September 8, 2025
Olympia – As the new school year starts, the State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) urges educators and parents to teach children about fire safety and their responsibilities during a fire. It is vital for kids to recognize the hazards of fire and know how to react in an emergency. Last year in Washington State, nearly 6% of fire-related deaths involved children under age 10.
The SFMO suggests teaching children the following fire safety tips:
- Teach children not to play with fire hazards such as matches, lighters, candles, or cooking equipment.
- Establish a three-foot kid-free zone in areas with fire or safety risks, such as the kitchen, near fireplaces, and around space heaters.
- Let children hear a smoke alarm and explain that they must leave the building quickly and safely when it goes off.
- Discuss when to call 911 and what information to provide in an emergency.
- Practice a fire escape plan twice a year, including at least two exit pathways.
- Teach children to go outside to the designated family meeting spot and remain there during a fire.
- Explain that hiding during a fire is not safe.
- Teach children to get low and crawl to the nearest exit if there is smoke.
- Teach children to remember the phrase “Get Out and Stay Out.”
- Review what to do during a school fire drill and emphasize the importance of following their teachers’ instructions.
For more information, please contact the State Fire Marshal’s Office at (360) 596-3904.
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