School Based Educational Programs

Fire Prevention Month, which is in October, is the busiest month for the Thornton Fire Department in terms of our education efforts.  We target all kindergarten, first, and second graders in the City elementary schools and focus on Fire Safety Education.  Each year the National Fire Protection Agency designates a theme which typically includes information on smoke detectors, home fire escape planning, and home inspections.

Second grade students are encouraged to participate in a theme related poster contest and winners from each school are invited to a celebration at one of our fire stations. Every student receives a gift to denote our visit and takes home important information to share with their families. All elementary schools in the City of Thornton are invited to participate in the Fire Prevention Week activities.

We also offer a “Third Grade Partnership” program to students in the community, between January and May.  Firefighters are available to partner with a school and teach valuable lessons adapted from the “Learn Not to Burn” curriculum in fire science, burn injury, controlled and uncontrolled fires, making appropriate decisions, bike safety, and the many roles of the Fire Department in the community. 

Middle School students are a top priority for the Thornton Fire Department and we began implementing a prevention education program, called “Look Hot Stay Cool” in 2001 to help middle school students become aware of the dangers and consequences of inappropriate behavior with fire.  The response to the program has been very positive and continues to be offered to kids at the middle school level.

The middle school prevention program dovetails with the Juvenile Firesetter Intervention Program which is designed to evaluate and educate juveniles in our community who may be curious about fire or that have been involved in firestarting activities.  Referrals for this program are received from a variety of sources including the Fire and Police Departments, the Juvenile Court system, schools, Social Services and concerned parents. Each child referred to the program is assessed to determine if education is appropriate and if a referral to another agency such as Adams Community Mental Health is necessary. Each child attends the education session with a parent and is educated in the dangers of playing with fire and experimentation, as well as in the consequences associated with this type of behavior. The Thornton Fire Department educates between 30 and 40 children between the ages of 3 and 18 each year through the Juvenile Firesetter Intervention Program.

High School students are given the opportunity to meet with firefighters one on one to find out about career opportunities in the fire service during career fairs. (Available upon request)

Pre School classes using the “Play Safe, Be Safe” curriculum are offered upon request to the community to introduce children to basic fire safety skills such as Stop, Drop, and Roll, and Firefighters are our friends, even when dressed in bunker gear (which can be scary to a young child). 

SAFETY DOG is also available to introduce our youngest citizens to the Fire Department and to lay a foundation of trust for future educational opportunities. Safety Dog appears at community events such as Ice Cream Socials, Thorntonfest, Harvest Fest, and National Night Out.

Adult Education Opportunities:

“The Price is Life” Senior Fall and Fire Safety Program

This program is designed to create awareness for seniors in our community to their increased risk of falls and fires and is designed to motivate seniors to incorporate preventative behaviors into their daily life style.  This presentation includes an interactive educational game called “The Price is Life” where seniors answer fire, fall and burn trivia questions, which opens the floor for discussion on safety behaviors.

Getting Out Alive and Fire Power are adult educational presentations used to emphasize fire emergency response and evacuation planning.  This presentation is suitable for businesses as well as adult groups in the community and offers participants an opportunity to learn essential fire safety habits which can be implemented in the work environment and at home.

Audible Alert Smoke Detectors are available to citizens in the City of Thornton who meet need requirements.  We will install smoke detectors for individuals who are physically challenged and/or elderly and are in need of assistance.  All families who do not have a working smoke detector in their home and do not have means to obtain one should call the Public Education Officer at 303-538-7657 for assistance.

The “Wheel of Safety” is an interactive tool that can be used with both adults and children for group presentations and community events.  There are various categories of questions and give away items for correct answers.  (Participants are always given the item even if they are coached through the answer.)