Getting the word out about what your fire department is doing for its community is a never ending task. But, it doesn't have to be an expensive or time consuming one if you're smart about it.

I write a lot. I mean a lot. I have my blog here and I also write as a featured blogger for the Buffalo News at www.buffnews.com/yourhub/southtowns. I also write frequent submissions for two local publications, the Town Crier and The Sun.

We work very hard at keeping our fire department's name in the news: Evans Center. And, it pays off with big dividends.

I contribute news stories about incidents we respond to and activities we participate in, and I also write a lot of fire and life safety articles.

This is where it's easy to keep your fire department name as "top of mind" in the minds of your customers - the citizens you serve.

I like to employ my three favorite methods to finding information to write about: Begging, borrowing and stealing!

There is so much safety information out there in the public domain that your ideas don't always have to be original. Nobody will blame you for carrying the torch on planning exit drills in the home, or changing your working smoke detector batteries when we change to and from daylight savings time. And no one will chastise you for encouraging others "not to be a turkey about Thanksgiving safety."

In fact, that's a blog I just wrote and a press release I just sent to the local papers in time for publication just before Thanksgiving next week. Did I dream up all the catchy phrases and safety tips myself? No. Of course not.

I simply borrowed the intent of a fire safety posting I gathered from another nationally known source: the Los Angeles Fire Department. They post all of their safety information at www.lafd.blogspot.com and their home page at www.lafd.org. The Phoenix Fire Department is another huge source of great fire and life safety information to share with the public.

Then there's the United States Fire Administration page at: www.usfa.dhs.gov where you can sign up to be part of their MediaCorps and they'll e-mail you safety topics right to your inbox. They encourage you to cut, paste and personalize the information. And, just like all of the other great sources, it doesn't cost a dime.

And unlike advertisements, press releases don't cost anything to publish. Enhance the story with a photo whenever you can.

Think seasonally. Next week is Thanksgiving. Black Friday officially starts the Christmas season. Any seasonal safety messages come to mind? Think flooding, battery changing and horseback riding in the spring. Think pool, grille and sunburn safety in the summer and wood burner safety and fire prevention week in the fall. Make a list. Make a calendar. Before long, you've got your four seasons covered and you've got all your safety bases covered with the community.

Just remember that when you're employing the "borrowing" or "stealing" methods of information "sharing," be sure to at least acknowledge the source. It gives credit where credit is due, helps drive traffic to their site, and it lends credibility to your information, especially if it's from a recognized source.

The sources are endless. The idea is to keep your name in front of the public by putting the information in their hands that they need to keep your community a safer place to live, work and play. It's a win-win baby!

They win with information that can save their lives and you win with the recognition, admiration and support that only the fire department can muster from the community. Nobody trusts anyone more than they trust the fire department.

Use that to your advantage by keeping them informed, keeping them safe and keeping your fire department in the public eye. Keep it real, keep it local, keep it safe.

Leave me a comment here, ask me nicely, and I'll e-mail you some sample press releases you can cut, paste and personalize from.

Stay safe. Train often.