Fire Public Education and Community Engagement

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Creating a safer Oakland through outreach, training, and community care.

The Oakland Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Education team helps our community stay safe by teaching fire prevention and emergency preparedness.

We show up year-round—at schools, senior centers, health fairs, apartment buildings, and neighborhood events—sharing tips and tools to reduce fire risks and save lives.

We believe public safety starts with public knowledge. 

Want to request a training or community event? Please download the Public Education In-Take form(PDF, 493KB) and email to publicedofd@oaklandca.gov.

Smoke Alarm Installation Program

In partnership with the American Red Cross, Oakland Black Firefighters, and the Bay EMT Program, this effort brings smoke alarms and life-saving information directly into homes.

Goals:

  • Reduce home fire deaths and injuries in high-risk communities

  • Provide 10-year smoke alarms and hands-on fire safety education.

  • Ensure residents know what to do in an emergency

How it works:

  • We identify neighborhoods with higher fire risks

  • Volunteers visit homes to install free smoke alarms and share emergency tips

  • Residents are contacted in advance, and follow-ups are made for those who aren’t home

Note: This service is completely free for residents and property owners.

Fire Safety for Seniors & People with Disabilities

Goal: Help seniors and disabled residents stay safe by recognizing fire risks, preparing for emergencies, and knowing what to do when disaster strikes.

What we offer:

  • Group presentations and safety workshops

  • Emergency planning support (evacuation and/or shelter-in-place plans for tenants in a facility)

  • Fire safety tips for apartment and senior housing residents

  • Enrollment in the 911 Disaster Registry

Programs are offered in partnership with the Alameda County Adult and Aging Department, Oakland Housing Authority, HUD Senior Buildings, and the Oakland Senior Companion. It includes group presentations, building safety training, that include shelter in place, evacuations, and emergency preparedness. Trainings and presentations are conducted in English, Spanish, Chinese and other languages as requested.

Fire Safety for Youth & Children

Goal: Teach kids how to prevent fires and respond safely in emergencies—at home, in school, and in the community.

Programs include:

  • Fire Station Tours
    Fun, interactive visits where kids learn fire safety basics like Stop, Drop & Roll and meet the firefighters who serve their neighborhood.

  • School & Childcare Visits
    Firefighters come to your site with age-appropriate lessons and activities.

  • Community Events
    Firefighters bring hands-on fire safety activities to local fairs and festivals.

  • Annual Fire Prevention Day (October)
    A special event during Fire Prevention Week for over 500 students (K–5) featuring games, demos, and important safety lessons like Stop, Drop & Roll, Crawl Low in Smoke, E.D.I.T.H, Call 911, Smoke Detector Awareness, and more.

Fire Safety for High-Rise Buildings

Goal: Support residents, building managers, and owners of High-Rise buildings in preparing for fire and emergency situations.

What we provide:

  • Education on recognizing and eliminating safety hazards.

  • Help creating or updating your building’s fire plan and evacuation procedures

  • Training for Floor Wardens and Emergency Monitors

  • General fire safety presentations for residents, with visual and print materials available in multiple languages

These programs help ensure everyone knows how to stay safe—whether evacuating or sheltering in place.

 

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