Residents and Communities

Fire kills more Americans than all natural disasters combined. In 2015, 1,345,500 fires were reported in the United States, resulting in 3,280 civilian fire deaths, 15,700 civilian injuries and $14.3 billion in property damage. Although only 37% of all reported incidents are structure fires, they are responsible for 78% of all civilian deaths and 71% of all civilian fires. Fortunately, most fire loss can be prevented.

This class presents the most common types of hazards and situations that lead to fires in our homes. Some topics covered include kitchen safety, use and maintenance of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, emergency evacuation planning and practice and the reduction of fire hazards.

30-60 minutes.

As we age, we become more susceptible to the risk of surviving a fire and experiencing a fall. Seniors are twice as likely to be killed or injured by fire compared to the general population. Additionally, falls are the leading cause of death from injury in adults aged 65 and older.

Fortunately, experiencing a fire or fall is not an inevitable result of aging. The Bellevue Fire Department has adopted the National Fire protection Association's (NFPA) Remembering When Program to address many of the concerns associated with aging safety.

Encompassing 16 key messages on fire safety and fall prevention, the Remembering When program can be as simple or comprehensive as the audience requests.

30-60 minutes.

More than half of home fire deaths occur at night, when people are least prepared and less responsive to stimuli. Home fires can present unnecessary disasters if residents do not know appropriate actions to take to safety exit a building or shelter in place. This class focuses on maintaining working smoke alarms, how to create a home escape plan that incorporates all household members and stresses the importance of practicing evacuation drills.

Target audience: All Ages

30-60 minutes

If a fire suddenly started, do you know how to use a fire extinguisher? Do you know which type of fire extinguisher to use on different fires? Do you know how to gauge when a fire is too large to utilize an extinguisher?

Utilizing digital flame technology, the Bellevue Fire Department uses a fire extinguisher simulator to give a hands-on, realistic approach to putting out small fires. In addition to the hands-on experience, this class addresses fire extinguisher types, situational awareness, proper extinguishing techniques and fire extinguisher maintenance.

Class size is limited to 15.

60 minutes.

How prepared are you for a natural disaster? Do you have an emergency kit? Does your family have a reunification or communication plan?

The Office of Emergency Management, a division of the Bellevue Fire Department, offers several customized classes on personal preparedness, community response and hazard mitigation.

Time dependent on class scheduled.

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a federal program that educates people about disaster preparedness and basic response skills. Bellevue’s CERT program is designed to empower residents who live or work in Bellevue to be better prepared for unexpected emergencies.

The CERT course incorporates disaster preparedness, fire and life safety utility controls, disaster medical operations, light search and rescue operations, organization, disaster psychology, and terrorism.