1.
UNIT IV ARTICLE CRITIQUE
Unit IV Article Critique:
Prevention Strategies by Jim Crawford
Nick Magoteaux
Columbia Southern University
FIR 3303, Introduction to Fire Prevention
Professor A. Joos
May 28, 2015

2.
UNIT IV ARTICLE CRITIQUE
My article critique is on a Firefighter Nation article by Jim Crawford called Prevention
Strategies. In this article the author, Jim Crawford, talks about a fire and life safety education
program in Tucson, Arizona.
I believe that the information portrayed in this article supports the material we have gone
over in this course. In the article the author speaks about how donning our turnout gear for the
children does not present safety information to the school children (Crawford, 2015). Fire safety
programs in schools should be multifaceted, including multiple topics and be different for year
grade. The article goes on to talk about a fire safety program in Tucson, Arizona, called “Adopt-
A-School” (AAS) (Crawford, 2015). This just echoes what our text has said that “Fire and Life
Safety Educators are becoming more creative in developing programs and ways to get safety
information into preschools and elementary schools” (Robertson, 2010).
I believe that this “Adopt-A-School” program Tucson is doing is an excellent way to
reach out to our community to spread the message of fire safety. The way Tucson has
intergraded their junior firefighter program is an amazing way for them to recruit for the future.
This program would be an excellent addition to any combination department. Volunteer
recruitment and retention is something just about every volunteer fire department is currently
struggling with (National Volunteer Fire Council, No Date).
I feel that fire and life safety programs in our schools are something the fire service as a
whole needs to do often. I believe that fire and life safety programs unfortunately takes a back

3.
UNIT IV ARTICLE CRITIQUE
seat when there is a budget crunch, but with that being said, this program Tucson is doing has
little to no funding. Their programs should be a study many departments take a look at. The
chance to education the youth in our community twice a year and the possibility of volunteer
recruitment is a no brainer for me. At all my departments, we have trouble recruiting volunteers
and this program would be an excellent fit for that problem.
I have found this article extremely interesting and thought provoking as a fire prevention
manager. The fire service as a whole needs to get creative like our brothers in Tucson and come
up with ways to not only educate, but engage our community. I am a firm believer that fire
prevention and education is the most important duty we have in the fire service.
References:
Crawford, J. (2015). Prevention Strategies. Retrieved from
http://www.firefighternation.com/article/fire-prevention-and-education/prevention-strategies
Robertson, J. C. (2010). Introduction to fire prevention (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ:
Prentice Hall
National Volunteer Fire Council (No Date) Recruitment and retention. Retrieved from
http://www.nvfc.org/hot-topics/recruitment-and-retention