All Fired Up for Safety: BCSD and Fire Department Team Up for Prevention
- EricJones
- 10 hours ago
- 2 min read
Fire safety starts with awareness whether you’re at school, at home, or anywhere in between. Each October, we observe Georgia Fire Safety Month to remind everyone that being prepared saves lives.
This month, our Baldwin County Schools practiced those lessons firsthand with help from the Baldwin County Fire Department, including Assistant Fire Marshal Captain Shepherd Davis and Fire Safety Educator Dylan Amerson. Together, they joined students and staff at schools across the district for fire drill and safety lessons and demonstrations.
At School: Teamwork Saves Lives
As Captain Davis explained, “The most important aspect of fire safety is having a good evacuation plan and being able to perform that plan.”
When a fire alarm sounds, every second counts. Students and teachers practiced stopping what they were doing, staying calm, and exiting quickly and quietly. Once outside, each class gathered at its designated safe zone and waited for the all-clear.
Firefighters emphasized that drills aren’t just routines, they’re rehearsals for real-life situations. “If students and staff do what they need to during the evacuation, first responders can prioritize their actions faster,” said Davis. “We know who’s safe and where help is needed most.”
At Home: Prevention Begins with You
Mr. Amerson reminded students that fire safety doesn’t stop at school doors. “The single most important tool every home should have is a smoke alarm,” he said. “It’s your first indicator that something’s going wrong your early warning to get out.”
He offered these essential tips for families:
Install smoke alarms in every bedroom and on every level of your home.
Test alarms monthly and replace batteries every year.
Create a home escape plan with two exits per room and a meeting spot outside.
Practice your plan twice a year so everyone knows what to do.
Keep space heaters three feet from anything flammable and never overload outlets.
Know the basics: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep when using a fire extinguisher and Stop, Drop, and Roll if clothing catches fire.
From Response to Prevention
“The fire service has always been a reactionary force,” Amerson added. “But now, we’re focusing more on prevention helping families stop fires before they ever start.”
It’s a lesson we take seriously in Baldwin County Schools: being prepared, staying calm, and protecting one another. Because fire safety isn’t just about putting out flames it’s about lighting the way to a safer community.
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