HUNTINGTON – The Huntington Fire Department is teaming up with the Council on Aging to deliver fire safety education to seniors, thanks to a Senior SAFE grant of $2,115 announced earlier this month. 238 fire departments in the state received a Senior SAFE program grant to work with older adults on fire and life safety.
Capt. John McVeigh of the Huntington Fire Association. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Captain John McVeigh said the department will speak briefly about an upcoming home fire safety education workshop for seniors during the Huntington COA’s St. Valentine`s soup and grilled cheese luncheon on Thursday, Feb. 15 at 12 noon at Stanton Hall. The luncheon is open to all Huntington residents and is free to senior citizens and veterans. (Seating is limited and by reservation. Call 413- 512-5200 by Feb. 8 to reserve a seat.)
McVeigh said they also plan to visit seniors in their homes who sign up for the workshop, to check fire and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms to see that they are in working order, and replace them if not working or out of date. He said smoke and CO alarms have a ten-year life span. Other plans include developing fire escape routes, identifying trip hazards as well as egress hazards and more. McVeigh stressed that the fire department isn’t there to perform code enforcement, but to educate about possible existing hazards.
“We’re here to help and educate,” McVeigh said.
McVeigh said the department is working with the locally owned Rocky’s Ace Hardware stores, which is giving them “an extremely good price” on replacement and new equipment. Because of Rocky’s generosity, the Huntington Fire Department will be able to help more seniors than they could on the state grant alone, McVeigh said. John Bergeron of Hilltown Family Services will also be assisting in identifying seniors who might benefit from the service.
Captain McVeigh said Huntington FD administrative assistant Angelique Toroni has been instrumental in assisting with the Senior SAFE grant. “Angelique has been an incredible addition to the department, and is a pleasure to work with,” he said. McVeigh and Toroni are currently working on an Assistance to Fire Fighter Grant (AFFG) for a new compressor to fill SCBA air bottles and SCBA packs, through the Department of Homeland Security (formerly FEMA) totaling $200,000.
