City Fire Department Fire Safety House at Washington School

On Wednesday February 23, 2011, the Fire Safety House made its first stop at Washington School, 290 Lighthouse Road. The Fire Safety House will be visiting various schools in the Santa Barbara area through May 2011. The Santa Barbara City Fire Department has partnered with the American Red Cross to conduct fire safety training for third graders throughout the city.

The Fire Safety House is a place where children can learn how to spot fire dangers in the home, when to change their smoke detectors and what do to when the detector goes off. The house simulates a two story home and the children learn to touch a door, which is actually heated, with the back of their hand. The Fire Safety House also produces light smoke in the upstairs bedroom so the children can perform an evacuation. They finish their tour by simulating a call to 9-1-1 dispatchers to report a fire.

The children also get a chance to speak one on one with Santa Barbara City Fire crews and learn the types of equipment that Firefighters use during a fire. The Fire Safety House is a valuable tool that assists children in learning fire safety.

All in all it is an exciting day for the children, as well as the volunteers and fire crews in getting the fire safety message out to our children.