SHREWSBURY — Chief James Vuona and the Shrewsbury Fire Department are pleased to share that a Shrewsbury firefighter was named as one of the state’s top Fire and Life Safety Educators of the year by the Department of Fire Services.
Firefighter Brendan Palumbo was named runner-up at the Massachusetts Public Education Conference on Fire and Life Safety, which took place Sept. 22 to 23 at the Cape Codder Resort and Spa in Hyannis.
Firefighter Palumbo was recognized for his work in creating a home fire escape video during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the pandemic, Shrewsbury firefighters were unable to visit schools to teach children about fire safety, but with the help of his daughters and wife, Firefighter Palumbo created a safety video for children in the community. The video was shared via social media and also by local media outlets in the Worcester County area.
“One of the things I enjoy most about the fire service is getting out there into the community, especially in the schools, teaching young people how to stay safe. The COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to our usual in-person teaching programs, but thankfully we all have cameras on our phones, and I have some good volunteers in my own family to help me,” Firefighter Palumbo said. “It is an honor to be nominated and named runner-up for Fire and Life Safety Educator of the Year, and I pledge to continue to spread the word about safety in our homes, schools and community.”
To view the video, please click here.
“Despite the challenges of COVID-19 and remote learning, Firefighter Palumbo was able to find an innovative way to connect with young people and share his knowledge of fire safety,” said Chief Vuona. “I commend him on his efforts and am glad to see him receive recognition for his good work.”
The Massachusetts Fire & Life Safety Education Conference is held annually by the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services. Its goal is to gather fire educators, teachers, adult care specialists, police officers, healthcare providers and others to build partnerships and share potentially lifesaving knowledge.
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