Fire Safety Merit Badge Requirements

10 Requirements Updated January 21, 2026 View Official Page ↗ Download Free Pamphlet ↓

Learn fire science, hazards, prevention, and proper extinguisher use. Understand fire-related injuries and emergency response to earn this merit badge.

Requirements

  1. Copy link to requirement 1
    Science of and Hazards of Fire. Do the following:
    1. Copy link to requirement 1.a
      Explain the concept of fire.
    2. Copy link to requirement 1.b
      Name the parts of the fire tetrahedron and the products of combustion.
    3. Copy link to requirement 1.c
      Describe the life cycle of a fire.
    4. Copy link to requirement 1.d
      Explain the three methods of heat transfer.
  2. Copy link to requirement 2
    Fire Extinguishers. Do the following:
    1. Copy link to requirement 2.a
      Explain the different classes of fires.
    2. Copy link to requirement 2.b
      Identify the different classes of fire extinguishers and which should be used for each class of fire.
    3. Copy link to requirement 2.c
      Demonstrate how to use a fire extinguisher and a fire blanket.
  3. Copy link to requirement 3
    Fire-related Injuries. Do the following:
    1. Copy link to requirement 3.a
      Explain and demonstrate the technique of stop, drop, roll, cool, and call.
    2. Copy link to requirement 3.b
      Describe how clothing fires occur, how to prevent them, and how clothing can prevent or contribute to burn injuries.
    3. Copy link to requirement 3.c
      Identify the most frequent causes of burn injuries and how to prevent them.
    4. Copy link to requirement 3.d
      Review the prevention of, symptoms and signs of, and treatment of airway burns and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.
  4. Copy link to requirement 4
    Origins of Fires. Do the following:
    1. Copy link to requirement 4.a
      Explain the four classifications of fire origin (natural, accidental, incendiary, or undetermined) and give an example of each.
    2. Copy link to requirement 4.b
      Describe how a fire classified as incendiary might lead to criminal prosecution of a person charged with arson.
  5. Copy link to requirement 5
    Fire Safety at Home. Do the following:
    1. Copy link to requirement 5.a
      Describe how to prevent the frequent causes of home fires, including unattended cooking, electricity, smoking, clothes dryers, and rechargeable batteries.
    2. Copy link to requirement 5.b
      Describe how to prevent frequent causes of seasonal and holiday-related home fires, including fires related to home heating, holiday trees, candles, and fireworks.
    3. Copy link to requirement 5.c
      Demonstrate how to safely light and extinguish a candle. Discuss with your counselor, then with your family, how to safely use candles.
    4. Copy link to requirement 5.d
      Using the Home Fire Safety Checklist in the Fire Safety merit badge pamphlet or one approved by your counselor, and with the help of an adult, inspect a home (or a similar building near where you live or at a camp) for fire safety hazards. Present your completed checklist to your counselor and discuss your findings.
    5. Copy link to requirement 5.e
      Determine if, and what types of, smoke and CO alarms are required in homes in your community. List what types of smoke and CO alarms your home has, their locations, and their expiration dates.
    6. Copy link to requirement 5.f
      Demonstrate maintenance of smoke and CO alarms to your counselor and review plans to replace expired alarms.
    7. Copy link to requirement 5.g
      Develop a home fire-escape plan and a fire-drill schedule with your family, draw a floor plan of your home with exits marked and a map showing your family meeting point, and conduct a home fire drill.
    8. Copy link to requirement 5.h
      Explain what to do and what not to do if you smell natural gas and if you smell smoke.
    9. Copy link to requirement 5.i
      Explain how you would report a fire to have the fire department respond.
  6. Copy link to requirement 6
    Safety with Flammable and Combustible Liquids. Do the following:
    1. Copy link to requirement 6.a
      Explain what flammable and combustible liquids are commonly used in homes and how to safely store them.
    2. Copy link to requirement 6.b
      Describe the safe way to refuel a liquid-fueled engine, such as a lawn mower, outboard motor, farm machine, or automobile with fuel from an approved container.
    3. Copy link to requirement 6.c
      Describe the options available for safely disposing of unwanted flammable, combustible, and hazardous substances in your community.
  7. Copy link to requirement 7
    Fire Safety in Public Buildings. Do the following:
    1. Copy link to requirement 7.a
      Explain how public buildings are designed for fire safety.
    2. Copy link to requirement 7.b
      Explain what fire safety systems and equipment can be found in public buildings.
    3. Copy link to requirement 7.c
      Explain what fire safety precautions you should take when you are in a public building.
  8. Copy link to requirement 8
    Fire Safety at Camp. Do the following:
    1. Copy link to requirement 8.a
      Explain how the Leave No Trace Seven Principles apply to camping fires.
    2. Copy link to requirement 8.b
      Demonstrate lighting a match safely, the proper way to extinguish it, and to dispose of it. Explain the similarities and differences between safety matches and strike-anywhere matches.
    3. Copy link to requirement 8.c
      Explain and demonstrate making sparks with flint and steel or with a ferro rod and catching a spark to create a flame. Extinguish the flame safely using one of principles of the fire tetrahedron.
    4. Copy link to requirement 8.d
      Demonstrate the safe way to start a charcoal fire.
    5. Copy link to requirement 8.e
      Describe three common campsite fire lays. Collect, prepare, and set up tinder, kindling, and fuel for a campfire following the Leave No Trace Seven Principles. Ignite your fire lay and safely extinguish your fire.
    6. Copy link to requirement 8.f
      Demonstrate using a camp stove.
    7. Copy link to requirement 8.g
      Explain how to set up and keep a campsite safe from fire.
    8. Copy link to requirement 8.h
      Develop a lesson plan to teach a fire safety skill or topic, such as lighting a candle or a match or a charcoal fire or a lantern or a camp stove or using flint and steel or setting up a fire lay. Review your lesson plan with your counselor. Teach your skill or topic to one or more Scouts using the EDGE method.
  9. Copy link to requirement 9
    Wildland Fires. Do the following:
    1. Copy link to requirement 9.a
      List causes of wildland fires and ways to prevent them.
    2. Copy link to requirement 9.b
      Explain the social, economic, and environmental consequences of wildland fires.
  10. Copy link to requirement 10
    Careers. Do ONE of the following:
    1. Copy link to requirement 10.a
      Visit a fire station in-person. Identify the various types of fire service vehicles. From the firefighters you meet during your visit, learn about the fire prevention activities in your community and about their careers. Discuss with your counselor what you learned during your tour and interviews.
    2. Copy link to requirement 10.b
      Identify three career opportunities that would use skills and knowledge in the field of fire safety. Pick one and research the training, education, certification requirements, experience, and expenses associated with entering the field. Research the prospects for employment, starting salary, advancement opportunities and career goals associated with this career. Discuss what you learned with your counselor and whether you might be interested in this career.