Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Doctor of Public Administration (D.P.A)

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Julian J. Muhammad

Abstract

The lack of functioning smoke detectors poses significant life safety risks to people in low-income residential communities. In 2019, a fire incident occurred in an urban Maryland community due to the lack of a functioning smoke detector. Although no deaths or injuries resulted, there was significant property damage and resident displacement. The purpose of this study was to assist a local fire department in an urban area of the state of Maryland with developing and implementing a fire safety community outreach program designed to reduce the percentage of residential homes in a low-income community without functioning smoke detectors. A qualitative research methodology consisted of document review and semi structured interviews conducted with five local fire department organization officials and eight local neighborhood residents to identify barriers and challenges to ensuring that residents had functioning smoke alarm detectors. The findings revealed a need to improve the fire department’s current community outreach and fire safety education initiatives in the neighborhood using current evidence-based guidance in community assessment and risk reduction. Several recommendations were identified to improve fire safety and prevention in the areas served by this fire department. The findings of this study have potential implications for positive social change by improving fire safety education and potentially preventing additional fire deaths and injuries in low-income residential communities.

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