Firefighter Turned Insight School of Washington Teacher Shares Firewise Safety Tips for Washington Families 

As wildfires become an increasing concern across Washington State, one dedicated online educator at Insight School of Washington is using his past experiences as a firefighter to ensure online learning students and their families are prepared. Jameson O’Neal, a former wildland firefighter and now a Middle School English Language Arts teacher at Insight School of Washington, is on a mission to educate students and their families about fire safety—especially those who are learning from home. 

From Fighting Fires to Educating Future Generations 

Jameson officially stepped away from firefighting in 2020, but the passion for fire prevention remains strong in his teaching. Now in his seventh year as an educator and his fifth year at Insight School of Washington, he recognizes the importance of equipping families with knowledge to stay Firewise. Unlike students in traditional brick-and-mortar schools, online learners don’t experience regular fire drills or have structured evacuation plans in place. This makes at-home preparedness even more critical. 

“It’s easy to get complacent,” Jameson said. “We’re seeing wildfires where we’ve historically never seen them before. Whether you have lush green grass surrounding your entire house or live in the city, hot embers can travel for up to three miles. We are all vulnerable to wildfires,” he added. 

Bringing Fire Safety Awareness to the Digital Classroom 

To bridge the gap in fire preparedness, Jameson incorporates his real-world firefighting experience into his online lessons. He has also created a resource video to help students understand the risks of wildfires and what steps they can take to protect themselves and their homes.

His number one recommendation? Schedule an appointment with a local fire marshal or fire district representative to conduct a fire preparedness assessment. This assessment covers both traditional structure fires and potential wildfire risks, helping families create a safety plan tailored to their homes. 

More Than Fire Safety: A Passion for eSports and Creative Learning 

Beyond fire education, Jameson is deeply involved in student engagement through technology. As Insight School’s chess coach for the award-winning eSports team, he believes in the power of gaming to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and logical reasoning skills. 

“eSports give students an opportunity to socialize and collaborate in ways they might not have in traditional sports,” Jameson explains. “Many students don’t realize that colleges and universities offer full-ride scholarships for eSports players, treating it just like any other athletic program.” 

Jameson also takes an innovative approach to English Language Arts by integrating multimedia with literature. His unique teaching method—what he calls “marrying Minecraft with English Language Arts”—allows students to build Minecraft worlds that reflect their readings or original writings, creating an immersive storytelling experience. 

A Legacy of Firefighting and Education 

Firefighting is more than just a past career for Jameson—it’s part of his family history. Both his grandfather and brother are firefighters, and his own experiences are archived in the Library of Congress through StoryCorps interviews. 

Firefighting is more than just a past career for Jameson—it’s part of his family history. Both his grandfather and brother are firefighters, and his own experiences are archived in the Library of Congress through StoryCorps interviews.

His work now bridges the gap between public safety and education, ensuring that Washington families—especially those with students learning from home—are prepared for potential fire risks. Whether through fire safety education, eSports coaching, or innovative literature lessons, Jameson O’Neal continues to make an impact in the lives of students across the state. 

Would you like to learn more about Jameson’s fire preparedness tips or how he’s shaping digital learning? Check out his videos to hear firsthand how he’s turning real-world experience into engaging online education.