(STOW 6/17/2024) — The Healey-Driscoll Administration has announced the 214 awardees of the Student Awareness of Fire Education (S.A.F.E.) and Senior SAFE Programs FY24 grant program. These programs promote fire and life safety education for children and older adults who are most vulnerable to burns, injury, and death from fire and related hazards.

“Keeping the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable populations safe is critically important, and funding programs like these are an excellent way to raise awareness about what to do in case of a fire,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “I’m pleased to hear that Auburn, Grafton, Shrewsbury, Westborough, and Worcester are among the cities and towns receiving funding for their SAFE programs. I’d like to thank my colleagues for their commitment to funding vital programs like this, as well as the fire departments across the Commonwealth for their diligent work in keeping their communities safe.”

In FY24, 214 municipal fire departments will split $1,138,565.58 in SAFE funding and/or $492,179.29 in Senior SAFE funding. Another 12 departments will share funding for regional SAFE and/or Senior SAFE programs.

The grants awarded to towns within the Second Worcester District can be found below:

Town of Auburn

S.A.F.E Grant: $5,698.84

Senior SAFE Grant: $2,396.61

Town of Grafton

S.A.F.E Grant: $5,699.62

Senior SAFE Grant: $2,399.60

Town of Shrewsbury

S.A.F.E Grant: $7,200

Senior SAFE Grant: $2,600

Town of Westborough

S.A.F.E Grant: $5,700

Senior SAFE Grant: $2,400

City of Worcester

S.A.F.E Grant: $10,200

Senior SAFE Grant: $3,099.71

The S.A.F.E. program was first funded in 1996 and has since correlated with a decline of about 80% in Massachusetts child fire fatalities and the longest period without a child fire death in the history of the Commonwealth. The Senior SAFE program was launched in FY14 to provide Massachusetts’ seniors with the knowledge and tools to live safely.

The S.A.F.E. and Senior SAFE programs are funded through legislative earmarks to the Executive Office of the Public Safety & Security, and they are administered by the Department of Fire Services. For more fire service grant opportunities, visit https://www.mass.gov/info-details/grants-for-fire-departments.

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