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Fire education needed?

(8 Posts)
eddiecat78 Sat 15-Aug-26 10:40:25

Years ago I watched an interview with a fire officer who came from an inner city area which had an arson problem. He was running courses in schools to educate children about fire. His explanation was that, unlike our generation, they had very little experience of fire - they didn't have coal fires in their homes or gardens where bonfires were regular things. I think most of us grew up naturally learning - sometimes painfully that fire is dangerous and has to be respected.
In view of current events perhaps it is time for something like this to be included in the curriculum.
(As an aside I was recently helping a 12 year old to iron something. She is from a non-ironing household and was desperate to touch the iron "to see how hot it is". In the end I let her touch some cloth that had just been ironed and she conceded that it was "rather hot".)

ViceVersa Sat 15-Aug-26 11:16:55

I think it would be a good idea. Most of us all probably grew up in a time when chip pan fires were also a thing, as well as coal fires, garden bonfires and so on. We also had all those public information films on tv warning about all sorts of things - and I'm sure many of those have stuck with us throughout the years.

MollyNew Sat 15-Aug-26 12:06:25

I think we should have "general common sense" education. The people who are ignorant of fire issues are probably the same ones who don't take their litter home when they go to a beauty spot, throw litter out of the car window on the motorway and are now surprised that their eyes are hurting after being warned not to look at the sun during the eclipse.

I agree about the public information films we used to have, particularly about water safety - "co-ee Petunia" and driving - "Reginald Mole husband" spring to mind even after all these years.

Sorry, rant over!

JaneJudge Sat 15-Aug-26 12:13:38

They haven't been able to play. Watching 16-25yo do bushcraft is quite a thing to be seen.

I really think we need to start looking at how children learn through old fashioned play in lighting fires etc as I believe, it teaches the dangers as well as the skills

butterandjam Sat 15-Aug-26 12:46:35

When I was a kid we made fires, cooked on them, had bonfires etc . My kids do the same and so do the GC.

Schools don't need to do this. It's another of the every day skills to be learned at home with parents; along with crossing the road, cooking, swimming, using everyday tools safely (needles, scissors, knives, hammer and saw).

ViceVersa Sat 15-Aug-26 12:54:52

JaneJudge

They haven't been able to play. Watching 16-25yo do bushcraft is quite a thing to be seen.

I really think we need to start looking at how children learn through old fashioned play in lighting fires etc as I believe, it teaches the dangers as well as the skills

To be honest, my kids did all that - and my GC does the same with his papa even now. But many parents now are too afraid to even let their children get dirty, never mind learn things like starting a fire.

25Avalon Sat 15-Aug-26 12:56:33

Most families with kids have barbecues in their gardens, regularly in use so I don’t buy they know completely nothing about fires. Also I read and I don’t know how true it is that several fires have been set deliberately after tik tok suggested lighting as many fires as possible as one of their challenges. Education in school is a good idea.

BTW sounds disgusting but one of my mum’s tests to see if an iron was hot enough was to spit on it and see it bubble. She of course was of an era pre electric iron when you couldn’t set the temperature. My grandmother would only use a flat iron nested on her Rayburn right into the Sixties.

Silvershadow Sat 15-Aug-26 12:59:13

For those who deliberately set fires, I dont think any education would make much difference. They see it as some sort of dare I suppose. I don’t know what the answer is.