Firefighters can be tourist attractions too!
May 2006
Guest author: Chief J. Mike Baker, San Marcos,TX Fire Rescue Department
Many communities throughout the world depend on tourism dollars to generate revenues for their local coffers. An often overlooked tourist “attraction” is the local fire department. To think of a fire department as being a tourist attraction is a bit of a stretch for most people, but only if you stay within a traditional point of view. Although firefighters and police officers are often on the front lines, they don’t just fight fires anymore! This article is about how one community, San Marcos, Texas (USA) uses its firefighters as part of its tourism industry.
In San Marcos (Texas), special events are planned to bring tourist dollars to the community. As part of the process, visitor safety and security is an ever more important topic for tourism. Involving the local public safety agencies is a natural progression in tourism, but the local fire department is often overlooked as a tool for economic growth. The following are a few suggestions for taking full advantage of these ambassadors of safety:
Firefighters at local events
When the local civic group brings an event to your town, make sure that the local firefighters are seen. Children of all ages feel safer and more secure when there are firefighters around. They also enjoy seeing the equipment and tools of the firefighters in static displays and during demonstrations. Next time a group of dignitaries visit your community, have the local firefighters put on a demonstration of high-angle rope rescue for the attendees.
Firefighters Walking Around
In the State of Texas there is a special tax-free weekend for parents to purchase school supplies and clothes for their children. Local merchants often time sales events with this weekend to fill their stores with shoppers. In my community, the fire department sees this as an opportunity to serve. Fire companies are assigned to “Mall Duty” for the weekend. They provide many services while walking around the event, including finding lost children or adults, giving directions to the stores and attractions in town, jump starting dead batteries in vehicles, and just having a smile for the visitors.
Special Events Planning with the Fire Department
Most fire departments are eager to be a part of the planning team for your special event, carnival, festival or conference. Firefighters are natural problem solvers and enjoy the challenge of logistical issues at events. The modern fire service is a customer-oriented industry that prides itself on meeting any challenge. Use this tool to your advantage. The fire service’s expertise in using Incident Management Systems to bring about successful outcomes is well known. The same system they use to manage a school bus accident or a flash flood works for events just as well. Besides, who has more stuff than the fire department? Generators, tables and chairs, tents, tools and a ready labor force can all be found at the local fire house.
Partnering with Fire Rescue Services
Building coalitions and partnerships with your local fire service can reap huge rewards for your community. All they usually want in return is an opportunity to spread their message of fire and life safety. Having an extra booth for smoke detector alarm safety, home fire escape plans and stop, drop and roll lessons should not be an inconvenience for any event. They’ll hand out sticker badges to the kids and pamphlets to the adults. Firefighters’ number one priority is prevention and educating the public is their best tool for prevention. Having a ready-made response agency at your event never hurts either. Most fire departments provide emergency medical services as well as fire suppression services in your communities. If a child falls and skins a knee or gets stung by a bee, a friendly neighborhood firefighter on the scene can turn an unpleasant experience at your event into one with fond memories. Tourists will remember that your community was forward thinking enough to have their safety and security in mind while they visited your event.
Remember the Fire Service
Think in terms of the local firefighters as being an extension of your tourism office or, as it is frequently called in the United States, Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). They are truly ambassadors for your community. These men and women are an important part of the core of your community. In most cases, these same individuals are the ones that sports teams, organize holiday celebrations and do other civic and volunteer work. Firefighters are always there for you; remember them when you need that little extra for tourism.
