It is the mission of the City of Temple Fire Department to respond to and mitigate emergencies involving incidents of fire, the entrapment of persons, unplanned release of dangerous goods and pre-hospital emergency medical incidents in addition to taking pro-active measures and educating the general public to ensure their safety from like emergencies.

In June 1990, the Temple Fire Department created the temporary position of Public Education Officer. A firefighter was assigned to Public Education and was given some basic responsibilities regarding fire prevention. Through the years that office has evolved to what it is today: two full-time public education officers supervised by a Deputy Chief of Fire Prevention and Education. The early years when the Pub-Ed officers covered "Learn not to Burn" has expanded into a multitude of Injury Prevention programs.

Public Education Officers are actively involved in injury prevention programs with Temple Elementary Schools. The department uses the Risk Watch curriculum which was developed by the National Fire Protection Association and Lowe’s Home Safety Council. The curriculum addresses the top 8 risk areas that injure or kill the most kids every year: