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In 1987, local off-duty firefighters spent several weeks building a Fire Safety House, so that the Fire <br />Prevention Bureau would have an educational tool to take to the elementary schools to demonstrate <br />fire safety in the home. Annually, this Fire Safety House is used by more than 2,500 kindergarten and <br />first grade children, at nearly every local public and private elementary school. Programs are also <br />presented to the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and similar youth programs where young people must <br />demonstrate acceptable fire safety knowledge to earn merit badges. Due to the limitations with the <br />existing Fire Safety House, which is best suited for only the youngest learners, nearly 5,000 other <br />elementary age children are not being reached for continued fire and life safety education. <br />Because of its extended use and age, the Division's Fire Safety House is in need of replacement. <br />Additionally, changes in the Florida Department of Transportation's regulations require special <br />permitting to even tow this unit on the highway. Fiscal constraints have not allowed staff to replace <br />this trailer with District funds, and attempts to secure grants or private funding has been unsuccessful. <br />Recognizing the effectiveness and need for this fire safety education, the Vero Beach Firefighters <br />Association and the Vero Beach Volunteer Fire Department have ordered a professionally built <br />replacement Fire Safety House for the Fire Division, at a cost of S3 5,049. The two organizations had <br />hoped to share one-third of the cost with a corporate sponsor, but have been unsuccessful as of this <br />date. A small sponsor panel will be placed on the side of the unit, recognizing the contributors. <br />These two organizations are requesting the District accept title to the Fire Safety House and for the <br />Fire Division to assume responsibility for insurance, maintenance, and for providing a vehicle to safely <br />tow the new trailer. They are also requesting that the trailer remain available for events drawing a <br />large number of children, such as the annual county fair. <br />The new Fire Safety House being purchased is specifically designed, among other things, to help <br />children to make a mock 911 call by means of an internal telephone system so they know what is <br />expected from them. It also affords educational tools to show older children how to test a smoke <br />detector and practical kitchen safety. Equally important, this replacement Fire Safety House is fully <br />accessible for the physically challenged, where the current trailer is not. Board approval and <br />acceptance of the new Fire Safety House will allow staff to surplus the current one and transfer the <br />insurance and maintenance costs to the new one. <br />RECOMMENDATION: <br />Staff respectfully recommends the Board accept title for the new Fire Safety House and authorize <br />staff to surplus the existing unit. Staff will prepare supporting documents during budget preparation <br />to replace the 1974 one -ton multi purpose truck that is used by the Division for a number of <br />purposes, which will include towing the Fire Safety House. <br />e47 <br />ta <br />