The Office of Community Risk Reduction (CRR) is an integral and vital part of the Sioux City Fire Department. The CRR is made up of the Fire Marshal, and three inspectors/investigators. The duties are to enforce all the laws of the State of Iowa relating to the suppression of arson, and in conjunction with the Sioux City Police Department, to apprehend those persons suspected of arson.

The CRR also investigates the origin, cause and circumstances of any suspicious fires in the city. Approximately 150 fire investigations are conducted by the CRR annually. Another function of the office is to promote fire safety and the reduction of loss from fire whenever possible.

The CRR also issues and regulates fireworks, bonfire and open burning permits. The main focus of the CRR deals with the laws and codes of the State of Iowa relating to:

• The prevention of fire
• The storage, transportation, handling and use of flammable liquids, combustibles and explosives
• The storage transportation and handling of liquid petroleum gas
• The electric wiring, heating and adequate means of egress in case of fire from churches, schools, hotels, theaters and all other structures in which persons congregate from time to time, whether public or private

SCFR conducts about 5,000 commercial fire inspections each year. The bulk of these inspections are done by the individual fire companies with coordination and technical guidance from the officers of the CRR.

Sioux City residents and visitors are encouraged to visit their neighborhood fire stations.  SCFR hosts approximately 10,000 visitors each year at the department's seven fire stations.  Station personnel are eager to give demonstrations on the use of their equipment and show off their apparatus as well as the firehouse. During the school year, approximately 4,000 children are given a fire safety lesson in conjunction with Fire Prevention Week.  

The CRR is constantly keeping abreast on all the latest fire safety codes and ordinances in an effort to make Sioux City a safer place to work and live.