Fire Safety Education Saves Lives-Trace Adkins Story

MEDIA CONTACT: Mark E. Brady, Chief Spokesperson, 240-508-7930, MEBrady@co.pg.md.us

Although a Tennessee family lost their home and sentimental possessions, everyone escaped safely. Their experience should serve as a reminder to every household about the importance of fire safety. It should also serve as reinforcement to members of the fire service that public education is a life-saving mission. The house may have been devastated by a fire; however, its occupants escaped unharmed and met in a safe place outside, an action that is taught to children by firefighters.

The home belonged to country singer, Trace Adkins, and his family. His three young daughters and their nanny are safe because they remembered the lessons taught by Brentwood, Tennessee firefighters at his daughters’ elementary school. The nanny and Adkins’ daughters were at home when a fire erupted in the garage area and quickly spread through the home.

According to a CNN report, Adkins wife, Rhonda Adkins stated, “They ran to their safe place like we practiced, in the front yard at a big tree; and it worked. You know, fire safety is so important, and today we used it.” Ms. Adkins said she never really expected the escape plan to be needed. "But we did what those firefighters told us, and we practiced it today. It saved my kids’ lives," she said.

CNN also reported that Brentwood firefighters, the same ones who were inside her home battling the flames, visited her children's elementary school to teach fire safety earlier this year.

A recent fire safety education school visit by PGFD Firefighter/Medics.

Public education about fire safety and injury prevention has been longstanding programs within the fire service across the country. Visiting elementary schools has proven to be one of the most effective methods of delivering our message. Perhaps the only other program that is more effective is when firefighters visit homes and install smoke alarms. Firefighters visiting elementary schools often instruct students to perform some tasks when they get home. Their assignment includes having their parents test the home’s smoke alarm to make sure they are working, and then plan and practice an escape plan from their home. The escape plan should include identifying two ways out of every room and a designated safe meeting place outside. The fire service has coined two phrases we hope will become part of a regular vocabulary when discussing home safety. When a smoke alarm sounds, “Get down, get low, and get out,” and “Once outside, stay outside.”

Acting Fire Chief Marc S. Bashoor stated, “Our Department’s motto, ‘Safety First – Everyone Goes Home,’ is intended for everyone and includes home safety and escape planning. I am pleased that a fire service public education effort is being credited with saving lives publicly and receiving media attention. This will hopefully alert other families of the need to practice these same procedures.”

The Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department’s Community Outreach office is available to help you schedule a visit by firefighters. Contact the Community Outreach office by calling 301-883-5250, or by emailing TACrisman@co.pg.md.us, for additional information.

In the meantime, check your smoke alarms monthly and replace the batteries at least once a year; plan and practice two ways out of every room in your house; and designate a safe meeting place outside. Once safely outside, call 911 and alert dispatchers to the situation and location.

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