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Date: 1/17/2023
EASTHAMPTON – The Easthampton Fire Department has once again received state grant funding to support the city’s fire education programs for children and older adults.
The department’s Student Awareness of Fire Education (S.A.F.E.) programs as well as their Senior SAFE programs will continue on with this latest funding. Easthampton has received $4,381 for their S.A.F.E. program and $2,277 for their Senior SAFE programs.
Grants are awarded yearly and every interested department with an established public education program can apply. The amount awarded out is typically based on the population a community department serves.
According to Fire Chief Christopher Norris, both of these programs are critical to the departments ongoing efforts for community outreach and education in order to reduce any potential injury from fire.
“These funds are imperative to help provide the resources needed to help educate some of these vulnerable populations around our community,” said Norris. “Programs like S.A.F.E. and Senior SAFE allow our organization to partner with the school department and city Council on Aging to help teach and educate these groups in an effort to increase their education and awareness pertaining to fire and life safety.”
These educational courses have been utilized by the Easthampton Fire Department over the last few years and have been able to safely meet with many of the younger classes in the city’s schools and conduct fire safety lessons.
Norris noted that after doing a number of these trainings with students and older adults, the feedback they receive is very much appreciative.
“Children are very excited learning new materials and wanting to understand the reason behind teaching different procedures and concepts,” Norris said. “Older adults are extremely grateful and looking for additional information and materials on ways to stay safe.”
This continues a trend in Easthampton of the fire department stepping up in different ways in the community. Fire department members have also conducted car seat installations for injury prevention, installed smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in homes of individuals over the age of 65, provided sand to seniors in need to reduce potential slips and falls, helped install lock boxes throughout the community and conducted open houses to the public.
This funding will help support these preventative initiatives to help minimize the risk of injury to the public. Norris added this is the third year of such prioritized outreach and educational program and they hope to continue to work with the public in ensuring they have a safe place to live.
Norris noted that the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services website contains information, flyers and brochures on additional home safety, fire safety for children and fire safety and education for older adults.