The U.S. Fire Administration has launched of an interactive blog at blog.usfa.dhs.gov for the fire service to share comments, ideas and success stories about fire prevention, preparedness and response. Posts by USFA employees will cover topics such as how the rising cost of fuel is affecting fire and emergency services departments, college campus fire safety, how to get fire prevention messages into local news stories, residential sprinklers and firefighter health and safety. USFA will chart feedback and also post videos, outreach materials and other helpful tools.

“We hope to foster a community where USFA staff and readers can share ideas and experiences with each other and work together for a fire-safe America," said U.S. Fire Administrator Greg Cade. “Over 3,000 civilians and 100 firefighters lose their lives each year due to fire. This blog is the perfect medium for an open dialogue with the fire service to discuss measures that we can undertake to help save lives."

USFA employees will contribute to and moderate the blog, including staff from the National Fire Academy, offering perspectives on public education, research, data collection and training issues. The first post discusses fire department preparedness for extreme weather emergencies and natural disasters, and how these events can place personnel and assets at risk, diminishing response capabilities.