Fire Safety

Fire Safety merit badge requirements

1. Do the following:

   a. Demonstrate the technique of stop, drop, cover, roll, cover your face, and cool. Explain how burn injuries can be prevented.

   b. List the most frequent causes of burn injuries.

   c. Explain how to safely discard and store flammable liquids.

2. Explain the chemistry and physics of fire. Name the parts of the fire tetrahedron. Explain why vapors are important to the burning process. Name the products of combustion. Give an example of how fire grows and what happens.
3. Name the most frequent causes of fire in the home and give examples of ways they can be prevented. Include a discussion about fires caused by smoking in the home, cooking, candles, fireplaces, and electrical appliances.
4. Explain the role of human behavior in the arson problem in this country
5. List the actions and common circumstances that cause seasonal and holiday related fires. Explain how these fires can be prevented.
6. Conduct a home safety survey with the help of an adult. Then do the following:

   a. Draw a home fire-escape plan, create a home fire-drill schedule, and conduct a home fire drill.

   b. Test a smoke alarm and demonstrate regular maintenance of a smoke alarm.

   c. Explain what to do when you smell gas and when you smell smoke.

   d. Explain how you would report a fire alarm.

   e. Explain what fire safety equipment can be found in public buildings.

   f. Explain who should use fire extinguishers and when these devices can be used.

   g. Explain how to extinguish a grease pan fire.

   h. Explain what fire safety precautions you should take when you are in a public building.

7. Do the following:

   a. Demonstrate lighting a match safely.

   b. Demonstrate the safe way to start a charcoal fire.

   c. Demonstrate how to safely light a candle. Discuss with your counselor how to safely use candles.

8. Explain the difference between combustible and noncombustible liquids and between combustible and noncombustible fabrics.
9. Do the following:

   a. Describe for your counselor the safe way to refuel a liquid fuel engine, such as a lawn mower, weed eater, an outboard motor, farm machine or an automobile with gas from an approved gas can.

   b. Demonstrate the safety factors, such as proper ventilation, for auxiliary heating devices and the proper way to fuel those devices.

10. Do the following:

    a. Explain the cost of outdoor and wildland fires and how to prevent them.

    b. Demonstrate setting up and putting out a cooking fire.

    c. Demonstrate using a camp stove and lantern.

    d. Explain how to set up a campsite safe from fire.

11. Visit a fire station. Identify the types of fire trucks. Find out about the fire prevention activities in your community.
12. Determine if smoke detectors are required in all dwellings within your municipality. If so, explain which specific types are required. Tell your counselor what type of smoke detectors your house has or needs.
13. Choose a fire safety-related career that interests you and describe the level of education required and responsibilities of a person in that position. Tell why this position interests you.

NOTE: In the 2016 edition of the Fire Safety merit badge pamphlet, requirement 3, shown above, was renumbered as 3a, the text of requirement 12 was added as 3b, and requirement 13 remained unchanged as number 12. So requirements 3 and 12 as they appear in the 2016 edition of the Fire Safety merit badge pamphlet are shown below:

3. Do the following:

a. Name the most frequent causes of fire in the home and give examples of ways they can be prevented. Include a discussion about fires caused by smoking in the home, cooking, candles, fireplaces, and electrical appliances.

b. Determine if smoke detectors are required in all dwellings within your municipality. If so, explain which specific types are required. Tell your counselor what type of smoke detectors your house has or needs.

12. Choose a fire safety-related career that interests you and describe the level of education required and responsibilities of a person in that position. Tell why this position interests you.

The official source for the information shown in this article or section is: 2018 Boy Scout Requirements, 2018 Edition (BSA Supply SKU #641568)

A FREE workbook for Fire Safety is available here! with the maps, charts, links, diagrams, and checklists you need! Or click here to print just the Fire Safety requirements.

meritbadge.org has PDF and DOC versions of Boy Scout merit badge workbooks, Webelos workbooks, Cub Scout workbooks, and Nova Award workbooks.

• Per the BSA: "You should read the merit badge pamphlet on the subject." Pamphlets (books) are at local Scout Shops and online at ScoutStuff.org.
• "Get a signed Merit Badge application from your Scoutmaster." An online, printable Word doc file version is available.

• Boy Scout ranks: Scout - Tenderfoot - Second Class - First Class
• Boy Scout awards: Firem'n Chit - Totin' Chip - Paul Bunyan Woodsman - National Outdoor Badges - National Medal for Outdoor Achievement
• Boy Scout Merit Badges: Archaeology - Archery - Astronomy - Athletics - Backpacking - Bird Study - Camping - Canoeing - Climbing - Cooking - Cycling - Environmental Science - Farm Mechanics - Fire Safety - Fish and Wildlife Management - Fishing - Fly Fishing - Forestry - Gardening - Geocaching - Geology - Golf - Hiking - Horsemanship - Insect Study - Kayaking - Mammal Study - Motorboating - Nature - Oceanography - Orienteering - Personal Fitness - Pioneering - Reptile and Amphibian Study - Rifle Shooting - Rowing - Scuba Diving - Search and Rescue - Shotgun Shooting - Signs, Signals, and Codes - Skating - Small-Boat Sailing - Snow Sports - Soil and Water Conservation - Space Exploration - Sports - Surveying - Swimming - Traffic Safety - Weather - Water Sports - Whitewater - Wilderness Survival
• Venturing: Wilderness Survival Ranger Core - Backpacking Ranger Award elective - National Outdoor Badges - National Medal for Outdoor Achievement
• Sea Scouts: National Outdoor Badges - National Medal for Outdoor Achievement

• Scouter Awards: Emergency Preparedness BSA Award
• Boy Scout Merit Badges: Crime Prevention - Dentistry - Emergency Preparedness - Fire Safety - First Aid - Lifesaving - Medicine - Public Health - Safety- Traffic Safety
  
• Boy Scout awards: Emergency Preparedness BSA Award, BSA Ready & Prepared Award
• Webelos Adventure: First Responder
• Webelos-Arrow of Light Adventure: Castaway
• Cub Scout Awards: Emergency Preparedness BSA Award (Tiger, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos Scouts)
• Others Links: First Aid Skills - First Aid Kit - Emergency Kit - Safe Swim Defense - Safety Afloat - Guide to Safe Scouting: First Aid
• Venturing: Ranger Award-Emergency Preparedness Requirement - Emergency Preparedness BSA Award, BSA Ready & Prepared Award

• An Introduction to Merit Badges – how to get started, who chooses the counselor, etc.
• Merit Badge revision dates – latest revision dates of each merit badge pamphlet.
• Merit Badge Worksheets & Requirements – with the revision dates, diagrams, charts, checklists, logs, and links you need.
• Merit Badge Application – offers online resources to let you print "Blue Cards," etc.
• Merit Badge FAQ – answers dozens of questions like: Who can be a counselor? Can requirements be added or removed?
• Merit Badges Requiring Prior Approval – Certain requirements need prior approval. Most do not. Here is the list.
• Also see: List of how many boys have earned each Merit Badge – Merit Badge policies – Merit badges required for the Eagle Scout rank – Merit Badge Days
• Additionally: List of Merit Badges by Field of Study – Merit Badge Pamphlets & Libraries
• Merit Badge Counselors must complete Youth Protection Training, file an Adult Application (and Merit Badge Counselor Information Form); and be approved by the local council. (See the Guide for Merit Badge Counselors for additional details.)