HFSC Gets Grant for Fire Sprinker Ed. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security awarded the nonprofit Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition a grant award through the Fire Prevention and Safety Grants program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Preparedness Directorate. HFSC will use the award to expand local support of home fire sprinkler installations.

"This vital federal funding comes at a pivotal time," says HFSC Chair Gary Keith. "Our nation is at an important crossroads with regard to residential fire sprinkler protection. To ensure progress, HFSC must step forward now and reach new target audiences with the facts. This grant award makes it possible for HFSC to advance the cause, building on growing national momentum."

HFSC will help fire departments establish and implement sprinkler education efforts locally, particularly through outreach to key decision-makers, such as local planning officials and water purveyors. This audience is crucial. HFSC says it and other safety organizations continuously battle the problem of misinformation.

As part of the grant award framework, HFSC will unveil new materials designed to educate and persuade about the life-saving benefits of installing home fire sprinkler systems, including translating the consumer education material into Spanish. HFSC will continue its outreach to the older adult housing market (people age 50 plus), students in Kindergarten through grade 8, real estate and home insurance professionals, and the broad home-building industry.

"Since we began our work a decade ago, HFSC has had a powerful and effective partnership with the fire service," Keith said. "That remains a top priority for us and providing valuable turn-key educational tools to the fire service at no cost to them will remain our priority indefinitely."