The ability to use fire safely is essential to human survival. By earning this merit badge, Scouts will learn to uses fire safely and responsibly, how to prevent home fires, and how to handle fire safely, as well as burn prevention, and camping safety.

Requirements

  1. Do the following:
    1. Demonstrate the technique of stop, drop, roll, and cool. Explain how burn injuries can be prevented.
    2. List the most frequent causes of burn injuries.
  2. Explain the chemistry and physics of fire. Name the parts of the fire tetrahedron. Explain why vapors are important to the burning process. Name the products of combustion. Give an example of how fire grows and what happens.
  3. Name the most frequent causes of fire in the home and give examples of ways it can be prevented.
  4. Do the following:
    1. Explain the role of human behavior in the arson problem in this country.
    2. List the actions that cause seasonal fires and explain how these fires can be prevented.
  5. List the common circumstances that cause holiday-related fires and explain how these fires can be prevented.
  6. Conduct a home safety survey with the help of an adult. Then do the following:
    1. Draw a home fire-escape plan, create a home fire-drill schedule, and conduct a home fire drill.
    2. Test a smoke alarm and demonstrate regular maintenance of a smoke alarm.
    3. Explain what to do when you smell gas and when you smell smoke.
    4. Explain how you would report a fire alarm.
    5. Explain what fire safety equipment can be found in public buildings.
    6. Explain who should use fire extinguishers and when these devices can be used.
    7. Explain how to extinguish a grease pan fire.
    8. Explain what fire safety precautions you should take when you are in a public building.
  7. Do the following:
    1. Demonstrate lighting a match safely.
    2. Demonstrate the safe way to start a charcoal fire.
    3. Demonstrate the safe way to melt wax.
  8. Explain the difference between combustible and noncombustible liquids and between combustible and noncombustible fabrics.
  9. Do the following:
    1. Demonstrate the safe way to fuel a lawn mower.
    2. Demonstrate the safety factors, such as proper ventilation, for auxiliary heating devices and the proper way to fuel those devices.
  10. Do the following:
    1. Explain the cost of outdoor and wildland fires and how to prevent them.
    2. Demonstrate setting up and putting out a cooking fire.
    3. Demonstrate using a camp stove and lantern.
    4. Explain how to set up a campsite safe from fire.
  11. Visit a fire station. Identify the types of fire trucks. Find out about the fire prevention activities in your community.
  12. Choose a fire safety-related career that interests you and describe the level of education required and responsibilities of a person in that position. Tell why this position interests you.

Resources

Scouting Literature

Camping, Cooking, Emergency Preparedness, First Aid, and Safety merit badge pamphlets

Books

  • Bell, Karen Magnuson. Fire in Their Eyes: Wildfires and the People Who Fight Them. Harcourt, 1999.
  • Camenson, Blythe. Firefighting (VGM's Career Portraits). McGraw-Hill/Contemporary Books, 1995.
  • Gorrell, Gena Kinton. Catching Fire: The Story of Firefighting. Tundra Books, 1999.
  • Landau, Elaine. Fires. Scholastic Library Publishing, 2000.
  • National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control. America Burning. DIANE Publishing, 1989.
  • Patent, Dorothy Hinshaw. Fire: Friend or Foe. Clarion Books, 1998.
  • Preston, Timothy. A Homeowner's Survival Guide to Fire Safety. Liberty, 1991.
  • Shapiro, Larry. Fighting Fire Trucks (Enthusiast Color Series). Motorbooks International, 1999.
  • U.S. Fire Administration. After the Fire: Returning to Normal. Federal Emergency Management Administration, 1980.
  • Yoder, Curt. The Heart Behind the Hero. Stoney Creek Press, 2000.