North Reading Awarded $7,172 In State Fire Safety Grants

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading) and Senate Minority Leader Bruce E. Tarr (R-Gloucester) recently joined with the Baker-Polito Administration to announce the North Reading Fire Department has been awarded $7,172 in state fire safety grants.

A total of $1.9 million in grants are being distributed by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to fire departments in 235 communities. North Reading’s award includes a $4,692 grant funded through the Student Awareness of Fire Education (S.A.F.E.) program, as well as a $2,480 Senior SAFE grant.

Established by the Massachusetts Legislature in 1996, the S.A.F.E. program provides funding on an annual basis for municipal fire departments to offer fire safety education in schools. As part of the program, students are taught 23 key fire safety behaviors, including how to recognize the dangers of fire as well as the fire hazards associated with tobacco products.

The Senior SAFE program was created to support fire prevention training for seniors, who are among the most at risk for fire-related deaths. The program works with agencies serving seniors and local fire departments to teach older adults how to reduce fire safety hazards in their homes.

“The S.A.F.E. program and the Senior SAFE program have both proven to be tremendously successful in raising fire safety awareness and reducing fire deaths among some of our most vulnerable populations,” said Representative Jones. “My thanks to the members of the North Reading Fire Department for everything they do to keep the town’s residents safe.”

“The North Reading Fire Department continues to promote the public safety of kids and seniors through the powerful prevention tools of outreach and communication,” said Senator Tarr. “These grant funds reflect state partnership in supporting the department’s local efforts.”

According to State Fire Marshall Peter J. Ostroskey, during the 26 years the S.A.F.E. program has been in existence, child fire deaths have been reduced by 78%. In 2020, 39 people died in fires in Massachusetts, compared to 42 in 2019, but none of those deaths involved children.

“S.A.F.E. is an example of the many successful and valuable programs that the legislature and the governor support on behalf of the citizens of the Commonwealth,” Ostroskey noted. “We are thankful to the legislature for their support of these vital programs, and thankful for expanding S.A.F.E. to include older adult fire prevention education. Additionally, we appreciate and applaud the continued efforts of local fire departments to maintain the highest level of service and professionalism to their communities.”