Bringing Safety Home Award Recipients Announced

May 29, 2024 – The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Fire Sprinkler Initiative and the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC) have awarded the U.S. and Canadian Bringing Safety Home awards to Chief David Pendleton, Saco (Maine) Fire Department and Chief Ryan Schell, Central York Fire Service.

This award honors fire safety advocates in North America who diligently promote the importance of home fire sprinklers and use HFSC educational material, NFPA data, and Fire Sprinkler Initiative resources to educate decision-makers about the importance of home fire sprinklers.

Pendleton was nominated by the Massachusetts Sprinkler Coalition because of his strong advocacy and efforts to educate the public and elected officials about home fire sprinklers. He successfully countered misinformation with facts about the economic benefits to the community. His efforts resulted in the Town Council voting in favor of protecting all new one- and two-family homes in Saco with fire sprinklers. 

Schell was nominated by Scott Pugsley, Seneca Polytechnic School of Fire Protection. He is the first Canadian recipient of the award. He was selected because he organized educational events, advocated for sprinkler inclusion in building permit applications, built partnerships and conducted public demonstrations. His efforts increased awareness, debunked myths, and ultimately led protecting an entire subdivision within his jurisdiction with home fire sprinklers.

“Both Chief Pendleton and Chief Schell were faced with challenges where their commitment to educate and advocate led to protecting new homes with fire sprinklers,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA Vice President of Outreach and Advocacy and HFSC president. “Thanks to their effort, citizens and firefighters will be better protected.”

As Bringing Safety Home Award recipients, Pendleton and Schell will each receive a $1000 stipend to further fire sprinkler advocacy and educational efforts. 

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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.