INTRODUCING AN ONLINE FIRE SAFETY BREAKTROUGH THAT REFLECTS ALASKAN TRIBAL CULTURE

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA — To combat Alaska’s high rate of fire-related injury among children, the Alaska Department of Public Safety launched Raven Island today at the Anchorage Civic and Convention Center. Raven Island is the first Internet fire safety education initiative designed to reflect Alaskan native culture and to teach children about fire safety. The interactive, graphic role-playing game is geared toward kids in Alaska because they suffer fire-related injuries at a rate three to five times the national average.

"Raven Island represents an important innovation that will educate kids and save lives," said Gregory B. Cade, U.S. Fire Administrator, of the Department of Homeland Security.

Alaska’s geography makes safety education difficult because many kids live in isolated communities. Alaska also has the largest home-schooling networks in the United States. Online distribution is a great way to reach Alaskan kids.

Virtual fire safety training will be available to all through Whyville.com, the Internet’s top learning world site for children, with over 3.4 million registrants worldwide. It is part of a safer, controlled Internet experience for kids. Raven Island is free and no special software is needed.

Speakers at the event today include Ronda Mcbride appointed Rural Advisor to Gov. Palin, Brian Ipsen of the Department of Homeland Security, and Charles Parker, Native Alaskan Representative. 

Raven Island is funded in part by the federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program and developed with the Alaska Department of Public Safety by Compelling Technologies, Inc.

The Department of Public Safety will be promoting Raven Island through its public safety education channels, including movie trailers, Boys and Girls Clubs, hospitals, public schools, the home school network, the native Alaskan community, the business community, and in the annual DPS fire education campaign.

To find out more about Raven Island visit Compelling Technologies at www.compellingtechnologies.com or play the games online at www.whyville.com or www.raven-island.com.