NORTH READING — October is Fire Prevention Month and the North Reading Fire Department is hosting its annual Open House for the public at fire headquarters, 152 Park St.
Come down and meet your local firefighters, EMTs and paramedics this Sunday, October 19 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visitors can check out the department’s fire apparatus, tour the Fire Station, see the latest in firefighting equipment, watch live demonstrations, and participate in kids’ activities.
Light refreshments will be provided along with plenty of fun and valuable information on fire safety for all ages! The firefighters look forward to meeting you!
The U.S. Fire Administration, under FEMA, provides extensive fire safety and prevention tips on its website, including information geared for children. Go to: https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/home-fires/at-risk-audiences/children for more information.
NRFD numbers in a nutshell:
In calendar year 2024, the North Reading Fire Department responded to 1,669 Emergency Medical Service (EMS)/Rescue calls, 495 service calls, 305 good intent calls and fought 78 fires, according to the daily fire log statistics maintained by the department.
Department awarded
FEMA equipment grant
Earlier this month, Fire Chief Don Stats announced that the department had received $375,525 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant program, which will be used to replace the department’s aging self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).
SCBA are a critically important part of a firefighter’s safety gear, and replacing this equipment will have a significant impact on firefighter safety and health.
“This grant will enable us to make a major leap forward in firefighter health and safety by replacing critical pieces of our safety equipment,” said Chief Stats. “I want to thank FEMA for these grant funds. This will make a major impact on our department and our firefighters.”
The grant award to North Reading Fire comes as part of a grant request submitted jointly by the North Reading, Newburyport and Topsfield Fire Departments. The total grant award is $781,818, with Newburyport and Topsfield splitting the balance of the funds.
Assistance to Firefighters Grants are allocated by FEMA to fire departments nationally to fund and aid the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and non-affiliated emergency medical service organizations. These federal grants help firefighters and other first responders obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources necessary for protecting the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.