Abington, Holbrook, Quincy & Rockland Receiving Fire Safety Education Grant Funding

STOW— The communities of Abington, Holbrook, Quincy, and Rockland will all receive portions of the $1.8 million in funding allocated by the state to help local fire departments offer fire safety education programs.

The Student Awareness of Fire Education (S.A.F.E.) and Senior SAFE grants are funded through legislative earmarks to the Executive Office of the Public Safety & Security, and are administered by the Department of Fire Services.

“Fire safety education works,” said Secretary of Public Safety and Security Terrence Reidy. “The S.A.F.E. and Senior SAFE grant programs allow trained and trusted firefighters to make a direct connection with youngsters and older adults in their own communities. These grants are an outstanding example of state and local partnerships.”

“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 S.A.F.E. and Senior SAFE are among the reasons Massachusetts is one of the most fire-safe states in the nation.”

Local recipients:

• Abington Fire Department, $5,175 for teaching pre-K-3 fire safety information
• Holbrook Fire Department, $4,575 for teaching K-3 safety lessons
• Quincy Fire Department, $11,275 for partnering with local school system to teach fire safety
• Rockland Fire Department, $5,175 for teaching pre-K -5 fire safety lessons

The average number of children dying in fires annually has dropped by 78% since the S.A.F.E. Program began – a decline almost 30% 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.

A full list of recipient department and their awards can be found here. For more fire service grant opportunities, visit https://www.mass.gov/info-details/grants-for-fire-departments.