For Immediate Release

Friday, Feb. 17, 2016

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-690-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Photos: Bedford Fire Department and State Fire Marshal Honor Local Young Hero

BEDFORD — Chief David Grunes is pleased to announce that the Bedford Fire Department and State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey honored a 9-year-old resident as a “Young Hero” from the Student Awareness of Fire Education (S.A.F.E.) Program today.

Jacoby Garber received the “Young Hero” award during a school assembly at the Lt. Job Lane Elementary School, 66 Sweetwater Ave., on Friday, Feb. 17.

State Fire Marshal Ostroskey, Bedford Police Lt. James Graham, Bedford Firefighter Nick Anderson and Principal Rob Ackerman joined Chief Grunes in honoring Jacoby for his quick thinking after he used fire safety skills to evacuate his family from their home during a house fire in December.

On Friday, December 23, 2016 at approximately 9:20 p.m., Jacoby was at his house, 2 Pond Circle, playing a game with his father in the family room, which is above the home’s garage, when the smoke alarms began to sound. (Click here for video of the house fire).

Jacoby and his father walked downstairs and saw smoke and fire in the garage. While his father investigated, Jacoby recalled information he learned two months earlier when Firefighter Anderson came to talk to his class about fire safety as part of the S.A.F.E. program. Jacoby dialed 911 and clearly and calmly stated his name, address and described the problem to the dispatcher, just as he was taught by Firefighter Anderson.

“We are all so proud of Jacoby for remembering what he learned from Firefighter Anderson during the S.A.F.E. program,” Chief Grunes said. “This is a perfect example of why fire prevention education is so important, especially for our children.”

Upon arrival to the home, firefighters were able to quickly extinguish a fire in the attached garage. Heat damage was contained to the garage and the remainder of the home sustained some smoke damage. No injuries were reported.

As part of the presentation on Friday, Firefighter Anderson played a recording of Jacoby’s 911 call. To download, click here.

Since the S.A.F.E. program began in 1995, there have been 340 documented “Young Heroes” who have put into practice the fire and life safety lessons they learned in the classroom during a real life emergency to save themselves or others.

“Since the S.A.F.E. Program started, the average number of children who die in Massachusetts fires each year has dropped 72 percent,” said State Fire Marshal Ostroskey. “We are so proud of the partnerships between teachers, firefighters and families to raise a fire safe generation of children through this program.”

About the Student Awareness of Fire Education Program

The Student Awareness of Fire Education (S.A.F.E.) is a grant program to local fire departments that teams trained firefighter-educators with classroom teachers to conduct fire safety education in grades Pre-kindergarten through 12. The primary mission of S.A.F.E. is to teach children key behaviors so they can prevent fires, survive those that do occur and respond correctly to emergencies. S.A.F.E. trains firefighters to deliver age-appropriate fire and life safety lessons in close coordination with classroom teachers and health educators. It is managed by the state Department of Fire Services.

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