CHICOPEE — The Healey-Driscoll administration announced that more than 300 Massachusetts fire departments, including Chicopee, will receive grants to support safety equipment for firefighters and life safety education for kids and older adults.
The awards are drawn from three grant programs coordinated by the Department of Fire Services.
The Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program reimburses local fire departments for purchases of turnout gear, hazardous gas meters, SCBA components, accountability systems, thermal imaging cameras, and more.
The Student Awareness of Fire Education Grant Program funds firefighter-educators who deliver age-appropriate fire and life safety education to school-age children.
In 2014, the DFS launched the Senior SAFE Grant Program, which is geared toward another vulnerable population — older adults, who face a disproportionate risk of death or serious injury in a fire.
The Chicopee Fire Department received $8,500 from the SAFE program and $2,900 from the Senior SAFE program.
Chicopee Fire Department Captain Katie Collins-Kalbaugh said the Senior SAFE grant is primarily used to install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in homes for older adults over the age of 60 in Chicopee.
They provide smoke and carbon monoxide alarms that are compliant with the Massachusetts fire code if the home was built before 1975.
Chicopee also used the grant to purchase lock boxes that are placed outside the homes and incase of an emergency where the elder adult can’t get to the door, the Fire Department can take out a key and use it besides forcing a door or window for entry.
The grant funding is also used for providing house numbers, nightlights and other safety equipment.
Collins-Kalbaugh said, “We also provide educational programs throughout Chicopee. We do several presentations at the Senior Center, the River Mills [Assisted Living] in Chicopee throughout the year. We also hold presentations at places like 55 and up community housing, condominium complexes and other housing.”
The SAFE grant funding is used for Chicopee school students, both in public and private schools.
Collins-Kalbaugh explained the department goes out and does a variety of different safety programs throughout the school system with the target audience being first grade.
“We like to teach things like community helper, the firefighter is your friend, calling 9-1-1, what is an emergency and then we also see as many other programs as we can upon request,” she said.
Collins-Kalbaugh said both grants are beneficial because without them, they would not be able to provide any of the assistance and presentations.
“Without this funding we wouldn’t be able to conduct all the education programs that we do. I am a strong advocate for working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, those truly do save lives. Providing these free lifesaving devices for our communities is vital,” Collins-Kalbaugh stated. Teaching the students how to respond when the smoke and carbon monoxide alarm is also key because data shows that people have approximately three minutes from when the alarm activates to exit your home during a fire, according to Collins-Kalbaugh.
