May 19, 2022 – The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Fire Sprinkler Initiative and the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC) have awarded Michael Wos with the 2022 Bringing Safety Home Award. Wos is the executive director of the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin Charitable Foundation.
This award recognizes outstanding efforts by a safety advocate who diligently promotes the importance of home fire sprinklers. It honors members of the fire service and other fire sprinkler advocates in North America who use HFSC educational material, NFPA data, and Fire Sprinkler Initiative resources to educate decision-makers about the importance of home fire sprinklers.
Wos, who is also a firefighter/paramedic with the City of Oshkosh, chairs the Wisconsin Fire Sprinkler Coalition and has been a champion for the lifesaving benefits of fire sprinklers for many years. He was nominated by City of Madison Fire Department Fire Marshal Ed Ruckriegel, also an active member of the Coalition. Specifically, Wos is recognized for his efforts educating state agencies responsible for the development of building codes and increasing agency personnel interest in learning more about fire sprinklers.
“Mike’s varied public educational efforts and his work with coalition partners demonstrates his commitment to making new homes safer from fire,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA Vice President of Outreach and Advocacy and HFSC president. “There are so many stakeholders who aren’t aware of the role home fire sprinklers play in saving lives.”
Wos has steered the Wisconsin Fire Sprinkler Coalition through educational and legislative activities in many communities. Among his advocacy work, he has included home fire sprinkler information in the Newspapers in Education program every year, reaching more than 500,000 readers, including students in 2,000 schools. He worked with coalition partners to build a 700-square foot educational structure with installed home fire sprinklers at the Metropolitan Builders Association Home Show. Wos has conducted live fire sprinkler demonstrations at the State Capitol and at Madison’s Brat Fest, which is attended by more than 150,000 people.
“Wos works hard to keep the Coalition active,” Carli added. “Home fire sprinkler advocacy work is challenging but Mike remains undaunted by this. His determination ensures that Wisconsin will ultimately have safer communities.”
As the Bringing Safety Home Award recipient, Wos was awarded a $1000 grant to further fire sprinkler advocacy and educational efforts throughout Wisconsin.
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About the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC) For 26 years, HFSC has developed and provided comprehensive, non-commercial, educational resources 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: www.homefiresprinkler.org.
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 use 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.
