The Round Table
Fire Prevention Education has been receiving increasing attention in recent years, particularly from the United States Fire Administration. As a consequence, many departments have initiated or increased their fire prevention education programs. Is your department one of these? And, if so, what programs do you have either planned or ongoing?
Bobby Brooks, Asst. Dir., Bureau of Fire Prevention, Shreveport, La.: Over the past years we have seen a need to add programs and improve the ones we have. Communication between the fire service and the public needs to be improved. Fire Prevention education is the number one objective of Fire Prevention Bureaus across the country. We try to make the program fit the individual’s needs.
Home safety, high rise education, hospital safety programs, nursing homes, and industrial plants are some of the areas already covered. We plan to increase the overall education program to cover as many areas as we can.
One of the main programs is home safety; this is where most of our fires and fire deaths occur. The better communication you have with the public, the better results you have.
Michael G. McGowan, Chief, Fairbanks, Ak.: Our fire department sends out a packet of fire prevention pamphlets (portable extinguishers, smoke detector, home fire escape planning, home fire checklists, etc.) every year for fire prevention week. We also go to two elementary schools and put on a fire prevent ion show for grades K through 6. Recently we have started a newsletter which we will put out every other month covering seasonal fire prevention tips. Our coverage on mailing fire prevention packets annually and our newsletter is about 2000 homes in a fire service area with a population of about 6,500 people. Out of a total operating budget of $80,000 a year, we budget $2,000 a year for fire prevention. We are also considering putting monthly fire prevention tips in the Fairbanks newspaper and using free public service announcement time on radio stations to increase our public fire prevention education.
Earl Meiers, Chief, West Helena, Ark.: Our fire prevention education programs include: school fire prevention and safety program, fire safety program taken to public groups (civic, PTA Associations, Day Care Centers), building inspections, smoke alarm program, child and invalid window sticker distribution, open house during fire prevention week, tours of fire station, fire safety film, and stop, drop and roll class given to the public.
Ronald C. Kelly, Asst. Chief, Newport, Del.: Our fire prevention programs include: fire prevention brochures sent to district residents during a fund drive; firehouse tours to community groups; open house during fire prevention week, as well as Operation EDITH demonstrations; brochure distribution to local stores usually during the Christmas season; fire prevention talks are given to such groups as the Women’s Club, Scouts, Civic Assoc., etc.; participation in the tot-finder and invalid sticker programs with local residents.
Henry F. DeLauney, Dep. Chief, Hagerstown, Md.: Hagerstown Fire Department has always strived to promote fire prevention and public education in our community. The Bureau of Fire Prevention is continually active, from nursing homes to nursery schools as well as with civic organizations and service groups.
In-service schools are consistently being given to industry, hospitals, schools, hotels and motels and all other places of public occupancy. Instruction varies from fire prevention and education to evacuation and the proper use of fire extinguishers.
The tot-finder and invalid sticker programs have long been part of our department’s fight against the tragedy of fire. We are now in the process of initiating the NFPA’s new “Learn Not To Burn” curriculum into the Washington County school system.
