The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) will team up with fire departments and other safety advocates across North America for Home Fire Sprinkler Week May 12-18.
In its seventh year, this unified effort educates about home fire dangers to civilians and responders and raises awareness about the value of installing fire sprinklers in new homes.
Home fires are a severe threat in every community. When fire sprinklers are installed, the threat is automatically diminished, preventing injuries, saving lives and preserving property. Every new home built is an opportunity for community risk reduction. But education is needed.
While homes have been the central fire challenge for decades, today this problem is intensified by the fact that home fires become deadly in just two minutes or less. New homes are most commonly built with unprotected lightweight wood construction, and designed with large, open spaces. Homes are filled with synthetic furnishings that burn hotter and faster than natural materials, producing more toxic smoke. Emerging technology, like lithium-ion batteries also cause fires to burn fast. Regardless of age, home fires burn faster than ever and become deadly more quickly.
“Every community needs the facts about home fire sprinklers. By participating in Home Fire Sprinkler Week, we are sending a powerful message locally and nationally that installing fire sprinklers in new homes will protect our residents as well as our firefighters,” said Victor Stagnaro, CEO of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.
According to HFSC:
- In a home with installed sprinklers, the sprinkler closest to the fire will automatically activate when the temperature reaches about 165F.
- The sprinkler will spray water directly on the fire, controlling flames and smoke, often putting it out. In most home fires just one sprinkler activates.
For more information about home fire sprinklers, please visit the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition website at www.homefiresprinkler.org.
