January 29, 2005 was a day that was life changing for me. My 9-year old, my youngest, Austin, was killed in a house fire. The days and months that followed were pretty much a blur. I often felt like I wanted to join him – wherever he was.  Austin’s sister, my daughter, Danielle, was a senior in high school at the time, and if it hadn’t been for her, I may have taken that trip to join him.

 

I often rotated through the five stages of grief – denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance – usually waffling between the first four.

 

And then one day, I had come to number five – acceptance.  In that acceptance, I came to the realization that I never wanted another parent to have to bury a child who died in a fire and I never wanted another child to die in a fire!  There are ways to prevent fires and even if there is a fire, it is possible to escape with our lives!  What was necessary to make sure this didn’t happen again?  Equipment, training and practice were all at the top of the list.

 

After years of contemplation, soul-searching and hearing the all-too-often news reports of “another child died today in a house fire“… I decided the world deserved to know my son and to have the information that he didn’t have.

 

In 2018, Austin’s Fire Chiefs was born. Our mission is to teach children and families how to prevent fires, prepare for emergencies, and know what to do before, during, and after a fire.

 

Our interactive fire-safety presentations are designed primarily for children and families, with age-appropriate information, demonstrations, and practical steps they can use at home. Presentations can be adapted for schools, community groups, and family audiences.

 

Thank you for stopping by our website. Feel free to look around, follow us on Facebook and request a presentation.  Most importantly, thank you for allowing me to continue healing through helping.