MASSENA — The Massena Permanent Fire Fighters, IAFF Local 2220 were awarded a $500 stipend from the national nonprofit Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC) and State Farm to increase awareness about the dangers of home fires and the life-saving benefits of home fire sprinklers.

This stipend, along with awarded sprinkler components, will allow the MPFF to build a life size and functioning fire sprinkler prop. This prop will allow us to show the benefits of fire sprinkler systems in homes and in commercial businesses. The prop will also allow members of the fire department to train on and become more familiar with fire sprinkler systems and how they work.

The Massena Permanent Fire Fighters will have the fire sprinkler prop available on display at the fire station and code office located at 34 Andrews Street during Home Fire Sprinkler Week along with literature about fire sprinkler systems. For those interested in installing a system in their home or for those curious about how the systems work in commercial businesses – feel free to stop down and see.

With the NFPA Fire Sprinkler Initiative, HFSC co-sponsors Home Fire Sprinkler Week, an educational program carried out annually in the U.S. and Canada. The Week unites the fire service in the effort to increase awareness of home fire dangers to civilians and responders and facts about installing fire sprinklers in new homes.

“Every community needs the facts about fire sprinklers, including Massena. We are honored to have been selected for this generous stipend,” said Tyler Mulvenna, Secretary of MPFF Local 2220. “Using the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition’s educational materials, we will raise awareness of how quickly a home fire can become deadly and the life-saving impact of installing home and business fire sprinklers.”

According to HFSC:

• Without sprinklers, today’s home fires become deadly in as little as two minutes.

• These fires put residents and firefighters at risk from toxic smoke, heat and flames.

• With sprinklers, in a home fire the sprinkler closest to the fire will activate when the temperature reaches about 165F.

• The sprinkler will spray water directly on the fire, controlling or putting it out. In most home fires just one sprinkler activates.

For more information about home fire sprinklers, visit www.homefiresprinkler.org