Taylor Fire Department awarded federal fire prevention grant

The City of Taylor Department of Fire and EMS has been awarded a U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Assistance to Firefighters – Fire Prevention Grant.

The sum of money contributed to fire prevention in Taylor will be $20,459 with a Federal share of $16,367 and a local share of $4,902 making up the 80/20 required split.

The goal of this project is to reduce the risk, occurrence and desire of Taylor’s youth to engage in fire-setting behavior, which happens to be a leading cause of fire in Taylor.

Captain Fire Inspector Jesse Kriebel said Taylor’s fire-prevention education programs have and will continue to strive for success within the framework of Michigan’s economy. He said the federal grant money will enhance existing programs and provide funding for expanding public fire education with new and innovative programs.

Many events and prevention projects will now be taking place due to the Fire Prevention Grant. Prevention Projects include:

• Monthly pre-kindergarten through third-grade fire safety lessons delivered in Taylor School District classrooms by Kriebel, also known as “Firefighter Jesse.” Lessons will include worksheets and lesson reinforcement materials funded by the grant.
• Fourth-grade visits to the Fire S.A.F.E. House (Smoke House) at the Ecorse Road fire station, with parents encouraged to attend.
• Juvenile fire-setter intervention programs targeting fifth-grade, sixth-grade and junior high school students.
• Broadcast of the children’s fire-prevention education series “Rainbow Valley Fire Department” on local public access television channels.
• Broadcast of juvenile fire-setter prevention videos on the local public access television channels.
• Youth fire-setter intervention programs are available free of charge to concerned parents and caregivers. Please call (734) 374-1357 for more information.
• Arson prevention poster contests in partnership with the Michigan Arson Prevention Committee (www.miarsonprevention.org).
• Hero Camp, which is a day camp-type program that is designed to promote the value of safe behaviors and choices to young residents ages 7 to 14. The Taylor Fire Department will offer three sessions in the summer of 2010 free of charge to Taylor residents. Each session will be limited to 20 children. Watch for details in the spring.
• “School’s Out, Safety’s In,” an open house event in June 2010 at Taylor’s Midtown Fire Station, located at 23345 Goddard Road. The program will coincide with the Taylor School District summer recess.

Fire Chief Vince Fedel praised Kriebel for obtaining the grant.

“Thanks for Fire Inspector Kriebel’s efforts in writing this grand, the Taylor Fire Department will be able to enhance the presentation that he has been providing to the Taylor School District,” Chief Fedel said.

For more information on how to prevent a fire emergency in your home, please contact Captain Fire Inspector Jesse Kriebel at (734) 374-1357 or at jkriebel@ci.taylor.mi.us.