Oftentimes, first responders are in reaction mode when they respond to incidents. They typically arrive at a scene and assess what needs to be done.

But an upcoming class will bring together Lower Burrell leaders and officials in an effort to think more proactively when it comes to reducing risks in the community.

Representatives from Lower Burrell fire and police departments, EMS, city hall, school district and emergency management will participate in a Community Risk Reduction class organized by the Office of the State Fire Commissioner, said Brennan Sites, chief of Lower Burrell Fire Co. 3.

“It’s aimed to pull in not just firefighters, but all community members and leaders to proactively look at an area to find risks that could cause harm to people,” Sites said. “It pulls these individuals together to learn from successfully deployed risk mitigation practices done throughout the nation.”

Sites believes Lower Burrell is one of the first communities in western Pennsylvania to participate in the free program.

“We try to be very progressive and proactive with what we do,” he said.

While each entity has its own plan in place for emergency situations, this course will bring their leaders together to collaborate on overall plans and show different perspectives, Sites said.

“The community needs to know we have a unified team, and we’re going to continue to work that way,” he said.

The course will take place over the next two Saturdays, Sites said. Leaders will identify risks in the city, choose strategies and find target areas. They will learn different risk mitigation practices and strategies, he said.

“I’m hoping we learn things we can take back to the city and look at things with a different lens,” Sites said.

Lower Burrell, even though a smaller community, does have its fair share of potential risk areas: there is a steel mill in town, a high-rise apartment building and three school buildings, for example.

Sites cited a February hydraulic fuel spill into the Allegheny River as an example of an incident that required collaboration from multiple departments.

“For a small town, the incidents we see seem to be increasing,” Sites said. “Any steps we can take to be proactive is what we should be doing.”

Mayor Chris Fabry is excited for the training.

“It gives our fire and emergency personnel a chance to learn new ways to keep our community safer,” he said. “Any time we can bring this kind of knowledge into our city, it benefits everyone.”

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