Fire Information and Safety
Make a map of your house using the link provided here or use your own paper.
Identify all rooms in the house or apartment and have a way(s) to escape from each room located using windows or doors.
Doors are always the easiest way out if they are available.
All occupants that are old enough should know how to operate locks on doors and windows.
Discuss with family who will be responsible for younger children, disabled persons or the elderly.
Pick a meeting place outside your residence where everyone will gather after they have left the building.
Students will learn about:
The importance of working smoke detectors in every home; including how to check smoke detector
Dangers of fire in everyday life
Safety measures all families can take
Guides for how to safely escape a fire; stay low, feel and check doors for fire, alert family
How to contact 911
Information on carbon monoxide detectors
Other information on fire education and safety
What You Will Learn
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can come to Survive Alive?
Any school, group or organization in the City of Milwaukee. The program is open to any school or group in the city of Milwaukee, there is no cost to attend the program. Private schools and groups are responsible for providing their own transportation.
What age should students be?
The program is geared towards children in 2nd through 5th grades (ages 7-12)
How many students can attend at one time?
A minimum of 20 and a maximum of 65 students may attend a session.
What time are the programs?
We operate two (2) programs each school day; one starting at 9:30 am and another at 11:30 am.
Programs last approximately 90 minutes.
Are families able to attend?
The Survive Alive house is currently only available to schools and groups, we are unable to schedule family visits and we do not have evening hours. Check the MFD website for availability of the mobile Survive Alive house in your area. The mobile unit is at many of the festivals and neighborhood events in the city throughout the summer. http://city.milwaukee.gov/CommunityRelations.htm
Are there any programs for younger children?
For younger children, ages 3 to 7, the Milwaukee Fire Department offers Brecker Bunny Learns to be Careful. This event is classroom based and consists of your local Engine or Truck Company coming to your facility and reading the book Brecker Bunny Learns to be Careful to your classroom or group. This book focuses on home safety and burn prevention. Additionally, by combining the imagery of firefigher and reading we emphasize the importance of literacy. The presentation is concluded with the reinforcement of some key teaching points and showing the group the fire engine (weather permitting). If this is our first presentation, your classroom or group will be give a copy of the book to keep. We ask that the book be read monthly to the class to reinforce the topics discussed.
The City of Milwaukee Fire Department has other community programs availible, see their website at:
How do I schedule an appointment?
To schedule an appointment, please provide the following information in your call or email:
Name and address of school or organization
Contact person name, phone number and email
Ages/grade of students attending
Number of students attending
Any special needs students Survive Alive should be aware of (wheelchairs, sound and light sensitivity, language barriers, physical restrictions, etc)
Appointment time preference (if any) 9:30 am or 11:30 am.
Month or days of week you would like to schedule an appointment.
We will return your call or email to arrange an available date for your group.
Make A Home Escape Plan
Make a Home Escape Plan
Make a map of your house using the link provided below or use your own paper. Identify all rooms in the house or apartment and have a way(s) to escape from each room located using windows or doors. Doors are always the easiest way out if they are available. All occupants that are old enough should know how to operate locks on doors and windows. Discuss with family who will be responsible for younger children, disabled persons or the elderly. Pick a meeting place outside your residence when everyone will gather after they have left the building.
Post your escape plan somewhere in the house where everyone can be reminded of it. (eg: refrigerator)
Practice your escape plan regularly, update it if you move or have additions to your family.
ADVICE: designate someone to attend to small children, elderly or disabled. If you are unable to reach them because of fire or other hazard, CALL 911, the faster you call the faster rescue personnel can respond.
Make sure disabled persons have the ability to open windows and doors; nothing should be blocking access to doors or windows. Make sure hallways and doorways have clear passage. Ensure disabled persons have a way to contact help.
Fire Safety Tips
GET OUT, STAY OUT! NEVER re-enter a burning building! Not for anything!
Keep portable heaters at least three feet away from all combustible (flammable items: drapes, couches, blankets) materials and never leave them unattended. Avoid placing space heaters in bathrooms and other damp locations.
Keep candles out of the reach of children and pets. Never leave a let candle unattended. Trim the wicks to one-quarter inch to avoid high flames and remember to leave a one foot circle of safety around any burning candle in your home.
Do not overload electrical outlets, power strips or extension cords. Connect only as many devices as your electrical circuit can handle.
When leaving your home, make sure to extinguish or turn off all candles, fireplaces, heaters, coffee pots, curling irons and other electrical items.
Secure a sturdy metal screen in front of fireplaces to prevent hot ash from escaping. Allow ashes to cool completely before disposal and place them in a metal container to avoid any potential fire hazards.
Have chimneys and other sources of heat cleaned by a qualified professional.
Do not leave an active stove unattended and never use an oven to heat your home. It can release potentially toxic fumes.
Keep a fire extinguisher near high-risk areas (kitchen, grill, fireplace) so that it is easily accessible in the event of a fire. Review extinguisher usage instructions to keep your self prepared. Alert everyone to evacuate before using the extinguisher and have someone call the fire department from outside.
Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home. Test them every month. Replace batteries as necessary. Replace any smoke detectors that have been used for 10 years or more.
Install and maintain a carbon monoxide detector alarm near all fuel burning devices and outside each sleeping area.
Ask smokers to smoke outside or provide large deep ashtrays. Wet all smoking materials before discarding them in your trash container.
Select a designated meeting place outside your home for your family. Teach all occupants how important it is to report to the meeting place and stay there. Never go back inside. GET OUT, STAY OUT!
Practice your fire escape plan at least twice a year. We recommend practicing it during the day and during the evening hours. Remind any guests about your safe meeting place, outside and away from the home. Keep your escape plan posted in a highly visible area to review with your family.
Talk to your children about fire safety. If there is a home fire, everyone should get out and stay out. Call 911 from outside the home (cell phone or neighbor's house) and NEVER go back into a burning building to retrieve a personal item, pet or family member. The faster you call 911 the faster the response time by the fire department. Only they should enter a burning building.
If you live in a 2 story or higher residence, please consider purchasing a fire escape ladder for your home. Ladders come in a variety of lengths to accommodate your residence. They can be purchased at hardware stores, home improvement stores and most major retailers. (True Value, Home Depot, Lowes, Target, Wal-mart. Feel then peek out doors, close door behind you, especially important if you need to retreat.
If you need a smoke detector (provided to you at NO COST) or you would like someone to come to your home to evaluate your smoke detectors, please call the smoke detector hotline at (414) 286-8980.