by Esther Miranda-Cole
Lassen National Forest
Efforts to educate area students about the dangers of playing with matches or lighters were recently in full swing as a multi-agency team of instructors visited some local schools in support of Fire Safety Month, which occurs in April.
A group consisting of employees from the Lassen and Plumas national forests, Bureau of Land Management, and Cal Fire engaged with some 500 kindergarten and first grade students at Johnstonville, McKinley, Richmond, Shaffer, and Janesville schools to help spread fire safety messages. Some of the highlights are:
- If you find matches or lighters, give them to an adult – like a parent, teacher, or bus driver.
- If you see other kids playing with matches, take them away nicely or tell an adult.
- If your clothes are on fire: STOP, DROP, ROLL, and COVER YOUR FACE with your hands.
- If your house is on fire, get outside and stay outside, and go to your family safety area meeting place.
- Call 911 for fire and other emergencies.
This 45-minute fire prevention program involves small-group instruction, a narrated slide show with lots of pictures of Smokey Bear and his animal friends and human helpers, and the use of repetition and Q & A throughout the presentation to reinforce concepts. Smokey also stops in for a surprise visit to help make the fire prevention message more memorable.
About 200 preschoolers from seven local Headstart programs also recently learned about fire safety. The program for these younger children is more age-appropriate and lasts about 20-30 minutes. It involves an activity known as “Tools or Toys,” during which instructors pull items from a bucket and ask students to determine whether an item is safe to play with or should be left alone. These youngsters are also treated to Smokey’s story time and a visit from the iconic bear.
Opportunities to share fire safety messages with local youth are not restricted to a single month, but instead are ongoing, said Tanya Costello, Fire Prevention Tech on the Eagle Lake Ranger District.
Fire Safety Calendar Contest
The Fire Education Committee – made up of individuals from the Lassen National Forest, Cal Fire, BLM, and the Susanville Fire Safe Council – is also hoping to engage third graders at Johnstonville, McKinley, Richmond, Shaffer, and Janesville schools through a calendar contest.
The contest encourages these students to submit original artwork containing fire safety messages, such as “Stop, drop, and roll” and campfire do’s and don’ts. The Committee plans to select 12 winners to create a 2014 calendar. Winners will each receive a calendar, which will also be made available to the public.
During the month of May, at least five local first grade classes will get to learn more about fire safety – things like practicing exit drills in the home and how to follow exit signs in public buildings, said Costello. Forest employees will again partner with Cal Fire counterparts for this program.
Fire safety programs also provide teachers with materials so that they can continue to share fire safety messages with students and their families. For more information about these programs, please contact Costello at 530-257-4188.
