Acton Fire Department Receives $11,400 to Fund Fire Education Programs

ACTON — The Acton Fire Department has been awarded a total of $11,400 through state grant funding, which will be used to provide fire safety lessons and resources to both students and seniors this year.

Acton Fire will receive an $8,000 grant to fund the SAFE program, which teaches fire and life safety to school children through educational lessons that increase in complexity with each grade level. Since the SAFE program began in 1996, child fire deaths have dropped significantly in Massachusetts according to the Department of Fire Services.

Through the program, Acton Fire will provide age-appropriate fire safety education to students in Grades 2, 4, 8 and 12. Grade 2 students will learn about calling 9-1-1, fire and emergency exit drills, and the “Stay Low and Go” safety technique. Grade 4 lessons will cover calling 9-1-1, home escape planning and identifying two ways out, and kitchen safety.

Grade 8 students will focus on kitchen safety, heating safety, and burn safety and prevention. Grade 12 students will receive lessons on outdoor safety, summer safety and emergency preparedness planning.

An additional $3,400 grant will support Senior SAFE, a similar program that aims to reduce fire-related deaths among senior residents. Fire and life safety programs are shared at senior centers, councils on aging, and through home visits. Lessons and services will focus on smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, fall prevention, home hazards and kitchen safety.

Acton Fire will use the grant funding to supply equipment, workbooks, training and wages for the SAFE program, as well as equipment, smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, training and wages for the Senior SAFE program.

“Thanks to this grant funding, our department can continue delivering critical fire and life safety education to both our youngest residents and our seniors,” said Chief Anita Arnum. “Programs like SAFE and Senior SAFE give people the knowledge and tools they need to prevent emergencies before they happen, and to stay safe if they do. We’re grateful for the Commonwealth’s support in helping us protect our community at every stage of life.”

To learn more about the SAFE program, click here.

To learn more about the Senior SAFE program, click here.

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