Pittsfield- State Senator Benjamin B. Downing (D-Pittsfield) today announces that the Student Awareness of Fire Education (S.A.F.E) program, administered through the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security has awarded a total of $31,350 to nine local fire departments for school-based programming to educate students about the dangers of smoking-related materials.

“Making our children aware of the fire and health risks associated with smoking-related materials at a young age can greatly reduce the number of fires involving young people,” stated Downing.  “With the help of S.A.F.E., we give our children every advantage of understanding the dangers of fire and provide information that can save lives.”

S.A.F.E. is a grant program that sponsors trained firefighter-educators visits to classrooms across the Commonwealth to conduct fire and life safety education programs in grades Pre-K through 12.  In these programs, students learn to recognize the dangers of fire, with a particular emphasis on dangers posed by smoking-related behaviors.  Through the S.A.F.E. program, firefighters are trained as public educators and work in close coordination with classroom teachers and health educators to present age-appropriate fire safety lessons including Stop, Drop, and Roll; Making and Practicing Home Escape Plans; Reporting Fires and Emergencies. 

Since 1996, S.A.F.E. has been raising fire hazard awareness and has identified more than 200 “young heroes,” children who have used the fire safety lessons learned in the classroom during a real life emergency.

List of 2008 S.A.F.E. awards granted in the Berkshire, Hampshire & Franklin Senate District:

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