Grant allows continuation of fire safety programs

Feb 20, 2018

Dartmouth Fire District No. 3 has received two separate grants to continue its fire safety and prevention programs.

The grants will fund the department's Student Awareness of Fire Education program, and, for the second year, its Senior S.A.F.E. program. District 3 was one of 253 fire departments to receive the S.A.F.E. program grant and one of 238 to receive the Senior S.A.F.E. award.

According to Chief Richard Arruda, this is the second time the department have received the grant for the Senior S.A.F.E. program and the eighth or ninth year for their regular S.A.F.E.program.

The S.A.F.E. grant allows the fire department to visit schools and teach children from preschool to fifth grade about fire safety. Arruda said the students really enjoy the event.

“The younger children, it’s a great day for them,” Arruda said. “They get to meet the firefighters and be informed. It’s a really great program.”

According to the press release, the number of child deaths from fires has dropped 72 percent since the S.A.F.E. program was implemented. District No. 3's S.A.F.E. program received a grant of $2,963, and the money will be used to implement the same outreach as past years.

Arruda also noted that the Senior S.A.F.E. program is also doing well.

“We get letters time to time and it’s good to see the firefighters outside of emergency response getting to do other things,” he said.

The Senior S.A.F.E. program started about two years ago. The $1,779 award goes toward smoke detector and street address sign programs. The smoke detector program allows for firefighters to go into homes and check people’s smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace them if needed. Everything is free of cost as well.

Gov. Charlie Baker said these outreach programs are what create fire safety informed residents in the state.

“The S.A.F.E. Program has played an important role in educating the next generation of fire safe children for 23 years,” said Baker. “The program is a great example of state and local governments collaborating alongside teachers to improve the lives of young people.”

Money for the S.A.F.E. programs comes from the Executive Office of the Public Safety and Security. Senior S.A.F.E. programs get their money from fees paid by tobacco companies to the Fire Standard Compliant Cigarette Program, which ensure those products meet specific safety requirements.