By Marcy Ost
Fall is full of excitement—cooler weather, Halloween, and plenty of community events. It’s also a perfect time for fire chiefs to engage kids in fire safety education in fun, memorable, and easy ways to implement. Here are five practical ideas your department can use this season:
1. Mini Fire Drills at School or Library Visits
Coordinate a short fire drill at a local school or library during story time or a class visit.
Teach children how to “stop, drop, and roll” or how to safely exit a building.
Keep it interactive: let kids practice crawling under “smoke” (a low ribbon or cloth works).
2. Activity Sheets
Hand out coloring pages, puzzles, or “spot the hazard” worksheets.
Encourage kids to bring the completed sheets back to the fire station for a small reward (stickers, magnets, or pins).
These materials help kids remember key safety messages in a playful way.
Keep in mind there is a youth outreach tab on the SFM website.
3. Halloween Safety Twist
Use Halloween as an opportunity to talk about fire safety:
Discuss safe costume choices and the importance of glow sticks or flashlights over candles.
Remind kids to never touch matches or lighters.
Consider a “Fire Safety Trick-or-Treat Checklist” to hand out to families.
4. Hands-On Equipment Demonstrations
Let kids explore safe, supervised fire equipment like hoses, helmets, and turnout gear.
Teach them the purpose of each piece of equipment while keeping it light and fun, building excitement and respect for firefighters, while reinforcing safety concepts.
5. Fire Safety Storytime or Puppet Show
Partner with a local team mascot for story time.
Focus on simple lessons: checking smoke alarms, not playing with matches, and having an exit plan.
Teaching kids about fire safety doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. With a few simple activities this fall, you can make safety fun, memorable, and part of your community’s routine. Even small-town departments can have a big impact—one child at a time.