Public Fire Safety Education – A Regional Approach
Charlie Johnson, Information Officer
September 4, 2007

A shared resource is making a big difference in Public Fire Safety Education, and it’s a unique tool for firefighters and students.

Fourteen years ago, six fire agencies in Santa Barbara County embarked on a unique approach to fire safety education using a shared resource, namely a 30’ travel trailer designed as a “kid-sized” two-story house, complete with three rooms – a living room, kitchen and second-floor bedroom.

The “Fire Safety House” trailer was purchased with a grant from the Santa Barbara Foundation, which normally does not fund government programs; however, when the Foundation learned the trailer would be taken to all third grade classrooms throughout the County and all the Fire Chiefs had signed an agreement to use the trailer, it was quickly a done deal.

Each fire agency calls to schedule use of the trailer, with the same schedule usually retained year to year to keep consistency with school calendars and help coordinate with fire department in-house calendars. Each agency has signed an agreement for use and agrees to a standard per day of use maintenance fee, to cover annual maintenance necessities.

Since the inception of this program, thousands of students have benefited from the Fire Safety House experience. Every year over 3,000 third grade students complete the program. Interestingly, at that age they are like sponges – they soak up everything they see, hear and do, and when they get home they can’t wait to share it with their family members. One parent commented to a firefighter in the grocery store, “I know all about the Fire Safety House, my 3rd grade son won’t quit talking about it!”

This year the Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District will be initiating its Fire Safety House trailer program in conjunction with National Fire Prevention Week, October 7-13, with the theme, “Practice Your Escape Plan.” The Fire Safety House trailer will begin visiting local elementary schools starting October 15, and will then move on to schools in other jurisdictions in the County.

The Fire Safety House trailer program is a fast-paced hands-on learning experience taught by firefighters. The focus is home fire safety, learning to recognize common in-home fire hazards, including lessons about fireplaces, matches, candles, cooking, heating and electrical appliances, and most importantly, learning how to respond to a smoke alarm and safely escape a smoke-filled room.