The City of Fort Wayne held an open house to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Safety Village and Survive Alive House today.
News release from the City of Fort Wayne, Indiana:
City of Fort Wayne’s Safety Village and Survive Alive House Celebrate 35 Years in the Community
Fort Wayne, Indiana (June 26, 2026) – To commemorate the 35th anniversary of the City of Fort Wayne’s Safety Village and Survive Alive House today, Mayor Sharon Tucker joined the Fort Wayne Fire Department, the Fort Wayne Police Department, former FWFD and FWPD employees who helped build and create the Safety Village, and local children to kick-off an open house celebration. The Safety Village complex is the largest of its kind in the nation.
Children from local community organizations had the opportunity to participate in hands-on safety activities and were able to view active construction projects underway at the campus, including a new pavilion and a replica of the Science Central building. The construction projects were made possible through a collaboration with the Fort Wayne Community Schools Career Academy’s Construction Trades and Digital Design programs.
The 3.7-acre Safety Village was developed to teach children about safety in a way they could easily understand. The picturesque village, constructed in 1991, consists of 30 miniature buildings and a downtown area incorporating 16 structures and is located at 1270 South Phoenix Parkway on the city’s southeast side directly behind Southtown Centre. This facility combines both police and fire safety educational curriculums in one location.
Programs are offered, with both classroom and field activities included, free of charge to all area public and private schools. During the school year, the Fort Wayne Police Department offers safety programs dealing with pedestrian safety and stranger awareness, structured for kindergarten-aged children. The Fort Wayne Fire Department instructs primarily third-grade students, along with other special interest groups, on how to escape from a burning home. The Survive Alive House, part of the Safety Village, uses state-of-the-art special effects to simulate an actual house fire without any real danger.
During the summer, programs are also offered for the general public. Families, scouting groups, neighborhood associations, home school groups, businesses, and any other interested groups, are all encouraged to visit the Safety Village / Survive Alive House. Tours can be scheduled by contacting the Fort Wayne Fire Department Safety Education Division at 260-427-1483 or 260-427-5179.
More information and access to a downloadable Survive Alive Activity Book.
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