* Warning: This is an unofficial, introductory copy of the bill.
The official copy considered by the City Council is the first reader copy.
Introductory*
City of Baltimore
Council Bill R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Middleton
A Resolution Entitled
A Council Resolution concerning
title
Investigative Hearing - Arson and Fire Fatality Awareness: Community Risk Reduction Program
For the purpose of calling on representatives from the Baltimore City Fire Department, the Baltimore Police Department, the Baltimore City Public School System, the Baltimore City Health Department, the Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development, the Mayor’s Office of Human Services, and the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice to appear before the City Council to discuss arsons, fire fatalities and injuries, and school fires; and to discuss what steps the City can take to reduce the risk of these incidents occurring to protect the children and residents of Baltimore City.
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Recitals
Baltimore City ended 2017 with 30 fire fatalities, the highest number of fire related deaths since 2007. Over the last decade there have been over 2,200 cases of arson, 150 fire fatalities, and 200 school fires. By any measure, Baltimore City has a fire problem.
Each year we have seen fire fatalities spike between October and February. Most recently in 2016-2017 when 18 lives were lost, and in 2017-2018 when 11 lives were lost. This pattern raises a significant concern as we enter into what has historically been our most fatal months.
Moreover, the Fire Department has worked diligently to install more than 14,000 smoke alarms in the homes of residents across the city during the last fiscal year. Despite those efforts, and increased engagement in the Violence Reduction Initiative zones, there still seems to be a need for improvement in reducing the number of arsons, fire fatalities and injuries, and school fires.
Baltimore City needs a comprehensive strategy to address these problems through increased fire prevention awareness and a structured community risk reduction program.
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of Baltimore, That the Council requests that the Baltimore City Fire Chief, the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, as well as representatives from the Baltimore Police Special Investigation section; the Baltimore City Public School Systems’ Suspension Services section; the Baltimore City Health Department’s Division of Aging and Care Services; the Department of Housing and Community Development’s Code Enforcement Division, Emergency Operations Division, and Community Services Division; and the Mayor’s Office of Human Services’ Homeless Services section appear before it to discuss arsons, fire fatalities and injuries, and school fires, and what steps the City can take to establish a coordinated strategy to reduce the occurrence of lives being lost or endangered as a result of these incidents.
And be it further resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Baltimore City Fire Chief, the Baltimore Police Commissioner, the CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools, the Interim Commissioner of the Baltimore City Health Department, the Commissioner of the Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development, the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Human Services and the Mayor’s Legislative Liaison to the City Council.