OR Deputy Fire Marshal Wins Sprinkler Advocacy Award
April 20, 2020 – The National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) Fire Sprinkler Initiative and the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC) awarded Chase Browning from the Medford (Ore.) Fire Department with the 2019 Bringing Safety Home Award.
The award recognizes fire service members and other safety advocates who use HFSC’s home fire sprinkler educational materials and Fire Sprinkler Initiative (FSI) resources to educate local officials as part of an effort to upgrade or pass new home fire sprinkler legislation.
Browning, the chair of the Oregon Fire Sprinkler Coalition, has been a champion for the lifesaving benefits of fire sprinklers for many years. He was influential in participating in HFSC’s Fire Sprinkler Developer Incentives program, working alongside several builders and developers. He has participated in the code adoption process with Oregon’s Building Codes Division (BCD), making certain that the BCD does not amend NFPA 13D, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One- and Two-Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes. While working in the HFSC pilot process for the incentives campaign, Browning continues to educate builders/developers on the financial benefits of the incentives and hopes to see more voluntary use of sprinklers.
“Deputy Fire Marshal Browning is an excellent example of the many local champions working to reduce loss from home fires by acting locally to increase the number of new homes built with sprinklers,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA vice president of Outreach and Advocacy and HFSC president. “We are extremely pleased to present this award to such an active life safety advocate.”
As part of his many advocacy efforts, Browning was instrumental in building two fire sprinkler burn trailers, one from a $10,000 Bringing Safety Home grant, and one in conjunction with the Ashland Fire Department through a FEMA grant. He promotes the use of these trailers in Oregon, conducting or being a part of many side-by-side demonstrations. The trailers continue to be deployed throughout the state.
With Browning’s support, the Oregon Fire Sprinkler Coalition has developed 11 educational presentations, which are posted on the Coalition website, and used to promote home fire sprinklers throughout the state. All are based on HFSC, NFPA, and FSI materials. He has developed personal relationships with and delivered advocacy programs to water purveyors, sprinkler contractors, home builders, developers, fire services, building officials, city managers, and many others. Browning has also started developing a home fire sprinklers best practices guide with plans to share it with others across the country.
Through Browning’s tireless efforts, the Coalition ensures that every year Oregon actively participates in Home Fire Sprinkler Week, and that the activities of the Coalition are occurring in most areas of the state. He also teaches technical sprinkler classes across the country on behalf of the National Fire Sprinkler Association.
As the Bringing Safety Home Award recipient, Browning was awarded a $1000 grant to further fire sprinkler advocacy and educational efforts in his community.
As we navigate the evolving situation with COVID-19, we remain committed to supporting you with the resources you need to minimize risk and help prevent loss, injuries, and death from fire, electrical, and other hazards.
About the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC)
For more than 20 years, HFSC has developed and provided comprehensive, non-commercial, educational materials that highlight the life safety benefits of protecting homes with fire sprinklers. HFSC’s mission is solely educational and its materials are available to everyone at no cost through HFSC’s website.
About the Fire Sprinkler Initiative
The Fire Sprinkler Initiative, a project of the National Fire Protection Association, is a nationwide effort to require the use of home fire sprinklers and the adoption of fire sprinkler requirements for new construction. Visit the Fire Sprinkler Initiative website at www.firesprinklerinitiative.org.
About the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
Founded in 1896, NFPA is a global self-funded nonprofit organization devoted to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards. The association delivers information and knowledge through more than 300 consensus codes and standards, research, training, education, outreach and advocacy; and by partnering with others who share an interest in furthering the NFPA mission. For more information, visit www.nfpa.org. All NFPA codes and standards can be viewed online for free at www.nfpa.org/freeaccess.
