Fire Prevention Week takes place in October and the Knowledge Network contains a lot of helpful resources to help keep your community safe.  “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” as the old saying goes, so here area few items we have to help you prepare for and prevent fires:

• The Alliance for Innovation has a document on innovation in fire safety management. This system is aimed at maximizing response times and safety while under budget constraints.
• A collaboration between Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments has modeled wildfire evacuations to help prepare for them. Communities that face the challenge of this natural disaster might find some help in this document.
• A session from the 2011 ICMA Annual Conference was dedicated to finding the right size for your fire and police departments. What’s the right size for your fire department?
• Working with your police and fire chiefs is incredibly important for safeguarding your community.  Good answers to difficult problems start by asking the right questions. ICMA's director of research and project development for ICMA’s Center for Public Safety Management recently hosted a web conference on asking the right questions.
• In the end, those who prevent fires are the citizens in our communities. Educating communities on fire safety is one of the best methods for fire prevention, and we have an excerpt from one of our publications on this subject available here.

Take a look at the Knowledge Network fire topic for more information on fire prevention, safety, and response.