Fire Service Messages Get Free Billboard Space
Through the efforts of an outdoor advertising company and several Minnesota fire service organizations, billboards recognizing the dedication of fire fighters have been springing up throughout Minnesota.
Promoters and supporters of the idea to capitalize on public service advertising were the Minnesota State Fire Chiefs Association, Minnesota State Fire Department Association and Hennepin County Fire Chiefs Association.
The Naegele Outdoor Advertising Company agreed to help with the printing and distribution of billboard posters promoting the fire service and fire control. Design and art work was contributed by Farmer magazine.
Message selected
When representatives of Minnesota’s State Advisory Council on Fire Service Education and Research were asked to select the message and art for a series of billboard posters, their decision wasn’t difficult. For the first billboard, they decided on a theme demonstrating a fire fighter’s dedication. Subsequent themes will carry appropriate fire safety messages.
The first billboard depicts St. Paul Fire Fighter Ed Rylicki’s spectacular rescue and resuscitation of a child trapped in a fire. Rylicki’s heroics received nationwide attention when the picture, used on the billboard, received an International Association of Fire Fighters award for the fire fighter photographer who took it in 1974.
Tragically, Rylicki was himself seriously injured in a fire in the same area only a year later. He is permanently disabled and confined to a wheelchair, but his continued willingness to aid in fire prevention and protection efforts has been an inspiration to all Minnesota fire fighters. Members of the St. Paul Fire Department recently donated supplies, time and effort, and built Rylicld a house designed for his needs.
Chiefs aid distribution
The billboards were distributed through interested fire chiefs, who were invited to obtain copies of the billboard panels. The chiefs then contacted outdoor advertising companies in their areas and these companies agreed to post the billboards as a public service as space became available.
Naegle Outdoor Advertising and the fire service organizations involved in production and distribution have agreed to make the billboard panels available at a reasonable cost to fire service organizations and fire departments throughout the country. For information on ordering panels contact Mike Fitzimons, Naegele Outdoor Advertising, 1700 W. 78th Street, Richfield, Minn. 55423.
For more information on organization of the program write to Frank Oberg, FIRE Center, University of Minnesota, 3300 University Avenue, S.E., Minneapolis, Minn. 55414.
