Mesilla Fire Department gets stipend for home sprinkler education

The Mesilla Fire Department (MFD) has been awarded a $500 stipend from the national nonprofit Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC) and State Farm insurance to increase awareness about the dangers of home fires and the life-saving benefits of home fire sprinklers, MFD said in a news release.

MFD had a booth at Mesilla’s May 7-8 Cinco de Mayo Fiesta to educate homeowners on this subject.

MFD also will show videos and hand out educational material on the importance of home fire sprinklers during National Home Fire Sprinkler Week (visit www.nfpa.org), which is May 15-21.

“Every community needs the facts about home fire sprinklers, including Mesilla and Doña Ana County residents,” said Mesilla Fire Chief Kevin Hoban. “We are honored to have been selected for this generous stipend. Using HFSC’s educational materials, we will raise awareness of how quickly a home fire can become deadly and the life-saving impact of installing home 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 165 degrees.
• 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, visit www.facebook.com/MesillaFireVolunteers and www.firedepartment.net/directory/new-mexico/dona-ana-county/mesilla/town-of-mesilla-fire-department. Also visit www.homefiresprinkler.org.