Firefighters bring safety lessons to life with laughter at Houston Middle

The ESE student at Houston Middle School got to experience a Minecraft themed lesson in fire safety this past week. The Germantown Fire Department’s LAFS (Life and Fire Safety) team came to HMS for Fire Prevention Week to teach our students through a relatable and funny skit.

Because of that element of humor and goofiness, LAFS definitely isn’t your typical fire safety presentation. Instead of lectures or handouts, the crew takes the stage for a lively, themed skit that teaches essential safety lessons through humor and storytelling. Firefighter Jake Felton, from Germantown Fire Station #4, said the program is all about combining fun with education.

“Our big goal is public education,” Felton explained. “Each year during Fire Prevention Week, we put together a skit based on something popular with kids - something they’ll really connect with. This year, we went with Minecraft since it was such a big hit this summer.”

The team’s Minecraft-themed performance featured familiar characters like Steve, Flash the Clown, and even a mischievous villain - all designed to keep students engaged while learning about fire safety. This year’s lesson focused on the dangers of lithium-ion batteries, teaching students how to safely charge devices and avoid overheating hazards.

“We don’t want to overwhelm them,” Felton said. “We just want them to take home a few things they’ll remember - things they might even bug their parents about, like checking smoke detectors or unplugging devices.” 

What began as a small group of firefighters performing clown skits years ago has grown into a creative and educational outreach program that makes a measurable impact. Firefighters work on their skits for months ahead of their appearances and it is a nationwide effort to ensure that this information is shared in a way that children can understand and execute in an emergency. Felton shared that, in recent years, two children who attended LAFS presentations later used what they learned to help their families during emergencies.

“It’s fun for us too,” Felton added with a smile. “We get to act like kids for a bit, but we’re also teaching something that could save lives.”

From Toy Story to Minecraft, LAFS keeps reinventing its shows to meet kids where they are just going to show that laughter and learning make a powerful combination.