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The Public Education Unit of Contra Costa County Fire Protection District consists of a Fire Education Coordinator who oversees the working Unit, and Fire Prevention Specialists who perform most of the fieldwork. The Public Education Team is committed to the fire and life safety education of our citizens.
Despite a long-term downward trend, the United States continues to have one of the highest fire death rates per capita in the world. Part of the reason for this is the lack of adequate public fire education nationwide. It is a proven fact that educating the public in matters of fire and life safety reduces casualties.
Simply stated, the goal of our Public Education Unit is that all of our citizens, from preschoolers to senior citizens, will learn the proper action to take in a sudden fire or life emergency. We have a number of programs and tools to accomplish this goal. Our vision is a Fire District where no one suffers fire injury or death due to lack of knowledge or preparation.
To contact the Public Education Unit please call 925-941-3327.
Fire Safety Programs on Cable TV
Contra Costa Television shows several fire safety programs every week to Comcast subscribers on Channel 27 and Astound subscribers on Channel 32. Check the current CCCTV program guide.
On this page you will find our fire and life safety programs
- Antioch Dunes
- Basic Home
- Be Cool
- CERT
- Emergency Preparedness
- Home Inspection
- Middle School
- Mobile Home
- On The Job
- Pluggie the Robot
- Parents of Pre-Schoolers
- Puppet Show
- Safety Fairs
- Senior Citizens
- Smoke Detector Give Away
- Using a Fire Extinguisher
- Wheels of Fire
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Community Emergency Response Team training teaches neighbors to help neighbors in the event of disaster or extreme emergency. In this six-week training course, the students will learn about helping others in a major disaster, suppressing small fires, light search and rescue, disaster psychology, applying CERT principles to a suspected terrorist incident, triage, and many other response techniques.
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Seniors are at significantly higher risk of dying in a home fire than the rest of the U.S. population. What can seniors do to reduce this risk and protect their home? This program is utilized in Assisted Living Homes, Senior Apartment Complexes, City Senior Centers, and Senior Homeowners Associations.
Home fires strike suddenly without warning, leaving residents with a matter of minutes to escape. What can you do to protect your family? This program fits well into homeowners association groups, civic groups, and any gathering that wants to learn how to make their home safer from fire disaster.
Smoke detectors save lives! The Public Education Unit provides free smoke detectors, plus free installation for senior citizens over 60 years old or disabled citizens of any age. If you are a senior, own your own home, have no detector, or have one over 10 years old, contact Public Education to arrange an appointment. For those who are not seniors or disabled, we also come to your home and advise the best location for your detectors.
The 55-acre Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge is at very high risk to human caused wildfires and is in great need of enhanced fire prevention, education and outreach efforts in the Antioch area.
US Fish & Wildlife service provides National Fire Plan Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Program funding to the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District to support cooperative fire prevention education and outreach throughout Contra Costa County, with priorities based on communities adjacent to US Fish & Wildlife Service lands (FWS).
In this mutually beneficial program, the Fire District builds upon existing fire prevention programs in the area by accentuating refuge values, fire risks and fire prevention. For more information about this very special habitat that is home to three endangered species, visit the Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge web pages at http://www.fws.gov/SFBAYREFUGES/antioch/
Whether you work in an office, factory, or anything in between, fires happen in the workplace. Learn what you can do to increase the chances of you and your co-workers escaping unharmed. What kind of hazards are to be found in your workplace? We will come to your place of business and prepare your employees.
Safety Tip Sheets
The Residential Fire Sprinkler Challenge
As parents of toddlers, you face special considerations regarding preventing fires and burns in your home. What hazards can you look for that pose special dangers for your baby or toddler? Why are pre-schoolers at high risk for clothing ignition and what can you as a parent do? This program fits well into mom's clubs, church groups, pre-schools and day cares that have parent meetings.
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Your workplace has fire extinguishers available for sudden fire emergencies, but do your employees know how to use them? Do they know when an extinguisher is appropriate and when it isn't? The proper use of an extinguisher could save lives and property. Your facility can schedule either a hands-on program (with live pan fire), or classroom training only. There is a fee for this training. |
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Have your pre-school students met Corky & Minnie Mae? Kindergartners love Sassy and the Match! They have important fire safety messages for your students! The kids in your care will learn what to do when they find a lighter or matches, not to hide from fire, what constitutes an "emergency", Stop, Drop, & Roll, and why the firefighter looks different in full gear. This is a fun, exciting way for the young child to learn behaviors that could save their lives. Pre-Schools, day cares, elementary schools, and other groups can call and request this program. |
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Mobile homeowners associations and clubs can help their residents become aware of the fire hazards unique to their situations. Mobile home living is popular in our Fire District, and a preferred, relaxing lifestyle for many. In a sudden fire emergency however, the escape time may be even shorter. What can mobile home dwellers do to increase their chances of getting out alive? We will come to your next meeting with an interesting video and fire safety tips.
Is your child experimenting with fire without your permission? Has she/he started a fire? Have you found lighting materials in their room or pocket? Is it continuing despite your intervention? Our trained specialists can help. We will interview your child, educate he/she concerning the dangers of fireplay, and your child will view an educational video. This program is, of course, highly confidential and has proven to curb firesetting behavior. If your child has had even one incident, it is time to call the Public Education Unit.
Fireplay and arson activity is a too frequent occurrence among middle school age children. This age group is unfortunately responsible for many school bathroom fires, grass fires and exterior fires. In a school assembly, middle school children will learn what the word "Arson" means and the penalties of deliberately setting a fire. A video is shown and arson activity is discussed in the assembly. Your middle school is urged to consider offering this assembly.
Is that extension cord a fire hazard? How many smoke detectors are enough? What should I do in a cooking fire? We will come to your home and advise you of any fire hazards in your living room, kitchen and any other room you want inspected. We will also advise the best escape route for your floor plan and help you learn how to use your home fire extinguisher.
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Provided there are other public agencies represented, our specialists can come to your Safety Fair and present a fire safety materials table. We may also bring the Wheel of Fire, Sparky the Fire Dog, or Pluggie upon request. Please allow at least 2-3 weeks advance notice on booking a Safety Fair. |
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Two Wheels of Fire (a tabletop and standup model) are a colorful and eye catching way to learn fire safety! The wheels were made possible by a generous grant from Fireman's Fund Insurance Company. They are used for Elementary School Assemblies, After School Programs and Safety Fairs. A fun way for adults and kids to win prizes and learn fire and life safety. |
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If the big quake hit tomorrow, do you have adequate supplies to sustain your family for at least 72 hours? In this 45-minute program, your group will learn how to stock a home emergency kit, and how to react in a significant earthquake. What can you do ahead of time to ensure the quickest re-connection with your family? This program will help you to be prepared for a major disaster. |
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A 35-40 minute program aimed at Brownies, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Cubs, and Elementary After School programs. This is a fun program that teaches fire safety behaviors to smaller groups of kids. The "House-A-Fire" teaching tool is used to teach the fire triangle, and the "Be Cool" video is shown. A brief quiz follows and prizes are given for correct answers. |
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Pluggie the Fire Safety Robot is available to teach fire safety to citizens of all ages. He is mainly used for Elementary School Assemblies and Safety Fairs. Pluggie was made possible by a generous donation from ChevronTexaco and Wal Mart. He walks, talks, squirts water, tips his hat, spins and emits a piercing siren! He also asks fire safety questions that folks can answer and win prizes! |
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What is a "Hug-A-Bear", and are they effective? Several years ago, the Fire Service, and various law enforcement agencies discovered that providing teddy bears to injured and traumatized children at the incident scene had a profound calming effect on the child. Contra Costa County Fire Protection District implemented the "Hug-A-Bear" program and it continues to this day. They are provided solely by donations to our Fire District.
Three bears are carried on each engine, and the firefighter gives a bear to the child on scene. This is done on accident scenes, child medical calls, and even calls where perhaps the child is not the focus, but grandma is ill or a family member injured. This is upsetting to a young child and the bears are a cuddly focal point.
The Public Education Unit accepts donations of teddy bears from organized groups and individuals on an on-going basis. The bears should be new, and to best fit on the engines, 10 to 14 inches tall. This is a most welcome donation from an office, a church group, an auxiliary group or even individual citizens who want to support the Hug-A-Bear program. To donate, or for more information, please contact the Public Education Unit at 925-941-3327.
Does the "Hug-A-Bear" program work? See for yourself!!!
 
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 October 9th, to this day, Fire Prevention Week always occurs in the week of October 9th. 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.
The Great Chicago Fire
At Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, we observe October as "Fire Prevention Month". Because our District covers multiple cities, this allows us more time to provide education and activities for the entire District. October is always our busiest month in Public Education, and at the fire stations. Puppet show and school programs as well as station tours and demos increase significantly.
Sparky the Fire Dog
Our department activities each year include a newspaper-sponsored contest with a fire prevention theme for kids. Public Service Announcements and fire safety tips are run on cable television channels. And Sparky the Fire Dog makes frequent appearances in October at many events. All kids who take fire station tours in October receive special handouts, such as plastic fire hats, pencils with a safety theme, stickers, badges and fire safety erasers.
We hang banners at our more visible stations with fire safety messages like "Change Your Clock, CHange Your Battery" in smoke detectors and "Be a Hero! Practice Fire Safety!" Our goal is to increase everyone's awareness of the dangers of out of control fire and how to prevent it -- not just in October, but all year long.
Since 2005, Halloween at the Firehouse has provided a safe, fun and educational experience for young children (pre-K through 5th grade). This free event is hosted by Fire Station #11 in Clayton and Fire Station #82 in Antioch.
The end of Fire Prevention Month at Contra Costa County Fire Protection District is celebrated with a special party at a local pizza parlor to honor the winners of our contest. Sparky attends to hand out the many prizes and feast on free pizza with all the kids, parents, and siblings.
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| Thanks to Straw Hat Pizza |
School Presentation |
 Nationally, over 50% of all arson arrests are youth under the age of eighteen. Addressing this behavior in juveniles can help prevent injuries and property loss, and is believed to reduce the number of adult arsonists in our society. Call 925-941-3327 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
It is normal for a child to be curious about fire. Children want to learn about the world around them. Because your child is curious about fire does not mean there is something wrong with him/her. But when the interest becomes dangerous behavior such as unsupervised experimentation with fire, intervention is essential. If you suspect that your child is lighting fires, playing with matches, lighters, fireworks, or has even had one fire experimentation incident, you need to take action. Ignoring the problem won't make it go away.
The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District has a Juvenile Firesetter Education/Intervention program to help parents and kids. This program is designed to educate children about the dangers of fire. When you call our office, a one-on-one appointment will be made with your child and a custodial parent or guardian. Your family will be seen at one of our locations in Central, West or East County by a highly trained Fire Prevention Specialist. The program is free of charge to residents in our Fire District.
Your child will learn why fire is dangerous for juveniles, how quickly fire spreads, what "Arson" means, and the consequences of burns, i.e. the pain and lifetime scars. He/she will also learn that arson is a crime. An educational video will be shown appropriate to his/her age, and possibly an essay assigned to be written by the child. This essay will be titled, "What I Learned About The Dangers Of Fire".
By addressing your child's fireplay early, you can take a positive step in insuring that your child will not be included in those statistics. |
Senior Citizen Fire Safety
Smoke Detector Installation Smoke Detector Give-A-Way Program
Fire Safety On The Job
Middle School Arson Awareness Program
Donations