( Olympia, WA) – The State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) is joining safety professionals across the nation to promote the awareness of Community Risk Reduction (CRR) Week, January 20-26, 2025.
This annual weeklong event is dedicated to raising awareness within the fire service about the vital role of CRR and how fire departments, regardless of type or location, can implement proven strategies to improve safety in their communities. CRR Week highlights one of the key intervention strategies known as the “Five E’s”: Education, Engineering, Enforcement, Emergency Response, and Economic Incentives. For 2025, the focus is concentrated on Economic Incentives. CRR provides opportunity for economic advantages by lowering costs associated with emergency response, insurance premiums, infrastructure repairs, and health care. Through CRR’s data-driven approach, communities can effectively identify and prioritize local risks, followed by strategic investments in emergency response and prevention measures. These investments aim to reduce the occurrence and impact of risks while fostering safer communities.
Data submitted to the SFMO from fire agencies in Washington State shows there were more than 920,900 fire incidents reported in 2023, resulting in 67 civilian fire fatalities and an estimated 890 million in property damage. CRR Week serves as an opportunity for fire service professionals to deepen their understanding of statewide data and work together to build safer environments for all.
The SFMO is committed to protecting the residents of Washington State and their property in collaboration with the fire service and other public safety professionals through CRR efforts.
For more information on CRR Week go to: https://crrweek.org/ or contact the State Fire Marshal’s Office at (360) 596-3904.