Easthampton Fire Department Receives State Grant to Support Fire Education Programs for Children and Older Adults

Last week, the state announced grant funding to support fire education for children and older adults across Massachusetts.  The intent of these funds are to provide financial support for fire departments’ Student Awareness of Fire Education (SAFE) programs as well as their Senior SAFE programs.  The Easthampton Fire Department received $4,381 for their SAFE program and $2,277 for their Senior SAFE programs.  

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 Easthampton Fire Chief Christopher 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.”

Over the past few years, members of the Easthampton Fire Department were able to safely meet with many of the younger classes in the schools and conduct fire safety lessons. Members 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 the potential of 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.