Community Risk Reduction

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
- Ben Franklin, founder of the first organized fire department in the United States

The following is a list of programs and events the Office of Public Education has been involved with over the past few years.

Youthful Firesetters: A program designed to counsel young children who exhibit an excessive curiosity about fire, who may hurt themselves and/or others. A network of social service agencies and the fire department can effectively address the firesetting issue.

Safety Trailer: This 29-foot long “safety house” teaches children and adults first hand how smoke travels throughout a structure. Staying low in smoke and the importance of exit drills is emphasized.

Fire Prevention Week: This celebration of fire safety is highlighted with a poster contest for school age children grades 1 thru 5.

Operation Prom Crash: Teaches high school students the dangers of drinking and driving on this very important night in their lives. A mock recreation of a crash is graphically illustrated using fellow students in a life and death scenario.

Santa visits the hospital: The pediatric floor and the emergency room is a happier place following a visit from this fellow from the North Pole. Santa along with his elf’s pass out fire helmets and fire badges to everyone we see.