913-895-8400

The fire safety house is a two-story trailer that the Fire Department uses to teach fire safety to third-graders.

• The first floor is a kitchen where children learn to turn pot handles to the inside, put electrical cords to the back of the counter and other kitchen safety tips.
• The second floor is a bedroom. From a hidden control room, fire staff pumps fake smoke (created with a fog machine) into the bedroom, giving children the chance to roll out of bed, feel the door for heat and use the second way out to exit. A ladder is attached to the side of the house for the children to crawl down, and everyone meets at a tree. Once at the "meeting place," the children take turns going to "the neighbor's house" where they make a simulated 9-1-1 call.

Groups can experience the fire safety house one of two ways:

• We can bring the house to a school. The program begins inside the school with kitchen safety concepts and a general overview of the trailer and program. Outside, the class is divided into groups and taken through the trailer. Each class should plan to spend about 45 minutes going through the program.
• Scout troops and groups of at least 25 can visit the trailer at the Overland Park Fire Training Center. The Scout program is similar to the school program, but since the group is smaller, an inside program usually is not given.

The fire house is not heated or air-conditioned. Because of this, the school programs are scheduled in September, the first two weeks of October and April; the Scout schedule is weather-driven, but somewhat more flexible since it is not dependent on the school year.

• Specific curriculum is used with the house; therefore, it is not available for use at booths at carnivals, fairs and other events.

To schedule the safety house, submit a request to the fire department 30-45 days in advance of your desired date.