Teaching Children About Wildfire

Children under five are curious about fire. Often what begins as a natural exploration of the unknown can lead to tragedy.

First consider making  an emergency plan with your children. For tips and toolkits you can visit the SoCo Emergency Emergency Preparedness webpage.

Teach children about how to identify fire danger:

• Teach children the nature of fire. It is fast, hot, dark, and deadly!
• Teach children not to hide from firefighters, but to get out quickly and call for help from another location.
• Show children how to crawl low on the floor, below the smoke, to get out of the house and stay out in the case of fire.
• Demonstrate how to stop, drop to the ground and roll if their clothes catch fire.
• Familiarize children with the sound of your smoke alarm.

Practice Fire Safety in Your Home:

• Supervise young children closely. Do not leave them alone even for short periods of time.
• Keep matches and lighters in a secured drawer or cabinet.
• Have your children tell you when they find matches and lighters.
• Check under beds and in closets for burned matches, evidence your child may be playing with fire.
• Develop a home fire escape plan, practice it with your children and designate a meeting place outside.
• Take the mystery out of fire play by teaching children that fire is a tool, not a toy.
• Install smoke alarms on every level in your home.
• Test the smoke alarm each month and replace the battery at least once a year.
• Replace the smoke alarm every ten years, or as recommended by the manufacturer.