TVF&R's landlord training provides an opportunity to learn about safely operating a fire extinguisher
Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue is working with dozens of landlords and apartment complex managers today to prevent some of the most dangerous fires we encounter in our fire district: apartment fires. The District conducts this training quarterly and, in the past several years TVF&R has trained more than half of the landlords and apartment managers in the District’s service area.
TVF&R’s Apartment Program was started in 2002 following numerous fatal apartment fires without working smoke alarms. That year the District secured an $85,000 federal grant and hired a Portland market research company to conduct focus group research with its landlords and tenants. The research highlighted the fact that landlords play a significant role in motivating tenant behavior and reducing fires. Armed with that data, TVF&R implemented a multi-faceted program that today includes inspections, quarterly training for landlords and multi-family housing property owners, and professionally produced, strategic educational materials. Today, TVF&R data shows that not only have apartment fires decreased overall—in spite of apartments increasing—but 98% of participating landlords in TVF&R’s service area have not suffered a significant fire after attending this training. TVF&R has now partnered with Clackamas Fire District #1 and Hillsboro Fire and Rescue to educate apartment managers through all three service areas.
Apartment managers see how a fire truck operates and learn about fire lanes
The program maintains regular contact with graduates through an electronic newsletter and periodic apartment complex inspections. In follow-up surveys, participants give the training very high marks and report changes in how they manage the safety of their apartment complexes. In a separate survey, tenants in participating complexes report better safety behavior by their apartment managers than respondents whose managers did not attend the training program. The incidence and severity of fires in multi-family buildings in the TVF&R response area has declined significantly since this program was instituted.
