Community Services is a section within the Division of the Fire Marshal at the Colorado Springs Fire Department that is a valuable resource to the community in the area of fire and life safety. We take great pride in developing and providing a variety of educational programs that can be taught to children, adults and seniors.

OUR MISSION STATEMENT
We will work together to create a safer Colorado Springs through educational efforts, coalitions and awareness by changing unsafe behaviors and impacting high risk audiences based on community needs.

OUR VISION STATEMENT
We will work together through educational efforts to create a fire safe and injury free community.

Community Services Programs

Smoke alarms and batteries are provided to citizens that live within the city limits of Colorado Springs if they meet the criteria listed below:  

• Adults ages 65+ on a low income (combined household income of less than $25,000) and all others who cannot physically or mentally perform the task. These smoke alarms or batteries will be installed by a member of the Colorado Springs Fire Department. 
• Free batteries and smoke alarms (no installation) will be given to any able-bodied homeowner on a low income (combined household income of less than $25,000) that cannot afford to purchase them

Funding for this program comes mainly from donations by community groups and agencies.  To find out if you meet the criteria for free smoke alarms and batteries, call 719-385-7204.

The Colorado Springs Fire Department offers educational programs for children that set fires. This program helps assess and educate different levels of firesetting, from curiosity, to crisis, to pathological. One of the goals of this program is to help children realize that they are not alone. Curiosity firesetting is a very common problem with potentially disastrous results. Through the use of videos, guest speakers, and class discussion, we will attempt to demonstrate what could happen during fireplay. Although this class is free (with the exception of court ordered juveniles, juveniles on diversion, or juveniles that have been issued a summons,) we do suggest a $10 donation, as the program is supported through these contributions. The three-hour class is offered once a month. For information on how to enroll your child or if you have any questions, please visit our Juvenile Firesetter Intervention Program page or speak with a Fire and Life Safety Educator at 719-385-7376.

FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY PROGRAMS FOR KINDERGARTNERS

The Colorado Springs Fire Department is offering its 2009-2010 Fire and Life Safety Program to a selection of Colorado Springs' elementary schools.  Our goal is to educate children who statistically are at a higher risk of fire and preventable injuries.  The program is only offered to kindergarten classes throughout the school year.  Through a 40-minute classroom visit, kindergartners will learn important fire and life safety lessons that will provide them with potentially life-saving knowledge and skills.  It is our hope to deliver the following fire and life safety messages and more:

• Matches and lighters are tools, not toys.
• Identify and recognize a smoke alarm's sound.
• Learn all about what "EXIT" means.
• Complete a fire drill by crawling low to the nearest exit.
• Learn about 9-1-1.
• Understand that firefighters are friends.

Teaching materials are provided and this program is provided FREE of charge as a public service.  To schedule a visit for your classroom, please call 719-385-7366.

The life safety trailer is now owned and operated by El Paso Teller E 9-1-1.  To schedule the trailer, please call 719-785-1900.

BUSINESS COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM

• This program provides safety information and education to businesses on fire and life safety in the workplace, motivates businesses to create emergency procedures and building evacuation plans, and responds to concerns and questions from our business community. The program consist of 5 components:
• A planning guidebook.
• A walk through of your business by a Fire and Life Safety Educator to get an overview of the site and look for blatant hazards, and a review of your Emergency Procedures and Building Evacuation Plan to answer basic fire and life safety questions.
• Conduct a fire drill observed by the Fire and Life Safety Educator.  
• We offer a "Fire Safety in the Workplace" class to all employees. It covers basic fire and life safety behaviors that the employees need to be aware of to help keep the business safe.

A business may utilize any or all of the above options of this business outreach program.

For information on the Community Outreach Program in the City of Colorado Springs call 719-385-7249.

SENIOR SAFETY

The Senior Safety Program is dedicated to improving the safety of senior citizens across Colorado Springs.  We are currently offering the following Senior Programs:

• File of Life:  A program designed to provide vitally important medical history, current medications, resuscitation requests and emergency contact information to First Responders. It consists of a highly-visible magnetic folder designed for placement on a refrigerator and comes with a mini-version for a wallet, car, suitcase or other easily accessible location. Cards can be picked up at the Fire Department Complex, 375 Printers Parkway, or by calling, 719-385-5950. Available to Colorado Springs citizens only.
  
  

• Fire and Evacuation Drill Observation, Emergency Planning, and Guidebooks for Senior Facilities: The Community Services Section of the Colorado Springs Fire Department is available to assist you and your facility in building a complete Emergency Operations Plan.  If you have any questions or need any additional assistance such as a facility walk-through, emergency plan review, or observation of your evacuation drill, please call 719-385-7249 at your earliest convenience.  Each of these services is available to you and your facility at no cost. 

EMPLOYEE SAFETY IN-SERVICES

Presentations made by a Fire and Life Safety Educator to commercial businesses for employees on fire safety in the workplace. To schedule an employee safety in-service in the City of Colorado Springs call 719-385-7249.

EVACUATION AND LIFE SAFETY PLANNING TEMPLATES

Templates for occupancies required by IFC 2003 to have Emergency Guides and Evacuation Plans are available under Community Education's Safety tab on this site.  Our Program Managers are working with identified businesses, nursing homes, assisted living and apartment communities to accomplish this project.

• Apartment (R-2 Occupancy) Emergency Guide
• Assisted Living Emergency Guide
• Independent Senior Living Emergency Guide
• Nursing Home Emergency Guide

To speak to a program manager regarding Emergency Guides, call 719-385-7249.

GENERAL INFORMATION AND BROCHURES

Limited quantities are provided to Colorado Springs citizens as requested. Information may be found in this web site under Safety, Brochures and Safety Information or by stopping in at the Fire Department Complex, 375 Printers Parkway, Colorado Springs, Colorado. For more information call 719-385-5950.