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State Fire Marshal

A Division of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety
 

Resources and Equipment

Public education

Pocket media guidePhoto of the pocket media guide.

The Fire Department Pocket Media Guide is a tool to help firefighters work with the media in their community. The guide includes interview tips as well as talking points for various types of fires. If you would like free copies of this guide for your department, email Kathi Osmonson. 


Messaging guide

The State Fire Marshal Division has a full-sized messaging guide​ available to keep fire prevention messaging consistent throughout the state. Holding the book horizontally allows you to show your audience pictures while you share the messages from the other side. Contact Kathi Osmonson if you would like free copies of this.​


Fire and Fall Prevention for Older Adults Program Guide

In the past five years in Minnesota, 42 percent of fire deaths were adults over the age of 60. The fall rate in Minnesota is climbing faster than the national rate. In order to provide tools to drive these numbers down, the Minnesota State Fire Chiefs Association along with the State Fire Marshal Division has created an education program for older adults​. The goal of this program guide is to provide an educational resource to fire departments and community partners that will help them teach older adults how to prevent fires and falls in their home. The outcome of the goal is to save the lives and improve the quality of life of older adults.



Lending Library

We have a robust lending library where you can borrow books, DVDs, Sparky costumes and more. Contact Bob Reif for more information.

Red Cross

The Red Cross will partner with you for smoke alarm installations and provide the alarms for free. Find your local chapter here. 

The Home Fire Risk Map is a planning resource to improve regional in-home and smoke alarm installation by helping to identify vulnerable communities across the country. ​
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Presentations

Let the Home Fire Safety Patrol help you teach students how smoke alarms help families stay safe from home fire. Here is a link to Sound Off with the Home Fire Safety Patrol.

Fire Safety for Older Adults 
College Fire Safety Presentation 
Fire Safety & Prevention 
Winter Fire Safety​​​ 

 

Materials generator

The Materials Generator is a new tool that allows departments to generate customized door hangers, fliers and activity guides using proven fire safety messages with your own department logo and contact information. The tool was developed by a team of fire safety and communications experts to help enhance your community risk reduction programs. You can find the Materials Generator on the Vision 20/20 website. 

Public Education Props​

Through various grants. The Minnesota state fire Chiefs Public Education Committee has various props available to rent. These props includes two kitchen fire safety live demonstration units, an interactive kitchen education simulator, a safety hopper bounce house for kids, and a 911 float​. 
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Sparky the Fire Dog

Let Sparky the Fire Dog help you. Sparky the Fire Dog is perfect for fire department officials teaching fire and life safety to children because it can communicate with them on their level. Sparky is not available to the general public.

  

Burn Institute's interactive website

The Burn Institute's Fire Safe Kid website is a fun, interactive place for kids to learn all about fire and burn prevention. 

Firetrap

Firetrap is a game designed to teach children to quickly get out of the house in case of a fire.​​


Toys and tools: A lesson for children 

Consider teaching young children about tools and toys. Here is a lesson plan and directions​ on making your own tool and toy kit boxes.​


Suppression 


Minnesota Incident Command System

The Minnesota Incident Command System was created to enable agencies to support each other on large wildfire incidents. Today, these multi-agency teams respond to a need for coordination on floods, search and rescue, large gatherings and wildfires. ​For more information, check out the MNICS website. ​


Federal excess property 

Need fire suppression equipment for your department? The federal government makes equipment available through its Federal Excess Property Program. You can find more information about this program on the Minnesota DNR's website. 

 

Service Planning Grant 

The State Fire Marshal Division occasionally has money available for fire departments interested in studying the feasibility of sharing services. You can read through some of the reports and learn more about the service planning grant program online. You may also contact Tate Mills, Fire Service Specialist at 320-333-2817 or Tate.Mills@state.mn.us.


Fire Training Prop Trailers  

The Minnesota State Fire Marshal Division (SFMD) has used an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for eight fire training prop trailers to position  throughout Minnesota. Using fire department  feedback, SFMD staff determined these eight  trailers will help meet the training needs of  Minnesota fire departments. Five of the trailers focus on and include props necessary for training for fires involving cars,  outdoor grills and liquid propane. The other three trailers focus on and include props required to conduct training on roof  ventilation, chimney fires and forcible entry. Learn more on the MBFTE website.


Wildfire information and burning restrictions

Get more information about the current burning restrictions in Minnesota and the most recent wildfire status from the Minnesota DNR.


Autism Awareness for first responders

Here are links to prevent-educate.org’s facebook page and homepage. You will find many helpful tips for first responders working with autistic individuals.

 
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