Communities receive fire safety education funds from state

Date: 2/21/2022

WESTERN MASS. – Area fire departments received funding from the Baker-Polito Administration on Feb. 16 to support new fire safety education programs for both school children and for seniors.

The total grant amount was $1.8 million.

The two programs that were funded were the Student Awareness of Fire Education (SAFE) and Senior SAFE grants.

According to the Department of Fire Services, “The average number of children dying in fires annually has dropped by 78 percent since the SAFE Program began – a decline almost 30 percent greater than the decline in fire deaths overall. In light of that success, the Department of Fire Services launched the Senior SAFE Program to provide firefighters with funding to deliver fire safety education to older adults, who face a disproportionate risk of dying in a fire.”

“The fire departments delivering these safety messages are reducing the risk of fire, injury, and tragedy in cities and towns across the commonwealth,” said State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey. “No child has died in a Massachusetts fire since March of 2019, and fire deaths overall continue to trend downward. Programs like SAFE and Senior SAFE are among the reasons Massachusetts is one of the most fire-safe states in the nation.”

The following are area fire departments and the funding they received for the two programs:

• Agawam Fire Department $5,175 for 12 classrooms of kindergarten, 5th grades and pre-school teaching fire safety; $3,055 for teaming with Senior Center, presentations, home visits.
• Amherst Fire Department $6,275 for partnering with local school system to teach fire safety; $3,255 teaming with Senior Center, presentations, home visits.
• Belchertown Fire Department $4,575 for partnering with local school system to teach fire safety; $2,855 for senior center presentations, home visits and installation of alarms.
• Chicopee Fire Department $7,575 for partnering with local school system to teach fire safety; $3,455 for Senior Center presentations and home visits with smoke/CO alarm installations.
• East Longmeadow Fire Department $5,175 for partnering with local school system to teach fire safety; $3,055 for senior center presentations and home visits with smoke/CO alarm installations.
• Easthampton Fire Department $5,175 for teaching K-6 fire safety lessons; $3,055 for Senior Center presentations and home visits with smoke/CO alarm installations.
• Granby Fire Department $4,575 for teaching grades K-12 fire safety information; $2,855 for Senior Center presentations and home visits with smoke/CO alarm installations.
• Hadley Fire Department $4,575 for teaching all grades K-6 fire safety lessons; $2,855 for Senior Center presentations and home visits with smoke/CO alarm installations
• Holyoke Fire Department $6,275 for three visits teaching pre-K, K,1 and three grade 5 twice fire safety lessons, grade nine during special high school events; $3,255 for Senior Center presentations and home visits with smoke/CO alarm installations.
• Longmeadow Fire Department $5,175 for partnering with local school system to teach fire safety; $3,055 for Senior Center presentations and home visits with smoke/CO alarm installations.
• Ludlow Fire Department $5,175 for partnering with local school system to teach fire safety; $3,055 for Senior Center presentations and home visits with smoke/CO alarm installations.
• Northampton Fire Rescue Department $5,175 for monthly visits teaching fire safety to grades 3 and 6; $3,055 for presentations, battery replacements, smoke/CO alarm installations.
• South Hadley-District 1 $3,822 for two visits pre-K-12, private schools, and day care teaching fire safety lessons; $2,395 for smoke/CO alarm installations, senior center presentation, lock box installations.
• Southampton Fire Department $4,575 for partnering with local school system to teach fire safety; $2,855 for smoke/CO alarm installations, senior center presentation, lock box installations.
• Springfield Fire Department $11,275 for teaching pre-K -4 fire safety lessons up to two times a year; $3,655 for smoke/CO alarm installations, senior center presentation, lock box installations.
• Sunderland Fire Department $3,675 for teaching pre-K-6 fire safety education; $2,555 for smoke/CO alarm installations, senior center presentation, lock box installations.
• West Springfield Fire Department $5,175 for teaching grades K-5 fire safety lessons; $3,055 for smoke/CO alarm installations, senior center presentation, lock box installations.
• Wilbraham Fire Department $4,575 for partnering with local school system to teach fire safety; $2,855 for smoke/CO alarm installations, senior center presentation, lock box installations.
• Williamsburg Fire Department $3,675 for partnering with local school system to teach fire safety; $2,555 for smoke/CO alarm installations, senior center presentation, lock box installations.