AVALON — Borough council resolved Nov. 28 to authorize Fire Chief Edward Dean to file an application for a Fire Prevention and Safety grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), United States Fire Administration (USFA) for the town to develop a community action program to educate older residents in fire safety.
Dean, who is also borough fire inspector, told the Herald he came up with the idea while completing the annual fire inspection at the town senior center in October. He said while speaking to some of the seniors there, he recognized that some of the safety issues he was checking for mirrored those in private homes such as older appliances and electrical wiring.
He said he knew there was grant money available to provide educational services for such fire safety and prevention education and presented the idea to the borough.
Dean said the funding could be used for development of educational activities and possible inspections. He said it would most likely be used to follow a USFA program targeted at adults age 50 and over.
He said his research for the grant led him to find that hearing-impaired smoke detectors are available free of charge from the state, something he will also be looking into to correspond with the grant funded educational services he hopes to institute.
The grant application is for $35,700 and there is a five percent municipal match, required from the borough.
Dean said he hopes to hear back from FEMA and the USFA after six months, possibly late April or early May.
Dennisville – As a parent of a Tech student it would be great if the school would update their staff directory. So many old staff still listed and no new teachers listed. What gives?
