The year was 1985 and many of us can still recall the memories. Memories like watching television as the Kansas City Royals won the World Series, four games to three, over the St. Louis Cardinals. Listening to the year’s top country song as Ronnie Milsap sang, “Lost in the fifties tonight” on the AM radio. And, seeing Auburn Running Back Bo Jackson capture the Heisman Trophy. But, can you remember what was brewing in Kansas’ prevention pot?

In April of 1985, Salina Fire Department Public Education Specialist Carol Rhaesa and Fire Chief Dave Robertson, sent a letter to all Kansas fire departments inviting their representatives to attend a meeting to discuss the possibility of organizing a statewide fire prevention/education association – 28 departments or organizations indicated interest in such an association. A month later, what would become the Fire Education Association of Kansas, met for the first time at the Salina FD. 

According to the first meeting’s minutes, “Time was also devoted to discussing the purpose and function of the proposed organization. Among the list of suggestions were: the exchange of ideas; promotion of fire safety education across the State; correlation and coordination of all types of public safety education; providing a means of targeting and acting upon some specific basic fire safety issues within the State; making public fire safety education more visible.” Today, FEAK stays true to those original concepts through its purpose to assist Kansas communities promote fire and life safety education; provide opportunities for training, education and interventions to those people dedicated to fire and life safety education and awareness; and provide a fire and life safety network for the exchange of ideas and resources. We are dedicated to those initiatives today.