North Shore Fire Departments Share In $45K In Education Grants

SALEM, MA — North Shore fire departments will share in about $45,000 of the $1.8 million in state fire education grants for 2022.

Sen. Joan Lovely (D-Salem) said the Beverly, Danvers, Peabody, Salem and Topsfield departments were four of the 227 communities across the state to receive both Massachusetts Department of Fire Services' Student Awareness of Fire Education (SAFE) and Senior SAFE grants.

"Education is key to fire prevention and knowing how to timely and safely react if you or your
loved ones find themselves in a fire emergency is critical," Lovely said. "The SAFE and Senior SAFE programs support our most vulnerable populations, our children and seniors, and gives them the tools necessary to live safe and healthy lives.

"I am deeply grateful that our local fire departments received this funding and know that our communities are better because of it."

According to Lovely's office, Beverly is due $6,275 in SAFE funds and $3,255 om Senior SAFE funds, Danvers is due $5,175 in SAFE funds and $3,055 in Senior SAFE funds, Peabody is due $7,575 in SAFE funds and $3,455 in Senior SAFE funds, Salem is due $6,275 in SAFE funds and $3,225 in Senior SAFE funds and Topsfield is due $4,575 in SAFE funds and $2,885 in Senior SAFE funds.

The SAFE program was created in 1996 to give local fire departments the opportunity to teach fire and life safety to children in schools. Since that time, the average number of child fire deaths has dropped by 78 percent in Massachusetts, with the state's last child fire death occurring in March of 2019.

The Senior SAFE program was launched in 2004. Seniors are statistically most at risk for fire-related deaths.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)