Marion Fire Department provides safety kits to kindergarteners

The Marion Fire Department has long been committed to fire prevention education. This year they expanded their outreach efforts by purchasing "play safe! be safe!" kits for each kindergarten class in Marion.

On Thursday, Aug. 30, the Fire Marshal Jason Hansen and Deputy Fire Marshal Wade Markley delivered 26 kits to Marion schools.

“With the greatest number of fire-related injuries and deaths happening in the residential setting, it is very important to start the fire safety education process as soon as possible,” said Markley. “In delivering these kits, we provided the teachers with the tools they need to help us accomplish that goal.”

"play safe! be safe!" is an award-winning fire safety education program created especially for children ages three to five. It was developed by BIC Corporation in cooperation with educators and fire safety experts.

Each kit includes a 20-minute video featuring "Firefighter Dan," four sets of colorful story cards, two activity boards, a card game and a comprehensive teacher's manual. "play safe! be safe!" addresses four objectives in fire safety. It teaches youth to go to the firefighter, to stop, drop and roll if they encounter a fire, to crawl low under smoke, and that matches and lighters are adult tools.

For more information about the Marion Fire Department's public education program, visit

www.cityofmarion.org and click on Fire Department and Public Education or call (319) 377-8237.