Augusta Fire/EMA awarded new $20,000 grant as dual effort with Southeastern Firefighters Burn Foundation

Feb. 16--A new grant awarded to Augusta Fire/EMA is geared to help educate the public about fire safety and provide smoke detectors for residents in need.

The department received the Hartford Insurance Grant after a study from the Junior Fire Marshal Program, which owns the grant, identified Augusta as number 10 of 100 cities in the U.S. most at risk of a home fire.

Michael Meyers, a public information with Augusta Fire/EMA, said the $20,000 grant -- facilitated as a dual effort with the Southeastern Firefighters Burn Foundation -- will help fund continued efforts to purchase new carbon monoxide and smoke detectors to give free to residents who can't afford them.

More than 120 detectors are expected to be distributed on a first-come first-serve basis.

"This will be good for helping our seniors, those with disabilities or people who can't afford to buy them," Meyers said Wednesday.

The grant will also support programs created for Richmond County schools to educate children about fire safety.

"It gives us the opportunity to do basic training for kids (that) can range from handouts to practical equipment that they can use to practice fire safety," Meyers said. "We could possibly even buy a fire extinguisher to help train kids how to use them."

The Hartford Insurance Grant is one of three grants awarded to the department since the beginning of the year to assist with similar efforts to educate the public.

The department received a check from Walmart, used to purchase new equipment for the department, and a gift card from Publix to fund Augusta Fire/EMA community events.

"I am excited that this gives us another avenue to help in our community," Meyers said. "We received this grant, and we're seeking other grants to purchase vehicles and (other equipment) because we want to be in front of what's coming."

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