Recognizing increasing costs to the community and fire department in residential fires, the City of Surrey implemented a program to find the major causes of the fires and implement preventative measures.  

The program identified that marijuana growing operations were disproportionately responsible for fires in the city.  The cost of the preventative program was funded through fines for controlled substances, making it cost-neutral.  As a result, fire-related injuries, property fires, and vehicular fires have decreased between 30% and 50% since 2006.  

This case study was nominated for ICMA's Annual Awards Program.