IPSWICH — The Ipswich Fire Department has been awarded $7,430 in grant funding to support fire safety and education programs.
The grant from the state Massachusetts Department of Fire Services will support fire prevention and education programs in schools and within Ipswich’s senior community. The Student Awareness of Fire Education (S.A.F.E) program was awarded $4,575, while the Senior S.A.F.E program received $2,855.
The funding gives fire departments the opportunity to work directly with students and senior citizens to educate them about fire safety. The safety lessons range from fire and life-safety presentations, and what to do if a fire alarm goes off. Each program is tailored to the common issues of each age group including general fire prevention reminders and safe practices in the home.
“I wish to thank State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey and the Baker administration for this funding,” stated Chief Paul Parisi. “We are privileged to work with the Ipswich School System as well as the Ipswich Council on Aging to bring this important fire and life safety educational curriculum to our residents. Lt. Kendall Buhl, our SAFE officer, does an amazing job delivering these programs to the community.”
The lessons taught in the school-based program are in line with the standards of both the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Health Curriculum Frameworks and the state Department of Fire Services Curriculum Planning Guidebook.
Twenty-six years after the introduction of the S.A.F.E program within schools, the rate of annual child fire deaths have decreased by 78%, according to the state’s Department of Fire Services, which created and runs the program.
