Frisco FD's Unique And Innovative Safety Town Photos

[x635 4,066]

Frisco, TX has one of the coolest safety education programs around. The literally built a minature "town" to teach kids about safety. Frisco is a northern suburb of Dallas (North Texas), and has a great growing commercial tax base and population. It's about an hour north of Cowboys Stadium where the Super Bowl is being held next weekend. I took these photos last March but am just getting around to posting them now.

Their website does a great job of explaining what it is and what it's all about, so I'll let the following link explain:

http://www.friscotexas.gov/safetytown/Pages/default.aspx

I'd like to thank Frisco FD Chiefs, who are always accomodating, and Frisco FD for the invite and tour, and the on-duty crew for setting everything up. For more information on the department, visit their website:

http://www.ci.frisco.tx.us/departments/fire/pages/default.aspx

And also, I thought I got more photos, but I guess I didn't. Sorry about that.

First up is this Toyota Prius, for the Frisco FD "Road Show"

Various fire and rescue equipment is displayed in the entrance hall

NOT A REAL FIREFIGHTER!

This was an actual Frisco Engine

An intersection in Safety Town. Traffic lights are fully functional, including an opticom system and the traffic sensors:

The kids are provided these Power Wheels Jeeps to travel around Safety Town, and must follow traffic laws and signs. Younger children are provided bicycles:

Frisco Safety Town Fire Station 1:

Everything is very realistic, as you can see. This setup was provided by the local electric company, to teach kids safety around utilitys (like if they kick there ball into a fenced area while playing):

Why do you have to poke holes in the wall?

Safety Town Wal-Mart:

North Texas Tollway provided this minature toll booth setup (and yes they have to pay tolls in their power wheels)

The Dallas Morning News provided this plaque on their building:

COMING SOON:

A tour of their feature-packed Mobile Command Center, which will be serving during the Super Bowl:

And a tour of their very unique Engine 601:

And finally, the mission statement:

[Portsmouth OH Fire Buff 8]

By far the best and coolest ways to teach younger children about safety! Great shots x635!

[TR54 239]

Five Stars for the Frisco Texas Fire Department Safety program ! Excellent Photos.

[JM15 386]

That place just looks like so much fun

[efdcapt115 1,511]

First, you got me. I thought it was going to be about San Fransisco.

Second, this is the coolest thing I think I've ever seen for teaching kids about safety.

Third, looks like they spared no expense setting this up. Some of that equipment on the wall display....looks brand new!

Fourth, I wish I was a kid again....I'd love to go and play here. Drive one of those mini cars around. I'd even happily pay the toll!

Thank you Seth for a GREAT photo essay! Awesome.

Edit: Looking at those Pierce rigs....we know how they are built now thanks to that link to the Nat-Geo factory story!

Edited January 27, 2011 by efdcapt115

[RocklandFires 44]

Awesome photos. Thanks for posting them Seth !

[x635 4,066]

Thanks for the compliments on the photos, guys. I hope to travel back up there in the spring, I'd like to get some more photos of Safety Town. I was supposed to go up there in a week or two to photograph the Pierce Velocity Quint that TWH is making a replica of, but something personal came uip.

Third, looks like they spared no expense setting this up. Some of that equipment on the wall display....looks brand new!

That's because it is all brand new equipment (as of the 2007 model year) donated by the manufacturers or dealers. It's quite unbelievable to see.

[JohnnyOV 2]

Awesome set up!

It amazes me though, that some parts of our country are cutting staffing by 1/3s, yet this one city has enough excess money to build another "mini city" inside of its own. Kudos to the person in charge of money for Frisco.

[Alpinerunner 61]

Awesome set up!

It amazes me though, that some parts of our country are cutting staffing by 1/3s, yet this one city has enough excess money to build another "mini city" inside of its own. Kudos to the person in charge of money for Frisco.

This is very true. I can't imagine any towns, and few cities having the budget for this, but it is money well spent.

[x635 4,066]

Staffing is taken quite seriously down here. Most departments in the area are very well staffed, trained, and equipped. There is no state income tax, just property and sales tax. Many communities have master plans, and are well prepared and positioned financially for the future. Before anything big is developed, they make sure that the funding will be there for city resources to support it.

Here's some more interesting information on Frisco, all the very cool facilities located within the city, and why they have so much money:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frisco,_Texas

As far as Safety town, they recieved a ton of corporate and private grants and sponsorhips.

"Safety Town" is much in line with the FD's Mission Statement:

Frisco FD Mission Statement

To protect lives, property and the environment from the adverse effects of fires, illness, accidents, natural disasters, and other hazards by promoting public safety education and maintaining a well-equipped, highly-trained and motivated workforce of professional firefighters and rescue personnel.

[NJMedic 96]

I want one. I don't even have that much space.