Waco Fire Community Outreach: Free Programs to Keep Your Family Safe

Created on September 26, 2025 at 08:00 AM

The Waco Fire Department is always ready to respond on your worst day, but we're also here to help you prevent emergencies from ever happening. Waco Fire offers a range of free programs designed to protect you, your family, and your home. From ensuring your home is equipped with the right safety devices to providing life-saving training, we want to empower you with the knowledge and tools you need to stay safe.

Home Safety Assessments

Firefighter and Sparky the fire dog talking to a family outside a home

Residents can receive a free home safety assessment from a licensed fire inspector to help residents identify and mitigate potential hazards. Following the assessment, you will receive a recommendation report to help you address any identified risks. All corrective measures are the responsibility of the homeowner. Corrective actions are not required nor enforced on privately owned homes.

A licensed fire inspector will review:

  • smoke alarms
  • carbon monoxide alarms
  • electrical hazards
  • fire extinguishers
  • escape plans
  • fall hazards
  • appliance safety
  • chemical and hazardous materials
  • child safety concerns
  • healthy environment

Request a Home Safety Assessment

Smoke Alarm Program

A dad, a girl, and Sparky the fire dog pointing at a smoke alarm on a ceiling

Roughly two-thirds of residential fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarms or with non-working smoke alarms. The Waco Fire Department, in partnership with the American Red Cross, will install free smoke alarms in the Waco community upon request.

To ensure your home is protected, remember to install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including inside and outside all sleeping areas. You should test your alarms monthly by pressing the test button. It's also important to replace batteries once a year and to replace the entire smoke alarm unit every ten years.

Request Smoke Alarm Installation

Car Seat Program

Firefighter and a dad looking at a baby in a car seat

Certified firefighters can walk you through the proper installation process in your vehicle. During your appointment, bring your vehicle owner's manual, the car seat manual, and, if possible, the child who will be using the seat. Free car seats are also available for those in need. A typical car seat check will take anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes.

Request Car Seat Installation

Fire Extinguisher Training

A firefighter and Sparky the fire dog showing two girls how to use a fire extinguisher in a kitchen

Learn more about the different types of fires, how to properly operate a fire extinguisher, and critical emergency response procedures. This training can equip you with the skills to be the first line of defense in containing a fire, saving lives, and protecting your property.

Our training will give you the confidence to act quickly and correctly using the P.A.S.S. method, a simple four-step process for operating a fire extinguisher:

  1. Pull the pin: This unlocks the operating lever.
  2. Aim low: Point the nozzle at the base of the fire, not the flames.
  3. Squeeze the lever: Release the extinguishing agent.
  4. Sweep the nozzle: Move the stream from side to side at the base of the fire until it's out.

To request hands-on training to operate a fire extinguisher, email Larry Denman at larryd@wacotx.gov with your contact name, phone number, email and organization.

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