Palm Beach County (FL) Pilot Site

“We’ve had an excellent fire safety education program for years, but a large segment of our at-risk population was missing the message. The Fire Safety Literacy Project has really helped us reach this important part of our community more effectively, and within our existing budget.”
- Herman Brice
Fire Rescue Administrator, Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue, FL

Montgomery County (MD) Pilot Site

“If you can reinforce the learning with practical everyday life-safety skills, then you get tremendous benefits. I hope that this project sets the ongoing wave of change that I think is really necessary for us to embrace the diversity of our communities and make sure they are safe.”
- Gordon Aoyagi
Director, Homeland Security, Montgomery County, MD

Poteau, OK Pilot Site

“I went to the fire station to learn something new. I did not know half of what I needed to know. It was a really interesting experience. It made me appreciate the fire chief and the firemen more. It also made me realize they put their lives on the line to save others. I also learned, as soon as your smoke detector goes off, that you need to find out where the fire is. You should get down and crawl out of bed or on the floor. Locate the children and get out of the house. Don’t worry about possessions, animals or anything else. Things can be replaced, lives cannot. I did not realize how fast a spark can turn into a rampant blaze; that the whole situation can turn so dangerous in just a matter of minutes.”
- Christie Robinson
Student, Literacy Council of LeFlore County (OK), excerpted from Essay

Plano (TX) Pilot Site

“There is no doubt that this type of collaboration is an excellent example of how communities can come together.”
- Jane Lilliston
Program Coordinator, Plano Independent School District Even Start Program,Plano, TX

“The Fire Safety Literacy Project has been wonderful in meeting the needs of the high-risk audience here in Plano. I have been in the classrooms helping to teach the lessons and have seen the learning taking place. I’ve just been amazed at how little fire safety knowledge our group of students had previously, and how much they wanted to learn what we were teaching. Plano’s Even Start is a fabulous program and the students are committed to being good parents and their attendance shows that.”
- Peggy Harrell
Fire Safety Education Coordinator, Plano Fire Department, Plano, TX