STOW — The Healey-Driscoll administration has announced that 214 municipal fire departments across Massachusetts will share $1.6 million in competitive grants to support fire and life safety education for school-age children and older adults. Lynnfield will receive $4,700 for the SAFE Program and $2,200 for the Senior SAFE Program.
Since 1995, the Department of Fire Services’ Student Awareness of Fire Education (SAFE) grant program has supported firefighter-educators who deliver age-appropriate fire safety education to kids and teens across Massachusetts. In that time, the number of children who die in fires has dropped to historically low levels, from two dozen or more per year to zero for nearly three consecutive years.
“The SAFE grants have been helping local fire departments deliver life-saving lessons to Massachusetts’ young people for nearly 30 years,” said Gov. Maura Healey. “This year’s awards continue that legacy of fire safety education for our most vulnerable residents and their families. Our Administration is committed to helping every community protect its residents through public safety programs like this one.”
In 2014, DFS launched the Senior SAFE program, which is geared toward another vulnerable population – older adults, who face a disproportionate risk of death or serious injury in a fire.
“Senior SAFE connects firefighter-educators with senior centers, councils on aging, and other community-based resources in a unique state-local partnership,” said Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll. “Effective safety education, smoke and carbon monoxide alarm installation, and other grant-funded services are helping to keep our seniors safe at home.”
In FY24, 214 municipal fire departments will split $1,138,565.58 in SAFE funding and/or $492,179.29 in Senior SAFE funding. Another 12 departments will share funding for regional SAFE and/or Senior SAFE programs.
“Fire safety education is a smart investment in the safety of our residents and the livability of our communities,” said Secretary of Public Safety and Security Terrence Reidy. “Children and older adults are historically the most at risk in a fire, but the SAFE and Senior SAFE grants are helping to provide them with the tools to protect themselves and their families.”
“I’m deeply grateful to the trained firefighter-educators who are the backbone of the SAFE and Senior SAFE programs,” said State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine. “They’ve reached hundreds of thousands of youngsters and seniors with lessons that have prevented untold tragedies. I truly believe these grants are a key factor in making Massachusetts one of the most fire-safe states in the nation.”
The S.A.F.E. and Senior SAFE programs are funded through legislative earmarks to the Executive Office of the Public Safety & Security, and they are administered by the Department of Fire Services. For more fire service grant opportunities, visit https://www.mass.gov/info-details/grants-for-fire-departments.
