By CHRISTINE HAINES
Rostraver Central Volunteer Fire Department has been selected as one of 250 departments across the country to participate in a pilot program to create a Risk Assessment Plan.
The plan will be crafted using a customized digital dashboard provided by the National Fire Protection Association. The program launches in March, and the department will have three months to put together its plan.
“The dashboard will have pre-populated information with census block groups and station points so that we will be able to identify, evaluate and analyze data, prioritize risks, and create goals and objectives using the (SMART) tools. Those tools are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-based,” said Georgette McGavitt, the fire prevention and life safety education coordinator for Rostraver Central.
McGavitt said the risk assessment dashboard will cover a broad spectrum of elements such as demographics, geography, building stock, public safety agencies, community service organizations, hazards, economic issues, past loss/event history, and critical infrastructure systems such as schools, assisted living/group homes, roadways, airports, railroads and agricultural storage facilities.
“Most volunteer fire departments don’t have a community risk assessment done; usually it’s only paid fire departments,” McGavitt said.
Three of the four Pennsylvania departments selected for the pilot program are in southwestern Pennsylvania, so McGavitt said they will be able to collaborate during the three-month pilot and afterward. Those departments are located in Aspinwall and Peters Township, while the fourth is outside of Philadelphia.
The Rostraver team includes McGavitt and Assistant Chief Justin Shawley.
“The community partner is Mr. John Grice, BVA Middle School principal and school security and safety coordinator,” McGavitt said. “We will be focusing on all areas and prioritizing schools and special-needs individuals.”
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