North Reading Awarded $6,154 In State Fire Safety Grants

A release from the office of House Minority Leader Brad Jones and Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr.

North Reading has been awarded $6,154 in fire safety grant funding by the Executive Office of
Public Safety and Security’s Department of Fire Services for Fiscal Year 2019.

The North Reading Fire Department will receive $3,754 for the Student Awareness of Fire Education (S.A.F.E.) program, which teaches students in grades K-12 about the dangers of smoking and other fire safety hazards. The department will also receive a $2,400 grant for the Senior SAFE program, which educates seniors on the topics of fire prevention, general home safety and how to be better prepared in the event of a fire.

“The S.A.F.E. program and the Senior SAFE program have proven to be highly effective in educating our children and our seniors about the importance of fire prevention and how to keep themselves safe in the event of a fire,” said House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. (R-North Reading). “I am proud to support this life-saving initiative, and I know the town of North Reading will put this grant money to good use.”

“The Legislature supports the S.A.F.E. program because it gets results, the kind that saves lives and prevents tragedies,” said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester). “I am sure that the funding will help serve the children in North Reading well because the lessons, taught by firefighters, will last a lifetime.”

Since the creation of the S.A.F.E. program 24 years ago, the average annual rate of child fire deaths has been reduced by 74%. Six years ago, the program was expanded to include fire prevention training for seniors, who are among the most vulnerable populations at risk of fire-related deaths.

“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,” said State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey. “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.”