Hopkins Fire Department Receives $30,000 Fire Prevention Grant

has been awarded a highly competitive Assistance to Firefighters Fire Prevention and Safety Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Department of Homeland Security. The $30,000 grant will fund a home fire safety inspection and smoke detector program. The grant will allow Hopkins residents, both home owners and renters, to request a home inspection which allows firefighters to come into their household and perform a safety inspection to help identify household fire hazards and replace smoke detectors.  In addition, the program will allow firefighters to perform fall prevention checklists for senior citizen residents of Hopkins.                 

Hopkins Fire Department Grant Coordinator and Firefighter Jon Pritchard states this program is vital to the fire safety of residents in Hopkins: “we [Hopkins Fire Department] have witnessed some home fire safety issues over the past few years which resulted in some significant fire losses and even more close calls such as non-working smoke detectors or careless cooking.” Pritchard goes on to say “this home fire safety inspection program will allow us to educate and help households mitigate potential fire and household safety issues. According to Pritchard, the home fire safety program has been a program that the fire department has eyed for awhile but budget shortfalls in lieu of the poor economy have prevented the fire department from performing the inspection program. Pritchard states: “without this grant, we would not be able to conduct these fire safety inspections which will help save lives and prevent fire losses in Hopkins.”

If you are interested in having a home inspection please contact the Hopkins Fire Department to set up an appointment.

For further information please contact:

Fire Inspector Jon Pritchard

Tel. 952-548-6465