Swampscott Fire Receives Grants for Student, Senior Fire Safety Education

SWAMPSCOTT, MA - The Swampscott Fire Department is one of more than 200 fire departments across the state to receive grant funding to work with classroom teachers and older adults to deliver fire and life safety lessons.

Swampscott fire has been awarded $4,237 in Student Awareness of Fire Education (S.A.F.E.) funding and $2,716 in Senior Safe funding.

According to a statement, S.A.F.E. allows trained firefighter-educators to work with teachers to deliver age-appropriate fire and life safety lessons that also meet the requirements of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Health Curriculum Frameworks. For Senior S.A.F.E., fire departments partner with local senior service agencies.

“This is the 21st year of the S.A.F.E. Program in Massachusetts and we are truly reaching our goal of raising a fire safe generation of children,” said Gov. Charlie Baker in a statement. “The average number of children who die in fires each year in Massachusetts has dropped by over 70 percent.”

When it comes to Senior Safe, the focus of the program is to educate seniors on fire prevention, general home safety and how to survive a fire, according to a statement.

“Our community is no stranger to tragic fires that endanger residents and firefighters alike,” said Rep. Lori Ehrlich in a statement. “Most frustrating is when we learn that the loss of lives and property could have been preventable. I’m so pleased that with these grants our fire department is being supported in their efforts to raise awareness of fire prevention and safety among children and seniors in our community.”

The S.A.F.E. Program provides $1.25 million through the Executive Office of the Public Safety and Security to local fire departments. The Senior SAFE program provides $600,000 in grant funds from fees paid by tobacco programs to the Fire Standard Compliant Cigarette Program to ensure their products meet the fire safety requirements to be sold in Massachusetts. The programs are administered by the state Department of Fire Services.

<<< Take a look at the full list of departments to receive grants.