- Author
-
Beever, P.
- Title
- Investment in Fire Risk Management. BFRL Fire Research Seminar. VHS Video.
- Coporate
- New Zealand Fire Service, Wellington, New Zealand
- Report
-
Video,
June 20, 2001,
- Keywords
-
fire risk
|
risk management
|
fire departments
- Abstract
- In 1998, the New Zealand Fire Service Commission established an annual Contestable Research Fund to advance knowledge in fire risk management in order to meet the Commission's statutory duty to reduce the incidence and consequences of fire. A formal process was established for the disbursement of the fund. This required the establishment of a Research Advisory Group with broad expertise in research as well as fire matters. The group has responsibility for setting up formal mechanisms whereby individuals and teams can apply for research funding. The Commission establishes each year a set of research priorities that may be used to inform applicants of areas in which the Commission has a special interest, though any project that has the potential to influence the incidence and consequences of fire will be considered. The quality of the research is maintained by the fact that application for funds is competitive. All projects funded have to identify very clear objectives, expected outcomes and applications. The fund has been running for 3 years. Some 30 projects have been funded ranging from human behaviours and perceptions about fire risk, statistical analysis of fire incidence and deprivation, rural fire risks and fire safety in the built environment. Some of the outcomes from the research have been put to immediate use in risk reduction within the community and some have yet to be incorporated into standards, legislation and community safety programmes.