News

CPFD to drive fire safety education home in October

Print this story | Email this story

October begins National Fire Prevention Month, a time when we should all be aware of ways to increase fire safety and prevention. According to Dennis Hunsinger, the acting regional director of the Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), most Americans underestimate their risk for fire, and many either lack emergency response plans - or fail to practice them with fire drills.

Fire Prevention Week was established in remembrance of the Great Chicago Fire. The fire occurred in 1871 and killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. Because the fire did most of its damage on Oct. 9, Fire Prevention Week always occurs in the week of Oct. 9. In 1922, President Woodrow Wilson issued the first National Fire Prevention Day.

Fire Prevention Week is the longest-running public health and safety observance on record.

 To better educate the community on proper safety precautions, the Cedar Park Fire Department will be launching the Teen Advocates for Community Safety (TACS) program within LISD beginning in October. The TACS program is a program that trains teenagers to serve as instructors related to fire safety education for children and seniors.

TACS will also present other safety programs including Sparky's Hazard House, interactive puppet shows. Emergency fire drills will be conducted; participants also have the opportunity to become Student Emergency Response Team (SERT) certified, and participate in legislative efforts to initiate reforms to improve safety in the community.

The program is funded from grants received from FEMA Fire Prevention and Safety, Firehouse Subs Foundation, H-E-B Stores, and the Cedar Park Professional Firefighters Association and the Cedar Park Professional Firefighters Association Local 4233.

Local 4233 also who built a mobile fire engine bookshelf that features 28 books on various safety topics. The fire engine bookshelf will be rotated throughout Leander ISD elementary schools in October for National Fire Prevention Month. 

Any teenager interested in participating in the TACS program, should call Yvonne Lane at (512)401-5160 or download an application at www.cedarpark tx.us/cp/page17113470.aspx. 

Reader Comments