Community Outreach

Safe Place

Safe Place provides access to immediate help and safety for all young people in crisis. A network of thousands of businesses and other public locations across the country extend the doors of local youth serving agencies by displaying Safe Place's recognizable yellow and black diamond-shaped logo. Gainesville-Fire Rescue is proud to be a designated Safe Place for local youth in crisis.

The National Safe Place vision is to make the Safe Place sign the universal symbol of help and safety for youth by working with local communities to build safety nets that can prevent vulnerable children and teens from victimization.

For more information about Safe Place, visit the National Safe Place Organization.

Safe Baby Site

If you have a newborn that you're unable to care for, you can bring your baby to a designated safe place with no questions asked. The "Baby Moses or Safe Haven" law allows parents who are unable to care for their child a safe and legal choice to leave their infant with an employee at a designated safe place - a hospital, fire station, free-standing emergency centers or emergency medical (EMS) station. 

The law is nicknamed "The Baby Moses Law" based on the biblical story of baby Moses. The group responsible for establishing the project chose the name Baby Moses because, in addition to being placed in a wicker basket by his mother to be saved from death, he was also carefully watched over by an anonymous protector until he was safely placed in the arms of a person who could provide the love and care necessary for life.

Gainesville Fire-Rescue stations are designated Baby Moses sites, or safe havens, where parents may leave their newborns (up to 60 days old) with no questions asked and no fear of prosecution if the baby is unharmed. Babies left at a Gainesville Fire Station are transported to the local hospital by EMS for immediate examination and medical care. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services will then take custody and place the child.. Mothers may voluntarily disclose background and medical information, but are not legally required to do so under the "Baby Moses or Safe Haven" Law.

Juvenile Firesetter Program

Gainesville Fire-Rescue’s Juvenile Fire-setter Prevention and Intervention Programs provide specialized fire safety education for children ages 2-17 and target at-risk children and teens with an interest in or a history of starting fires, initiating bomb threats, creating destructive incendiary devices or pulling fire alarms. By offering fire safety education instruction and community outreach presentations, the program helps reduce incidents of injury, property loss and death.

Smoke ALARM Program

The Gainesville Fire Department's Smoke Alarm Program offers free smoke alarms or battery replacement to residents that meet the following criteria:

  • Live in the City of Gainesville, TX
  • Own and occupy your home
  • Are
    1. 1) Elderly
    2. 2) On a fixed income or
    3. 3) Handicapped

The smoke detectors and batteries are installed by on-duty firefighters at no cost to residents.  

Request a Visit/Program

All programs must be scheduled by calling 940-668-5731 or by email: tsieger@gvps.org