FAIRFIELD, CT - On Monday, November 9, the Fairfield Fire Department received a $2,265 fire prevention grant from FM Global, one of the world’s largest commercial property insurers.
FM Global representative Ted Pisciotta presented the award to Fairfield Fire Chief Denis McCarthy, Deputy Chief Kyran Dunn, Fire Marshal Bill Kessler and Lieutenant Phil Higgins, who wrote the original grant application, at Fairfield Fire Headquarters located at 140 Reef Road. The award will be used to assist with fire investigations and help fire investigators more efficiently investigate and determine the cause of a fire through the purchase of portable scene lighting and a printer for onsite reporting.
Chief McCarthy noted, “This grant will help the Department improve our efficiency and effectiveness in Fire Prevention and Investigations. Lt. Higgins is commended for his vision in seeking grant opportunities to advance the mission of the Department. Fire Marshal Kessler is also recognized for his commitment to improving the resources available to the Fire Prevention Bureau in its quest to reduce fires and their impact. We are grateful for the leadership FM Global has shown in assisting local fire departments in meeting these goals.”
“At FM Global, we strongly believe the majority of property damage is preventable, not inevitable,” said Michael Spaziani, manager of the fire prevention grant program. “Far too often, inadequate budgets prevent those organizations working to prevent fire from being as proactive as they would like to be. With additional financial support, grant recipients are actively helping to improve property risk in the communities they serve.”
Through its Fire Prevention Grant Program, FM Global awards grants quarterly to fire departments—as well as national, state, regional, local and community organizations worldwide—that best demonstrate a need for funding, where dollars can have the most demonstrable impact on preventing fire, or mitigating the damage it can quickly cause.