Committee: Public Education 

2026 Mission: 
The mission of the Public Education Committee is to support the safety education process of the fire service and communities of Minnesota in order to reduce the loss of life and property from preventable events through the use of technology, information and resources.

2026 Report: 
The Kitchen Fire Safety Live Demonstration Units remain a great asset to the association, and they are available to MSFCA members for rent. The units are used to educate participants on one of the leading causes of fires, cooking. The presentations stress several important educational messages including, keeping combustibles 3 feet from the heat, smother cooking fires with a lid, and stay and look, when you cook. The finale of the presentation demonstrates what happens when you add water to a grease fire. This provides a strong message on the dangers of cookingfires and what can happen when water is used instead of some type of lid. Participants smell the smoke, feel the heat of the fire and see the flames rolling out of the trailer as the water is added to the grease pan.  Both trailers are regularly rented throughout the summer months. One unit is housed at the Buffalo Fire Department and the second unit housed at the Maple Grove Fire Department. To reserve one of the units, please use the links on the MSFCA website under Resources and Rentals.

We continue to expand the augmented reality (AR) project started in the fall of 2023. What began as a product to promote safety while out trick-or-treating, has grown into SmARt Kids Fire Prevention Tool.  By scanning QR codes, participants engage with a variety of interactive tools that educate on fire safety and community risk reduction. As this project continues to grow, we look forward to being able to continue making fire safety accessible and engaging to a wide range of audiences. 

 In 2025, the “Moving Up and Out Program” was launched and is accessible through the Minnesota State Fire Chiefs Association website. The program is designed as an interactive discussion for students and young adults that will be transitioning into living on their own.Participants learn about the importance of conducting a fire safety survey prior to moving into a new home, the cost of a fire, and the importance of being proactive with fire prevention. 

 We hope to see you during Governor’s Prevention Day at the Minnesota State Fair or at the annual MSFCA conference in Duluth. Please reach out to the committee or contact the office with any questions.

Public Education Committee File Library