Public Education

 The Muscatine Fire Department is committed to providing comprehensive, community-focused public education that aligns with the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) guidance and national best practices. Our programs are designed to empower residents of all ages with the knowledge and skills needed to prevent fires, respond effectively during emergencies, and build a safer Muscatine.

School-Based Fire & Life Safety Education

We partner with Muscatine schools year-round to deliver age-appropriate instruction using USFA-aligned lesson plans and materials:

Preschool – 2nd Grade:
 Students visit the Public Safety Building for guided tours, engage with Freddie the Fire Truck, and learn foundational fire-safety skills through interactive demonstrations, singing, and movement-based learning.

3rd – 5th Grade:
 Firefighters provide structured classroom lessons on fire prevention, smoke alarms, home escape planning, kitchen safety, and emergency preparedness.
 Students also receive monthly USFA-based lesson plans for homeroom teachers or for families to complete at home.

We continuously collaborate with teachers and school administrators to ensure lessons remain current, evidence-based, and engaging.

Adult Fire & Life Safety Programs

We offer on-site fire-safety classes to:

  • Industrial facilities
  • Healthcare and long-term care organizations
  • Businesses and nonprofit groups
  • Community organizations

Topics include fire extinguisher use, evacuation planning, hazard awareness, workplace fire prevention, and safety-code fundamentals.

Stop the Bleed Training

The Muscatine Fire Department provides Stop the Bleed training to schools, businesses, civic organizations, and community members.
 These classes teach participants how to:

  • Recognize life-threatening bleeding
  • Use tourniquets and wound-packing techniques
  • Perform immediate lifesaving actions before EMS arrives

Citizens Fire Academy – Coming Spring 2026

We will launch the Muscatine Citizens Fire Academy in Spring 2026.
 This program will give residents a behind-the-scenes look at fire and EMS operations, including:

  • Hands-on firefighting demonstrations
  • EMS simulations
  • Fire station operations
  • Apparatus and equipment orientation
  • Community risk-reduction activities

More updates will follow as we finalize program structure, registration, and dates.

Fire Prevention & Safety Resources

Our website provides easy-to-access fire and life-safety information for families, schools, businesses, and caregivers. Topics include:

  • Home fire-prevention tips
  • Kitchen and cooking safety
  • Smoke alarms and home escape plans
  • Carbon monoxide awareness
  • Space-heater and winter-safety guidelines
  • Fire extinguisher basics
  • Seasonal safety messages
  • EMS preparedness & Stop the Bleed
  • Public education request forms
  • Press releases & safety bulletins

Special Focus — Children and Young Adults with Autism:
We recognise that children and young adults on the autism spectrum may have unique learning styles and safety needs. We include and promote the workbook Safe Signals: Fire and Burn Safety at Home (developed by Autism Speaks with the Nisonger Center). This resource offers room-by-room visual cues, step-by-step safety behaviors, prompts, role-playing strategies and individualized planning to help reduce the risk of fires and burns. Autism Speaks
You can download the PDF here: Safe Signals: Fire and Burn Safety at Home
 We encourage teachers, caregivers, and parents working with neuro-diverse children to use this resource in conjunction with our fire-safety programs.

All downloadable public-release forms, program requests, and educational materials will be available online.

Community Partnerships & Special Projects

As time and staffing allow, the Muscatine Fire Department collaborates with community groups, neighborhoods, schools, and businesses on special fire-safety initiatives. We welcome opportunities to help improve local fire prevention practices, support safety-planning efforts, and engage the public in meaningful ways.

Contact

For more information or to request a program, please contact:

Gary Ronzheimer
📞 563-263-9233📧 gronzheimer@muscatineiowa.gov

Gary Ronzheimer
Battalion Chief 
Muscatine Fire Department
312 E 5th St
Muscatine, IA 52761
563-263-9233
C 563-299-3637