Preface for Chinese Edition America Burning 40 Years Later

America Burning was published in 1973 by the National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control to evaluate fire loss in the United States. The Commission was to make recommendations to reduce fire loss and increase safety of citizens and firefighting personnel. The commission concluded that fire prevention and fire safety education for the public were critical to reducing the losses associated with fires. In addition firefighters needed improved understanding, skills and knowledge in regard to fighting and preventing fires. The Commission listed 90 specific recommendations in its report. The top of the list of recommendations was a fire-focused federal agency to serve the needs of local fire departments.

In 1974 the United States Congress passed the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act which led to the formation of the United States Fire Administration（USFA）, the National Fire Academy, the National Fire Incident Reporting System（NFIRS） and the Center for Fire Research within the National Bureau of Standards（later named the National Institute of Science and Technology）. The report also emphasized the need to reduce the high death rate among American firefighters. Finally, fire agencies were challenged to plan life and property loss-reduction strategies for handling incidents before they occurred.

America's poor fire record, and its failure to marshal enough scientific and monetary resources to improve the record, concerned those who work in the field of fire pro tection. The report's authors believed that a 50 percent reduction in fire deaths, injuries, and property loss was possible within a generation.

National fire data analysts from the United States Fire Administration（USFA）, National Fire Protection Association（NFPA）, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission（CPSC）developed a standard methodology to estimate the size of specific fire problems by using National Fire Incident Reporting System（NFIRS）data together with the sample-based NFPA fire department experience survey. The result was a collection of national estimates of the fire problem with more detail and quality than ever before. Today, about 23000 fire departments from all 50 states participate in NFIRS, and the system is used in most of NFPAs statistical reports. NFIRS remains the largest and most detailed fire incident reporting system in the world.

Since America Burning was published the U.S.Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,and USFA have funded numerous smoke alarm installation programs.

In recent years, the Federal Emergency Management Agency（FEMA）has distributed Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response（SAFER）grants to help local fire departments meet staffing, response and operational standards. FEMA's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program（AFG）helps fire departments obtain essential protective equipment, emergency vehicles, gear, and training to protect both the public and emergency personnel.

Fire prevention and mitigation regulations have been issued including mandatory requirements on clothing and mattress flammability and voluntary requirements on upholstered furniture, which remains the leading cause of ignition in home fires. Efforts are currently underway to find the safest ways to reduce the risk from fire while also minimizing any health or environmental risks from exposure to the various fire retardants. Since 1994, the CPSC has required most lighters be inoperable by young children. Legislation in all 50 states now requires cigarettes have a lower likelihood of starting a fire.

All local jurisdictions were encouraged to have and enforce an adequate building or fire prevention code that included requirements for residential smoke alarms.USFA commissioned its first survey of home fire alarm prevalence,and found that in 1977 only 22 percent of homes in the United States had one or more fire or smoke alarms. As of 2010,96 percent of households surveyed by NFPA reported at least one smoke alarm. Even so, many households do not yet have all the smoke alarms they need for full effectiveness and current code compliance, such as interconnected smoke alarms on every level and in every sleeping area.

In 1973 when the report was written it was estimated that fire was killing approximately 6200 Americans and causing injures to 100000 each year. The original estimates were later amended to reflect the most accurate data available. At the time of publication of the report, firefighting was the Nation's most hazardous profession.

In 2012,the annual fire related deaths in the United States was estimated to be 2855,fire related injuries were estimated at 16500 and an estimated 12 billion dollars in fire related losses. The population of the United States was approximately 212 million in 1973.Today,the estimated population of the United States is around 311 million.

Much work in regard to fire prevention and the mitigation of property losses and human causalities has continued today,including research into new,less combustible furnishings,improved smoke alarm technology and firefighter protective clothing.Much more study,research and development is needed if the United States is to continue to reduce the impact of fire and fire-related incidents on the American public.

Fire prevention is a world wide challenge, it is the first time we provide a preface for China, and we hope it will be an inspiration to our Chinese colleagues on the fighting against fire.

Respectfully，

United States Fire Administration,2014

美国国会图书馆编号73－600022

全国火灾防控委员会卓有成效的工作是一个良好的开端，但他们的努力不能替代我们的工作。只有人民才是预防火灾的真正力量。火灾时刻威胁着我们的生活、孩子和家庭，对此我们必须保持持续的警觉。几乎所有火灾都是人为疏忽的后果。我们每个人都必须明了自己预防火灾的责任：不是一时，而是一生。

——理查德·M．尼克松总统

1972年9月7日