The FSET is a mobile, educational tool used by fire safety educators to teach fire and burn prevention principles to children. Teaching is done through a combination of lecture/demonstration and “hands on” exercises. The FSET is a resource available to fire/rescue and other organizations interested in educating the public about fire and burn prevention.

Included in the design of the house are a living room, kitchen, control room and bedroom.

Children can actually practice fire and burn safety skills as part of the program. Children will learn how to safely escape from a burning building. The FSET provides a realistic setting using electronically operated smoke detectors and a non-toxic smoke which give the effect of an actual fire. As the smoke enters the room, the children learn the necessary actions they must take to get out of a burning building. The smoke is used strictly for dramatic effect and will be removed via the ventilation system once the effect has been achieved. This is to keep children from thinking they can safely breathe the smoke in an actual fire; what will be stressed is that the smoke and gases associated with many fires can kill quickly. Prior to entering the FSET or after leaving the FSET, students can learn other important fire safety lessons, such as Stop, Drop & Roll techniques to put out clothing fires.

Children can also learn that fire fighters are their friends and they should not be afraid of the firefighters in full protective clothing. They can be instructed to come towards the fire fighter rather than away from them.

Another feature is the telephone that can be used to show students how to report a fire. The lesson plan for reporting the fire can be changed to meet local needs. If you don’t have 911, make sure the students know the right number to call in an emergency. Be sure children know to go to another house to report the fire if the house is involved. The children can talk to the Fire Safety Educator in the Control Room who can act as a dispatcher would, asking questions of the child. This allows the Fire Safety Educator to determine if a student knows how to correctly relay his or her address and other pertinent emergency information.

When children enter the FSET, they can go into the living room where they will learn about fireplaces and other home heating safety tips. The visual centerpiece of this room is the fireplace where the Fire Safety Educator can spend time with the children teaching heating safety measures. Other home heating equipment, such as wood burning stoves, floor furnaces, CP gas heaters and kerosene heaters can also be covered.

On the other end of the FSET is a fully equipped kitchen, including a stove and microwave. In the kitchen area, children will learn microwave and stove safety, and how to avoid cooking fires and burns from scalding tap water.

The bedroom is equipped with an escape window and a heated door. Students can practice feeling the door and exiting via the escape ladder.

When the FSET fills with smoke, children can practice crawling low, feeling the door and if it is warm, they will choose the alternate route.

The FSET can be displayed and used in a number of situations, including schools, open houses, safety fairs, local and county fairs, and at shopping malls and similar places to promote fire and burn prevention.

The lesson plan can also be adapted to holiday and seasonal fire safety messages. These messages can include holiday fire safety and other topics like barbeque and fireworks safety.