Fire Rescue Victoria
Turnout kit in a fire station

FLAMES is a home fire safety education program specifically tailored for secondary aged students newly arrived in Australia and studying English as an Additional Language (EAL). It is available to all English Language Schools and Centres in the Fire Rescue Victoria areaExternal Link .

The main feature of FLAMES is a 60 - 90 minute firefighter delivered presentation on the roles of FRV firefighters and on home fire safety that includes these topics:

  • FRV and Roles of Firefighters
  • Home Fire Dangers and Prevention
  • Smoke Alarms – purpose, positioning and maintenance
  • Home Fire Escape Planning
  • Calling Triple Zero (000)
  • Summer Fire Safety

The FLAMES program is:

  • designed to fit into an exit program in EAL classes
  • offered up to four times a year to each school/centre to cater for each exit class.
  • aimed at single EAL classes to promote maximum participation and interaction between firefighters and students.

Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing tasks for pre-presentation and post-presentation enrichment are included.

  • EAL teachers/coordinators and International Student Coordinators are encouraged to include their students in the FLAMES program.

    Young people, newly arrived in Australia, may be at increased risk from a residential fire whether they are living with family or friends or in a Home Stay situation.

    • Students may not be familiar with the fire hazards posed by the types of housing they have recently moved to.
    • Students may not be aware of Victorian smoke alarm legislation and maintenance advice.
    • Safety in a new environment is one of the first concerns of newly arrived families. Children of secondary age have an influence within their families in introducing the practices of a new society.
    • Students have not received FRV Fire Ed classes as they did not attend primary schools in Victoria.
    • The concept of an independent fire service tasked only with protecting people may be novel to some students.
  • To request the FLAMES for English Language Schools/Centres program firefighter presentation for your secondary school class, please complete and submit the form below. Allow at least one month notice for scheduling visits.

    Click here to view form.External Link

    FRV will be in touch to confirm a date and time with you and to discuss with you any specific issues related to your students.

    Students should be close to exiting EAL classes, with no interpreters required.

    For more information, contact the FRV FLAMES Program Coordinator on (03) 9665 4464 or flamesprogram@frv.vic.gov.au

  • These worksheets may be used by English Language teachers to prepare students for the FLAMES program firefighter presentation or to reinforce the messages from the presentation.

    The Country Fire Authority has a fire safety resource for English as Additional Language (EAL) students called Fired Up English.

    It is intended to be used by EAL teachers to support learning about fire safety and English.

    Lesson plans can be found hereExternal Link .

    Reviewed 27 March 2023

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