puts a legitimate cost to life safety. His challenge to be accountable to the public for fire safety is legitimate. Our country is infuriated with the war oversees and the injuries and deaths to our men and women citizens in the voice of freedom. Why is it that we have lost nearly 4,000 of our bravest during the tenure of the war only to have an annual carnage of similar proportions in injury and death to our nation’s citizens from fire? The cost of fires in America during that period was two and half more times the cost of the war – who’s screaming at the candidates for a plan?
Keep pounding away Ozzie! You gave yet another great presentation providing direction. Hope isn’t a plan but maybe someone listening will do something “accountable” to create a safe living environment for our families.
Dan Gengler
February 24th, 2008 @ 10:03 am
We keep reminding our elected officials here in South Carolina that the country is watching them closely to pass effective and proactive sprinkler legislation after the Charleston and beach house fires. As of today’s date the back room politics are effectively killing most of the progress we’ve made to this date and the good old boys will triumph again, funded by the powerful home builder’s association. It turns my stomach to see these hypocritical people who keep getting re-elected, stand up and waive the flag when tragedy strikes, only to back away when faced with ‘threats’ from their campaign contributors. The Nation’s Fire Service needs to start demanding results, and not take no for an answer. Being politically correct hasn’t worked. The system is broke and we can’t seem to fix it…..I’ve found the enemy, and it is us.
February 24th, 2008 @ 4:17 pm
Janet: What Mirkhah say’s is nothing new, he is very dynamic and passionate, is not almost everyone you know in the fire service also? Prevention is the key, but until all governmental leaders embrace this concept we will continue to have close to the same statistics year after year.
In regards to Jon M. Brock’s comments, be greatful that you have adequate staffing levels and equipment and that your city is supporting the frontline firefighters and officers of your department, maybe there needs to be a better way of selling your product, believe you me your frustration is felt in every city across this nation, and by the way whether you are for or against unions they helped get you to where you are today.
February 26th, 2008 @ 10:47 am
Unfortunately, many in the fire service believe, and hold dear the idea of going inside and agressively fighting a fire. Let’s admit it, we love the rush that comes with that kind of work. This is probably the biggest road block to changing the philosophy of the average firefighter. While fire prevention makes all the sense in the world, it is not glamourous, in fact for many it is darn right boring and avoided where possible. Changing that cultural belief will be a hard sell, even when presented with the facts. The bravado and desire to help our fellow citizens is an admirable trait, one that through hiring the Fire Service has cultivated. Keep plugging away, but it will be no easy task turning around this battleship which is still cruising “full speed ahead”.
February 26th, 2008 @ 11:45 am
As one who has worked with Ozzie, I can say with first-hand knowledge that he knows what he is talking about. His dedication to the fire service and fire protection engineering is unquestionable. With more like Ozzie delivering this message, the quicker a drop in fire deaths and property losses will take place.
February 28th, 2008 @ 4:30 pm
fire safer cigarettes will according to nfpa reduce fire fatalities by ten percent also hundreds of injuries and reduce hazards to firefighters why hasnt every state introduced this law as written by nfpa. for model legislation go to nfpa web site