BFC Awarded Stipend from the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition

The Berwyn Fire Company was awarded a $1,500 stipend from the national nonprofit Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC) to increase its home fire sprinkler education outreach to local students by establishing a brief education program with Conestoga High School (Tredyffrin-Easttown School District) located in Tredyffrin Township. The program will culminate with a live, side-by-side fire and sprinkler demonstration for the purpose of educating the local community as well.

With funding through a Fire Prevention and Safety Grant awarded by the Grant Programs Directorate of FEMA, HFSC selected 15 fire departments nationwide that participate in the “Built for Life Fire Department” program to receive the stipend. “Built for Life Fire Departments” commit to making home fire sprinklers a focus of their educational efforts.

“We are privileged to receive this generous stipend,” says Fire Chief Matthew Norris. “With the help of HFSC’s educational material, this partnership with Conestoga High School will teach the students about the lifesaving benefits of fire sprinklers and the unique selling advantage and competitive edge fire sprinklers provide in new homes they might design or build in the future.”

Upon completion of the home fire sprinkler education program, students will be recognized by the fire company and awarded with “Built For Life” certificates.

“In addition to the education program at the school, this opportunity also allows us to move forward with an important public education demonstration that illustrates the danger of home fires and the effectiveness of home fire sprinklers,” adds Assistant Chief Eamon Brazunas.

The live demonstration will include two similarly furnished rooms — one protected with fire sprinklers and the other without protection — built by the students from Conestoga High School as part of their education program. Community members attending the demonstration will be able to experience firsthand how quickly a fire can become deadly versus the quick response of a home fire sprinkler to control the fire.

The demonstration is scheduled for Saturday, October 19th at the Berwyn Fire Company Open House and Fire Prevention event that runs from 3 – 5 p.m.

For more information about home fire sprinklers, please visit the Berwyn Fire Company website at www.berwynfireco.org or the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition website at www.homefiresprinkler.org.