Fires are a threat to every home, which is why it’s key to reach citizens of all ages with the latest, lifesaving information on fire safety. Try these activities to teach fire safety, promote fire prevention, and increase support for your fire department.

Beep, Beep!

Stress the importance of having working smoke alarms in each bedroom of a home. Spread the message: Don’t Miss the Beep, Put Alarms Where You Sleep!

• On school visits, bring household smoke detectors and activate the alarms to help children learn to associate the sound with fire. Pass out fire safety educational activities books.
• Send firefighters to neighborhoods with high fire risk, and offer to check or install smoke alarms for residents.
• Add smoke alarm information to your department’s website and social media.
• At community events, design a little “smoke alarm station.” Set up a low “ceiling” and let community members practice installing and checking smoke alarms. Distribute free smoke alarms.

Senior Safety

Keeping up with fire safety is often more difficult for seniors, who face unique, age-related challenges. Empower the elderly with information and tools that help them remain safe.

• Offer fire safety presentations for seniors and their caregivers at community events.
• Record retired firefighters demonstrating fire safety for seniors and broadcast it on your local public-access channel and on social media.
• Offer live-alone seniors home visits from firefighters, who will assess fire hazards and check alarms and fire extinguishers. Give out fire safety magnets.
• Develop a Bingo game with fire safety tips printed in the squares to play at senior events. Award winners with pot holders.

Make Fire Safety Fun

Promote attendance at open houses and boost support for your department by offering fun events and opportunities!

• Hold a mock “Dalmatian Parade.” Invite residents to dress up any of their pets as a firehouse Dalmatian and parade them in a designated area. Have fun giveaways for kids who participate.
• Include a water balloon contest in your event. Afterward, let kids help hold the fire hoses with the pressure turned down low. Take fun videos to post on social media.
• Have a firefighter chili cook-off! Ask firefighters to make their favorite chili and bring it to the event. Pass out tasting samples and ask attendees to vote on their favorite dish.
• Raffle off an opportunity to have a fire truck demonstration at a child’s birthday party or the chance to hold the birthday party at your firehouse. Give ticket buyers tokens of appreciation, such as water bottles.

Team Up With Other Events

Join with your community in celebrating other causes or holidays throughout the year.

• October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Show your department’s support for a cure by participating in an awareness event and giving out breast cancer awareness giveaways featuring your department’s logo.
• For Halloween, give out trick-or-treat bags and glow-in-the-dark silicone bracelets to help kids stay visible at night.

Broaden your outreach as much as possible and create opportunities for fire safety education. By incorporating cost-effective incentives and reminders, you’ll convey a powerful message and build an even better relationship between your department and the community.