Fire Safe Kids officially retires

CFA says goodbye to Fire Safe Kids

 

In February 2011, CFA replaced Brigade in Schools with a program called Fire Safe Kids. 

 

Now, more than 15 years later, after many thousands of sessions, it is time to say farewell to Fire Safe Kids. CFA thanks every member who took the time to deliver the program across the state. 

Why is Fire Safe Kids being retired?

Since its inception, many things have changed, including:

• the most common causes of fires/burns in children
• technologies that improve some risks
• technologies that create new risks
• what we know about how children learn best
• how classrooms function
• the Victorian curriculum 
• research about how children understand fire safety messaging.

For these reasons, Fire Safe Kids has been replaced by a new program called Fire Wise Kids. This program has been created in conjunction with key stakeholders including members, regional staff, subject matter experts and schools.    

What’s new about Fire Wise Kids?

The program still focuses on important fire safety messaging at its core – it just does so in a way that better suits how students learn today. The resources have been updated, and the training has been developed to better prepare presenters for delivery in schools in 2026 and beyond. Because it is a new program with new content, it is vital for all presenters to undertake training, even if they're a teacher or have presented in schools for years. 

What does this mean for you?

If your brigade still has Fire Safe Kids materials – such as presenter kits, posters, certificates, etc., please dispose of them immediately. Fire Safe Kids is no longer to be delivered and has been removed from the Activity Reporting Tool (ART).

If you would like to continue delivering in schools, you’ll need to complete the eLearning modules Presenting Fire Wise Kids on The Learning Hub and then attend a district-based observation day.

How do I attend an observation day?

Observation days are managed by your district, and therefore their availability varies across districts. Reach out to your district Community Engagement Coordinator (CEC) to find out when the next available session is.  

 

Submitted by	Siobhan Greene