3, 2, 1… Middleborough Fire Department Launches New Fire Life Safety Audit Initiative Program

MIDDLEBOROUGH — Chief Owen Thompson is proud to announce that the Middleborough Fire Department is launching a new community Fire Life Safety Audit Initiative (MFLSA) to provide education, safety training, and equipment, including new smoke/carbon monoxide alarms, at no cost to keep residents safe.

This program is fully funded through a two-year Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Fire Prevention and Safety grant award.

Early detection from a smoke/carbon monoxide alarm, the most important device in your home, can mean the difference between life and death. Today’s fires burn hotter and faster than ever due to the prevalence of more synthetic materials used in homes. Fires can make the environment in your home untenable in only 3 minutes. This means early detection is the first step in allowing your family to Get Out and Stay Out, keeping them safe.

Preventable injuries or fatalities in homes with non-working or missing smoke/carbon monoxide alarms are on the rise. MFLSA aims to change the statistics to zero fire injuries or fatalities by educating Middleborough residents and providing new technology, multi-criteria, nuisance-reduced smoke alarms, and carbon monoxide alarms, free of charge.

The new program will allow residents to schedule an appointment with Middleborough Fire’s dedicated fire safety team to visit their homes, evaluate their alarms, and replace them as needed at no cost. The team will also review a fire safety checklist and educate residents on ways to mitigate certain home risks.

The Middleborough Fire Department received a $226,088 ​FEMA Fire Prevention and Safety Grant and a municipal match of $22,608 in 2024 to fund the development and implementation of this new Community Fire Risk Reduction/Prevention Program over a two-year period.

Residents can schedule their free fire life safety audit on the Middleborough Fire Department website.

“We are thrilled to launch the Middleborough Fire Department Fire Life Safety Audit Initiative,” Chief Thompson said. “This new program, made possible through a federal grant, is a critical step in strengthening the safety of our community. Through awareness and education, we can make Middleborough a safer place for everyone.”

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