Caledon Fire and Emergency Services receives funding towards Home Fire Sprinkler Community Outreach

August 1, 2023 (CALEDON, ON) – Caledon Fire and Emergency Services is working to spread the message that residential fire sprinklers save lives, with help from the non-profit Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC) Canada to increase awareness about the life-saving benefits of home fire sprinklers.

“In less than three minutes, a fire in your home could become deadly,” said Fire Chief Dave Forfar. “Residential fire sprinklers can control a fire and prevent it from becoming deadly, giving you and your family valuable time to get out of your home safely.”

Caledon Fire is one of 20 fire departments in Canada to receive funding from the HFSC, allowing them to increase their visibility at public events, with the purchase of a new canopy tent and educational banners. These new features will help attract more visitors during these events, giving Caledon Fire more opportunity to share educational material on the benefits of home fire sprinklers.

“With the growth expected in our municipality in the near future, and with support from the HFSC, we will be working with Council, developers and builders to help realize the goal of having sprinkler systems in all new sub-divisions,” added Chief Forfar. “Thanks to a $500 stipend from the non-profit HFSC, Caledon Fire will also now have a stronger presence at public events, such as the Safety Zone at Midnight Madness in Downtown Bolton on August 11, 2023. Come by, say hi and learn more about keeping you and your family safe.”

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 74 °C.
• The sprinkler will spray water directly on the fire, controlling or putting it out. In most home fires just one sprinkler activates.

HFSC Canada is comprised of the Canadian Automatic Sprinkler Association (CASA), the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC), Co-operators, and regional representation for the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

For more information about home fire sprinklers, please visit the HFSC Canada website at homefiresprinklercanada.ca/.