?In response to a national survey that states only six percent of U.S. fire departments reported having a local home fire sprinkler educational effort, the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition has developed a new education program for fire departments.

The disappointing findings were captured in the Fire and Life Safety Education Survey of U.S. Fire Chiefs, conducted by Johns Hopkins for the Home Safety Council. They reflect the larger problem of lacking public education resources. The survey found that while 85 percent of fire departments reported doing public fire safety education, only 12 percent have personnel assigned exclusively to carry it out.

The Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition is determined that with the right resources, more fire departments can and will provide this important educational focus in their communities. With 80 percent of fire deaths consistently occurring in the home, it’s a focus that must be embraced.

HFSC developed the new program through a FEMA Fire Prevention and Safety Grant to boost the number of fire departments teaching about home fire sprinklers by at least 1,200, increasing fire service sprinkler education by 10 percent.

To participate in the program, fire departments must agree to implement at least one community outreach activity in public awareness and education, target outreach to a key audience and evaluate their program. That could be as simple as adding fire sprinkler messages and material to existing outreach, or as comprehensive as establishing an outreach program for local builders and developers.

All “BUILT FOR LIFE Fire Departments” will be the first to receive the new “Side-by-Side” kit, educational outreach materials, a certificate of participation, decals for display, “BUILT FOR LIFE” caps and a listing on the HFSC Web site and in fire service advertising.

HFSC will also select and acknowledge a limited number of “BUILT FOR LIFE Fire Departments” that use HFSC materials to achieve a high level of local outreach for special prizes including 10 table top fire sprinkler educational exhibit displays. One fire department will become the focus of a media opportunity with a live appearance by HFSC celebrity spokesperson Ron Hazelton.

For more information and to sign up for the “BUILT FOR LIFE Fire Department” program visit the Fire Service Section.