The most proactive risk reduction measure a fire department can take to support life safety is to teach people how to protect themselves and their property. Beaumont Fire-Rescue Services offers a number of educational programs and helpful links to achieve this goal.
If you’d like to schedule a speaker or a fire or life safety educational program, contact BFRS Community Risk Reduction at 409-880-3905, or email [email protected]. Please schedule your program at least 30 days in advance.
Fire Prevention & Family Safety Festival
Beaumont Fire-Rescue and the Fire Museum of Texas host the Fire Prevention & Family Safety Festival each year on the first Saturday in October. The festival brings together Southeast Texas families for a day of food, fun and safety education. The event is free, and includes …
- Safety and health information and give-aways
- Children’s games and activities
- Live fire, technical rescue, EMS and hazmat demonstrations
- Food and drinks
Want to help?
Festival sponsors, health and safety providers, and volunteers are always needed. Download a Festival Sponsor Packet or Registration Form. If you’d like to register online, click here. Together we can make this year’s festival the best ever.
Residential Smoke Detector Installations
Smoke detectors save lives. Beaumont Fire-Rescue Services and IAFF, Local 399 will provide and install a smoke detector in your home if you need one. Detectors and installation are available for Beaumont residences only, and normally limited to one per household. Supplies are limited each year. Email [email protected] or call 409-880-3905 or to sign up.Remember, when you change your clocks, change your batteries.
Speakers Bureau
Firefighters are available to speak about fire and life safety, careers in the fire service, or a related topic of interest. Speakers may be scheduled within the City of Beaumont for a variety of civic or cultural organizations.
- Business groups like Rotary or the Chamber of Commerce
- Service organizations like the Kiwanis Club or women’s shelter
- Professional organizations like the National Education Association
- Cultural groups like the League of United Latin American Citizens
- Environmental groups like the Sierra Club
Pre-K & Early Elementary Reading Program
The reading program is designed for day care and early elementary age children. The program includes a number of safety-related features:
- Age-appropriate fire & life safety books to kids
- Fire safety games or music
- Fire engine and firefighting gear
- Pluggie the dancing fire hydrant
Children can see what a firefighter looks like in fire gear so that they aren’t afraid of a rescuer. Activities may vary depending on group size. Program length is approximately 45-60 minutes.
School Presentations
Firefighters are available to visit Beaumont schools to speak about fire and life safety or careers in the fire service.All ages can learn about the dangers of playing with fire, what to do in case of a fire, the importance of smoke alarms, and more. Students may tour a fire truck and learn about first aid, cooking safety, or arson awareness.
Fire Safety House
The Fire Safety House is a mobile replica of a multi-level family dwelling built on a trailer and transported to schools and community events. Firefighters present information in each room of the house, culminating in an actual home evacuation drill.The Fire Safety House is most appropriate for elementary age children. Set up requires an area that is accessible, fairly level and at least 40′ by 20′ in size. The program is available for major events only.
Fire Extinguisher Training
Risk Reduction Specialists are able to bring live fire extinguisher training to your organization or place of business. A presentation on how to properly use a fire extinguisher combined with hands-on experience is provided.Cost of the program is $30 per extinguisher, if the organization does not provide their own extinguishers. Under normal use, one extinguisher can be shared by up to four people.
Fire/Evacuation & Shelter-in-Place Drills
Risk reduction specialists are available to help businesses and organizations develop a building evacuation plan or shelter-in-place plan, and conduct drills for these plans.BFRS personnel will meet with representatives of your organization to provide advice on the most effective means of evacuation or shelter-in-place for your site, establish your plan, and stand by for assistance during a drill.
Firefighter Appearances
On-duty firefighters in their fire engine, ladder truck, or specialty apparatus may be scheduled to appear at significant public events like parades or festivals. Firefighters can explain the features of the apparatus and equipment, talk about the job, and provide safety information.BFRS schedules firefighter appearances at all public and private schools in Beaumont. BFRS does not schedule fire apparatus for appearances at individual residences.
Fire Station Visits
Beaumont Fire-Rescue Services will accommodate visits to fire stations for small groups. Although no minimum number of visitors is required, this service is provided most often to Scout troops and school groups. Visitors are provided with a station tour, view the fire engine and ask firefighters questions about their jobs or fire and life safety.Station visits are scheduled for one hour or less. Visits are normally scheduled between 9 and 11 a.m. and 1 and 6 p.m.
Youth Firesetter Intervention
This program is a standardized, age-appropriate lesson plan presented to children who have shown curiosity about fire, or who have started fires. Students and their families gain knowledge and materials to protect themselves from future incidents.Youth Firesetter Intervention is a cooperative effort with area service professionals and law enforcement agencies.
Smoke Alarms
A properly installed and maintained smoke alarm is the first thing in your home that can alert you and your family to a fire 24 hours a day, seven days a week.If you don’t have a smoke detector in your home, click the BFR Fire & Life Safety Programs tab above to find out how to request a smoke detector and installation. If you already have a battery-operated detector, here’s some things you can do to ensure it works properly:
- Test the alarm monthly.
- Replace the batteries at least once every year.
- Replace the smoke alarm at least every 10 years.
There are many types of smoke alarms and installations. To learn more about the type of alarm that may be right for your home and family, visit the USFA’s Smoke Alarm webpage.
Carbon Monoxide: The Silent Killer
Carbon monoxide is the No. 1 cause of poisoning deaths in the United States, killing more than 3,800 people every year. CO is a colorless, odorless gas. Because you can’t see, smell, or taste it, you can be overcome without even knowing that it’s there.Symptoms of CO poisoning include headaches, dizziness, nausea, or confusion. Common causes of CO poisoning include malfunctioning natural gas, oil, or coal appliances and equipment:
- Water heaters and furnaces
- Stoves, ovens, or grills
- Motor vehicles and equipment
If your home has natural gas, oil, or coal equipment or an attached garage, install a CO detector. To learn more about CO poisoning and the alarm that’s right for you and your family, visit the USFA’s CO Safety webpage.
Fire/Escape Plans
In less than 30 seconds, a small flame can get completely out of control and turn into a major fire. It only takes minutes for a house to fill with thick black smoke and become engulfed in flames.Families should plan how to escape when an fire occurs, and they should practice the plan at least twice per year. Some things to consider when preparing a home escape plan include:
- Draw a map of each level of your home, showing all doors & windows.
- Find two ways to get out of each room.
- Teach children how to escape on their own in case you can’t help them.
- Have a plan for everyone in your home who has a disability.
- Make sure all doors and window that lead outside can be opened easily by children or disabled persons.
- Practice your fire escape plan with the whole family both at night and during the day.
To learn more about fire escape plans, visit the USFA’s Fire Escape Planning webpage.
Shelter-in-Place Plans
A chemical emergency may occur anywhere hazardous materials are manufactured, stored or transported. Shelter-in-place is used to protect people from the effects of a chemical or radiological release. If you are told to shelter-in-place, take your children and pets indoors immediately. To be prepared to shelter and have what you need if it’s required, here are some things you can do:
- Choose a room in advance for your shelter. Pick a room with as few doors and windows as possible.
- Prepare a shelter-in-place kit with items like duct tape to seal cracks, plastic to cover windows, battery-operated AM/FM radio and flashlight (with fresh batteries), first aid kit, medicines, and other essentials for your families survival.
- If sheltering is required, quickly lock exterior doors, close windows, air vents and fireplace dampers. Turn off all fans, HVAC systems and clothes dryers. Seal any cracks that may let air inside.
- If you are told there is danger of explosion, close the window shades, blinds, or curtains.
To learn more about sheltering-in-place, visit the NICS’s Shelter-in-Place webpage.
Fire Extinguishers
In the hands of a trained adult, a fire extinguisher can be a life- and property-saving tool. However, most adults have never had fire extinguisher training and may not know how and when to use them. If your organization or business would like to learn to use fire extinguishers, click the BFR Fire & Life Safety Programs tab above to find out how to request a training course.Fire extinguisher use requires a sound decision-making process and training on their use and maintenance. Use a fire extinguisher only if ALL of the following conditions are present:
- You have alerted other occupants and someone has called the fire department.
- The fire is small, and is contained to a single object, like a wastebasket.
- You are safe from the toxic smoke produced by the fire.
- You have an escape route identified and the fire is not between you and the way out.
To learn more about fire extinguisher types and use, visit the USFA’s Fire Extinguishers webpage.
Home Fire Sprinklers
Eight out of 10 fire deaths occur in the home. Most occur at night when people are asleep, because a fire can grow from a tiny flame to a blaze that destroys a home in less than three minutes. Fire sprinklers can suppress and often extinguish a fire before the fire department arrives, giving your family time to escape.The Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition provides information and materials for home owners, builders, and other professionals. To learn more about home fire sprinklers and how they can keep you and your family safe, visit the HFSC webpage or the USFA’s Home Fire Sprinkler webpage.
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Every year, fire kills more Americans than all natural disasters combined. By being aware of home fire risks and taking reasonable precautions, you can help keep your loved ones and property safe.
Keep Your Cool in the Kitchen
When grease splatters or a pot overheats, the chances of a kitchen fire increase dramatically. There are several things that you can do to reduce risk of fires or injuries in the kitchen:- Stay in the kitchen when cooking, especially when using oil or cooking at high temperatures.
- Keep combustibles (dish towels, oven mitts, paper towels) away from heat sources.
- Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove so they can’t be bumped or pulled over.
To learn more about reducing the risk of cooking fires, visit the USFA’s Cooking Safety webpage.
Heat Your Home Safely
Home fires occur in the winter more than any other time of year. Space heaters cause one-third of home heating fires and 4 out of 5 home heating fires deaths. There are several steps you can take to reduce the risk of heating-related fires and injuries:- Keep anything that can burn at least three feet from all heat sources like fireplaces and space heaters.
- Choose a space heater that turns off automatically if it tips over.
- Turn space heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.
- Never use an oven to heat your home.
- Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected annually by a qualified professional.
To learn more about heating your home safely, visit the USFA’s Home Heating Safety webpage.
Smoke Responsibly for Safer Families
Every year, almost 1,000 smokers and non-smokers are killed in home fires caused by cigarettes and other smoking materials. One-in-four people killed in home fires is not the smoker whose cigarette caused the fire. You can reduce the risk of smoking-related fires and injuries:- If you smoke, smoke outside.
- Wherever you smoke, use deep, sturdy ashtrays.
- Make sure cigarettes and ashes are out.
- Never smoke in a home where oxygen is used.
To learn more about safe smoking practices, visit the USFA’s Smoking Safety webpage.
Keep Your Electrical Equipment Fire Safe
Electrical failure or malfunction is a leading cause of home fires. Knowledge and awareness are the keys to protecting your family from these fires. Take precautions to reduce the risk of electrical fires and injuries:- Don’t overload wall sockets or extension cords.
- Insert plugs fully into sockets.
- Protect your children by installing outlet covers.
- Unplug small appliances when not in use.
- Replace old, worn, or damaged appliance cords right away.
To learn more about reducing risk of an electrical fire, visit the USFA’s Electrical Safety webpage.
Be Fire Safe with Candles
On average, 42 home candle fires are reported every day. The risk of fatal candle fires is higher when candles are used for light. In 20 percent of candle fires, the candles are unattended or abandoned. There are things you can do the reduce the risk of candle-related fires and injuries:- Avoid using candles in bedrooms and sleeping areas.
- Keep candles out of the reach of children and pets.
- Always use a flashlight – not a candle – for emergency lighting.
- Consider using battery-operated or electric flameless candles and fragrance warmers, which can look, smell, and feel like real candles, without the flame.
To learn more about safety when using candles, visit the USFA’s Candle Safety webpage.
Be Aware of Your Wiring
Older homes and apartments may have worn or inadequate wiring. This is both a fire and an electrical hazard. If you notice any of the following warning signs, follow up with an electrician and update your wiring:- Fuses blow or circuit breakers trip frequently.
- You have to disconnect one appliance to plug in another.
- You have to use extension cords or “octopus” outlets extensively.
- Lights dim when an appliance is turned on.
To learn more about wiring and electrical safety, visit the USFA’s Electrical Safety webpage.
Store Your Flammable Liquids Properly
Flammable liquids kept around the home may include adhesives, thinners, paints, fuels, solvents, or other cleaning agents. These can catch fire and even explode if stored improperly. Vapors of flammable liquids can ignite from one spark of static electricity or because of high temperatures.Here are some things that you can do to reduce risk by properly storing flammable liquids:
- Keep flammable liquids away from heat sources.
- Store them outside the home in a cool, ventilated area.
- Use approved containers.
Holidays are Happier with Fire Safety
Fires increase around holidays for a variety of reasons. Some include increased use of candles, decorations placed near heat sources, or inattention to cooking because of holiday activities and fun. Every holiday has its own list of items to be aware of, if our goal is to have a fire and injury-free celebration.To learn more about holiday fire safety, visit the USFA’s Holiday Safety webpage.
What to Do After a Home Fire
When your home catches fire, it can be one of the worst days of your life. It may be hard to know where you can turn, or what to do next. When you return to your home after a fire, please take these important safety considerations:- Do not enter a damaged home or apartment unless the fire department says it is safe to go in. Fires can start again even if they appear to be out.
- The fire department will make sure that the utilities are safe to use. If they are not safe, firefighters will disconnect them before they leave the site. Do not try to turn them back on yourself.
- Watch for damage caused by the fire. Roofs and floors may be damaged and could collapse.
- Soot and dirty water left behind may contain things that could make you sick. Don’t eat, drink, or breathe in anything that has been near the fire’s flames, smoke, soot, or water used to put the fire out.
The U.S. Fire Administration has developed checklists and other resources to help families recover after a fire. To learn more, visit their After a Fire webpage.
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