BOSTON – Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, today announced that thirteen towns across the Worcester & Norfolk district will receive grant funds for the Student Awareness of Fire Education (S.A.F.E.) Program, totaling $63,125.

The Student Awareness of Fire Education (S.A.F.E.) Program is a state-wide initiative that provides resources to local fire departments to conduct fire and life safety education programs in grades K-12. The mission of the program is to enable students to recognize the dangers of fire, and, more specifically, the fire hazards that tobacco products pose.

“For 18 years, the S.A.F.E. Program has effectively reduced child fire deaths while promoting fire safety and prevention,” said Sen. Moore. “We are now raising a generation of kids that are not only aware of the risks associated with fire but prepared to take action when necessary.”

Local recipients awarded grants include:

Town                Grant Amount

Bellingham        $5,225

Blackstone        $4,625

Douglas            $4,625

Dudley              $4,625

Hopedale          $4,625

Mendon            $4,625

Milford              $5,225

Northbridge       $5,225

Oxford              $4,625

Southbridge      $5,225

Sutton              $4,625

Uxbridge           $4,625

Webster            $5,225

TOTAL              $63,125

Since the start of the S.A.F.E. Program, the Department of Fire Services has named 259 “Young Heroes” – children who put into practice the fire and life safety lessons they learned in the classroom during a real life emergency to save themselves or others. Many families claim they are alive today because their youngsters forced them to install smoke alarms and practice a home escape plan, reported an emergency, or persuaded a grandmother to “stop, drop, and roll.”

Of those “Young Heroes,” eleven lived in towns located in the Worcester & Norfolk district including Bellingham, Blackstone, Douglas, Milford, Oxford, Southbridge and Uxbridge.

“These kids are the face of the S.A.F.E. program. They represent those brave and resourceful students who take the information they’ve learned and put it into action in a meaningful way,” continued Sen. Moore. “I applaud each and every fire safety personnel who have dedicated their time, energy and passion to teaching and empowering these students.”

Since the creation of the S.A.F.E. program in 1996, the average number of annual fire deaths of children under the age of 18 has plummeted by 70%. From 1996 to 2011, the average number of child fire deaths was 5.5 per year. During the 14 years prior to that, the average number of child fire deaths was 18 per year.

To learn more about the S.A.F.E. Program, visit www.mass.gov and search for “S.A.F.E. Program.”

For more information about Sen. Moore and his public safety efforts, visit www.senatormoore.com, or follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/senatormoore.