In February, the Fire Department continued to shift its focus toward community risk reduction. In support of this shift, the Prevention Division was officially renamed the Community Risk Reduction Division. Community Risk Reduction (CRR) involves identifying and prioritizing risks, selecting and implementing strategies, monitoring and evaluating activities, and involving community partners, in an effort to better protect residents and firefighters. The focus is not only on prevention, but also preparedness and mitigation.
The department completed the first full year of Project RED Zone in the first quarter of 2018. Since January, the department continues to make every effort to ensure families in high risk areas of the city have the advanced warning necessary to escape from a house fire. Between January and March, the department canvassed the Heart of the Westside neighborhood. Firefighters spent several Saturday afternoons walking the neighborhood and visiting residences in an effort to determine the level of protection present within each home.