North Dakota’s fire-related death rate is slightly higher than the national rate, but North Dakota youth now have direct access to the science of preventing destructive fires.

The North Dakota Firefighters Association (NDFA), NDSU-North Dakota Forest Service, U.S. Forest Service, and KAT Communications have launched “Respect the Flame™,” a multimedia campaign to teach North Dakota youth ages 12-18, and others, about fire safety.

 

The campaign consists of a 20-minute educational video, seasonal television and radio messages, a website that can be used as an online classroom, a DVD containing the website material, a 3-minute firefighter recruitment video, quarterly newsletters to teachers, and t-shirts.

 

All components specifically target students aged 12-18.

“The need for the information was critical,” says Sarah Tunge, Fire

Manager with the NDSU North Dakota Forest Service and a partner on the project.

“Elementary school students receive basic fire safety training and classroom visits from firefighters, but that tends to drop off as students age,” she said. “We wanted to create something that would appeal specifically to junior high and senior high students.”

 

The “Respect the Flame™ ” 20-minute video features information about the components of fire, how fires start in nature, the uses and abuses of man-made fire, and fire safety at home and in nature. The video uses animated characters and humor to engage students.

 

Distribution has included more than 1,000 science and health teachers in North Dakota schools.

 

The website, www.respecttheflame.com, has also been modified into a DVD.

The website and DVD include a variety of activities, handouts, quizzes, and games about fire safety.