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DID YOU KNOW?
The Branch of Structure Fire has the challenge and responsibility to protect over 27,000 structures, many of which are historic, and the largest system of museums in the world holding more than 100 million objects, artifacts and archives.
A structure fire is a fire originating
in and burning any part or all of any building, shelter,
automobile, aircraft, vessel or other structure. Within the National Park Service, any fire that is not classified
as a wildland fire is a structure fire.
Mission of the Branch of Structural Fire
The National Park Service (NPS) enabling legislation, as well as other statutes, charges the Service with preserving and protecting human life and the resources entrusted to its management. These resources include buildings and structures, irreplaceable cultural resources, valuable property, and infrastructure.
Prevention
Prevention of ignition is the first line of defense against fire in NPS buildings and is the priority of the Structure Fire Management program. Fire protection systems, including fire sprinklers, when properly installed and maintained, save lives and conserve natural and historic objects.
The NPS has only a handful of professional structural fire personnel and most of these are at the regional and national level. The vast majority of parks do not have trained fire prevention or structural fire response personnel. Typically a law enforcement ranger or other park personnel take these tasks on as collateral duty. The structural fire program has developed and begun teaching classes to NPS personnel on how to conduct a proper fire inspection.
DID YOU KNOW?
The NPS is the third largest property owner in the US Government behind only Department of Defense and the Postal Service.
Engine Company Parks
Engine company parks are national park units that maintain an NPS staffed and owned Type I or II fire apparatus for structure fire and all-hazard response within the park. Currently 22 NPS sites maintain 49 fire stations, equipped with 70 apparatus (including 2 fire boats), and are staffed and supported by approximately 250 employees and partners. Although these parks comprise only 6% of the total number of sites in the NPS, many of them are seen as the agency's "crown jewels" and represent the first parks ever established.
DID YOU KNOW?
Although engine company parks comprise only 6% of the units in the NPS, They account for 25% of all NPS lands, for 60% of all visitation within the service, protect 26% of all NPS collections.
Guiding Program Philosophy
- Never stop striving to achieve the highest standards of safety and professionalism for our employees, cooperators and visitors.
- Offer accurate and consistent leadership and direction for the structural fire program to increase the effectiveness of prevention, operations, and education efforts service wide.
- Focus on developing a culture that advocates fire prevention through education.
- Instill and institutionalize prevention as a priority in the NPS.
- Realize that many historic, cultural, and natural resources at risk from structural fire are irreplaceable.
- Educate our employees and park visitors about the mission of the structural fire program and the importance of the resources we protect.
- Serve and support our parks.
Structural Fire Strategic Plan - 2010-2015
This multi-year strategy takes into account the unique and multifaceted mission of the National Park Service and specifically the responsibilities the NPS has for structure fire protection. It provides focused guidance to national, regional and park management on all aspects of a comprehensive structural fire program.
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