A Vancouver agency recently received a grant from the federal government.
The Vancouver Fire Marshal's Office received the funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The grant is in the amount of $224,446, and is considered a Fire Prevention and Safety grant. The money will be used to support the Project Home Safe campaign, an effort by the Fire Marshal to use outreach and life and fire safety education to reduce the severity and frequency of residential fires. This is the fourth time FEMA has given a grant to the Vancouver Fire Marshal's Office since 2012, thanks to its work in supporting life and fire safety, and reducing risk in the community.
Heidi Scarpelli, the Vancouver Fire Marshal, said Project Home Safe couples proven education in fire safety measures – such as installing smoke alarms, free surveys of the home, and fire escape planning – with strategies focused on stopping fires before they start. Vancouver started the project in 2015, with volunteers from the Fire Corps, as well as the city's deputy fire marshals visiting people's homes, showing residents how to reduce the risk of fire. The program reaches 1,700 homes annually, on average.
The Fire Prevention and Safety grants awarded by FEMA go to support projects that protect both the public and firefighters from fires and the hazards associated with them. Flyer printing could be used to disseminate information like this to residents.
