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| Community Involvement |
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| Special Community Involvemenet |
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CMBA members donated labor, materials and funds, as they did for the Clemens Gift Shop project to construct one of the few firesafe homes in Minnesota. The one-level, 8-by-24 mobile trailer unit, resembling a home inside, illustrates several fire and safety hazards. The CMBA donated the home to the 13 fire and rescue departments in the Central Minnesota Mutual Aid Association. Before the CMBA undertook the project, the closest firesafe home
was located in Hutchinson, but Mutual Aid members have traveled
as far as Bloomington to rent one, typically for more than $200
per day. Members of the Central Minnesota Mutual Aid Association
now not only save the money they once spent on rent, but are able
to rent firesafe home to other interested groups, said Dave Theisen,
St. Joseph fire chief. 
"I don't know if you can put a value on the benefits this will provide to us and the public," said Theisen, whose department is currently storing the home. The firesafe home will travel to elementary schools, day care facilities and community organizations. In some cases, the home will be featured at venues like grocery stores to increase public awareness. Firefighters and rescue personnel will staff the home at each site. Visitors begin their tour outside where firefighting equipment is displayed, along with the remnants of household items retrieved from fires. "We'll have clothing, a computer screen and a melted telephone. Some children's toys also get the attention of young visitors," Theisen said. Breaking into groups of 10, visitors will enter the kitchen area of the home to learn about frayed electrical cords and overloaded circuits, placement of fire extinguishers and smoke alarms and safe places to store kitchen towels and potholders. In the bedroom and bath areas, visitors will learn about the dangers of scalding, how to treat burns and what to do if they find matches or other hazardous materials. Tour guides will discuss how to check closed doors for heat and the importance of a central meeting place outside the home during a fire emergency. Visitor counts in the thousands are anticipated, Theisen said. "There is no doubt that this will be a frequently used tool. If we can get to children young enough, they will take this knowledge home to their parents. But even adults will find things that make them take a second look." More information about planned appearances of the firesafe home is available by contacting Dave Theisen, 320-363-4234. |
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