The Fire Prevention Division was established in 1984 by Fire Chief Mike Lovelady. The goal of the Nederland Fire-Rescue Services fire safety education division is to provide quality educational programs to educate citizens of all ages about fire prevention and life saving techniques. Every year approximately 4,800 citizens take station tours, are taught fire safety education, and look at fire engines and equipment displays. The use of puppets, educational clowns, the Fire Safety House, and fire safety hand-outs are the tools used to make Nederland a safer place for our citizens.

One of the first new tools to teach fire safety education were the fire puppets. The fire puppets have been a great concept for the delivery of fundamental and basic fire safety education. Such puppet programs as Stop, Drop, and Roll, Crawl Low in Smoke, and Call It In are just a few of the programs performed by puppeteers. Firefighter use the puppets in schools, churches, day cares, businesses, and during station tours for younger children.

Another valuable tool is the Fire Safety House. It is a great tool in teaching life safety in home emergency. The Fire Safety House has a fully operational kitchen, living room, and bedroom. Fire Fighters can teach children or adults how to deal with a grease fire or how to store cleaning agents properly. In the living room a telephone is used to teach how to dial "911" in case of an emergency. The bedroom enables Fire Fighters to demonstrate and teach how to escape your home in case of a fire. Artificial smoke is introduced into the room, via duct work in the ceiling, which aids in providing a time line to escape a fire. All of these features are monitored and controlled in a centrally located operations room. The Fire Safety House is a great tool in teaching fire prevention and life safety skills.

The department still performs regular fire safety talks throughout the community to all types of groups. Fire safety pamphlets are distributed in the community giving citizens fire safety tips and information. On duty firefighters give station tours and discuss any safety issues with citizens. The firefighters of the City of Nederland are proud to serve the community and will assist citizens in anyway.

For more information regarding programs and station tours, please contact Administrative Secretary Maria Fontenot at 409.723.1531.