Home Fire Sprinkler Advocacy Earns Stouffville Fire Services International Recognition

Stouffville Bullet Point News

  • Whitchurch-Stouffville Fire and Emergency Services received the 2025 Bringing Safety Home award.
  • Presented by the National Fire Protection Association and Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition, it recognizes leadership in promoting home fire sprinklers.
  • The department was selected for encouraging local developers to include sprinklers in new residential subdivisions.
  • Four Stouffville subdivisions are already fully outfitted with fire sprinklers, with two more on the way.
  • The department worked with the Town’s Building and Planning Staff to educate and incentivize sprinkler installation.
  • A $1,000 stipend accompanies the award to support the department’s ongoing public education efforts.

Whitchurch-Stouffville Fire and Emergency Services (WSFES) has received international recognition for its leadership in fire prevention and commitment to safer homes through the installation of residential fire sprinklers. In June, the department was awarded the 2025 Bringing Safety Home award, presented by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC).

Celebrating fire departments that use NFPA and HFSC materials to educate builders, municipal leaders, and residents on the value of sprinkler systems, the award highlights Stouffville’s role in promoting home sprinklers as a vital tool for saving lives and reducing community risk.

Stouffville’s Fire and Emergency Services team was selected for its efforts to encourage developers to include sprinklers in new residential subdivisions. That work involved close collaboration with the Town’s Building and Planning divisions to offer incentives and provide education on the life-saving benefits of in-home sprinkler systems.

“Installing home fire sprinklers is one of the most effective ways to protect families, and we’re proud to be leading that change here in Stouffville,” Fire Chief William Snowball stated in a recent Town press release.

To date, four subdivisions in Stouffville have been fully outfitted with home fire sprinklers, with two more expected to follow. Alongside the award, WSFES will also receive a $1,000 stipend to support continued public education initiatives.

“This recognition is a testament to the exceptional work and dedication of the entire Fire Services team, particularly our Fire Prevention division,” said Town CAO Sunny Bains. “Their leadership in promoting the installation of home fire sprinklers through public education, proactive planning, and collaboration throughout the construction process has positioned Stouffville as a model for fire safety.”

The HFSC, now in its 27th year, provides non-commercial educational tools to support home fire sprinkler advocacy. The NFPA, founded in 1896, is an international nonprofit dedicated to reducing fire-related harm through code development, research, and public education.

Each year, fire service members, NFPA regional managers, and Fire Sprinkler Initiative State Coalition leaders are invited to nominate individuals or departments demonstrating exceptional advocacy for residential fire sprinklers. Submissions are reviewed by a joint committee from the HFSC and NFPA, which selects one Canadian and one U.S. recipient.

Stouffville shares this year’s Bringing Safety Home award with Las Vegas Fire and Rescue, which was recognized for engaging homebuilders, supporting research on the benefits of residential sprinklers, and successfully advocating for a city-wide sprinkler ordinance. The two departments were selected from approximately 10 nominees across North America.

“[WSFES] is doing a great job…and they continue to try new things and to grow life safety in Canada,” said HFSC board member Daniel Beck. “We want to say thank you to Chief Snowball and all your deputies and fire inspection officers. You are true advocates of life safety.”

 

<back to Headlines