The South Haven Fire Department was presented with a $2500.00 fire prevention grant from FM Global, one of the world’s largest commercial property insurers.
Lt. Austin Haynes, Fire Investigator at South Haven Fire Department wrote and submitted the grant application in an effort to raise money for his department’s Fire Prevention Program.
“We visit many local area schools, churches and organizations to raise awareness and teach kids about fire prevention”, states Victoria Kalmar, President. Fire department staff and volunteers distribute pamphlets, coloring books, and fold-up cardboard replicas of the department’s coolest fire truck #2710. “We role play with the kids and have them practice dialing 911 with us and teach them about stop-drop-and roll. We also send them home with activities to reinforce what we’ve taught them”.
Altogether, program costs run approximately $5000 annually for the department. “Our prevention program keeps growing every year, and we’ll never say no to any group who invites us to come and talk to them about fire safety” states Haynes. This grant will help us to purchase needed handouts as well as a new camera for investigations. The more we learn through an investigation the more information we can share with others for better knowledge on how to prevent a fire from happening in the first place”.
The fire department is halfway to their fundraising goal and accepts donations year-round from local businesses and their community. If you would like to help, you can send your tax-deductible donation to:
South Haven Fire Department
402 W. 700 N.
Valparaiso, IN 46385
To learn more about the South Haven Fire Department’s programs visit www.southhavenfire.com. To learn more about FM Global’s grant program visit www.fmglobal.com/grants.