Springfield Needs Resident Input for Safety Survey

Springfield Fire Chief James Sanford needs to know how Springfield residents and business owners are building.

Sanford is completing his second year of studies in the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program (EFOP), which teaches Fire Chiefs how to make  fire and emergency services proactive. The course emphasizes leadership development, fire prevention and risk-reduction.

The Chiefs taking part in the program involves developing partnerships with the community members to implement programs, initiatives, and services that prevent and/or mitigate the risk of human-caused and natural disasters.

EFOP participants complete a research project that relates to their organizations and their communities. Chief Sanford is using the construction department’s database to research the types and frequency of people failing to obtain a permit including:

• What is the scope of construction work without permits in Springfield?
• What methods are currently being employed in Springfield to detect construction work without permits?
• What methods are being employed by other jurisdictions to gain permit compliance?
• What future actions are required to reduce community risk from construction work without a permit in Springfield?

Springfield property owners are invited to participate, anonymously, in this research. Chief Sanford’s survey may be found here.