Sprinkler Age A Publication of the American Fire Sprinkler Association
Veterans Home Protected by System Installed by AFSA Members
Thanks to a residential sprinkler system installed by members of the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA), a veteran’s home in Granby, Mass., was recently saved. On the night of March 21, 2025, the Granby Fire Department was called to a home for a reported fire. When they arrived, crews found that a home fire sprinkler system had contained and extinguished the fire. Damage was contained to the flooring and nearby items. It was determined that the cause of the fire was a lithium polymer battery left unattended in a charger.
“As a rule of thumb, a residential fire can double in size every 30 seconds and become deadly in a matter of minutes,” said Granby Deputy Chief Tyler Yvon. “The growth and spread of this fire were stopped by the home’s fire sprinkler system, which not only minimized property damage but may have prevented injury or worse. They were especially valuable because this home was in an area without hydrants, and we would have been working with limited water supply in our initial attack on the fire.”
“The home’s sprinkler system functioned just as it was designed to, and it protected the residents from what could have been a multiple-alarm fire,” said State Fire Marshal Jon Davine. “Sprinklers are the fastest way to get water on a fire before it gets out of control.”
The sprinkler system protecting the home was donated and installed by AFSA members in partnership with Homes For Our Troops (HFOT). Brad Viola, director of Western Massachusetts service operations with Encore Fire Protection, Needham, Mass., was involved with the project. “It was an honor to work on this project and install this system for a deserving veteran,” comments Viola. “While it was devastating to hear his home had caught fire, it was a relief to see that the sprinkler system saved the home from a total loss.”
MEMBERS WORKING TOGETHER
Unfortunately, this was the second time this homeowner had experienced a fire. In 2012, Marine Sgt. Joshua Bouchard received a home built by volunteers with help from HFOT. In 2016, his home burned down as a result of a fire. When that home was rebuilt, HFOT provided support once again.
At that time, AFSA contacted HFOT to offer a sprinkler system free-of-charge to Bouchard and other veterans receiving homes through the HFOT program. In 2017, AFSA became the official provider of fire sprinkler systems in HFOT homes.
Contractors, manufacturers, and suppliers that participated in the Bouchard installation included Fire Service Group; JFV Engineering LLC; Viking Group, Inc.; General Air Products, Inc., Warehouse Mechanical; and Hampshire Fire Protection., Inc.
HELP AMERICA’S HEROES
Help AFSA protect veterans and their families from the ravages of fire. Everything is needed for these projects, from materials to manpower: labor; design services; inspection, testing, and maintenance services; donations to offset expenses and fees (i.e., permitting costs). In addition, materials and supplies like sprinklers (heads, escutcheons, etc.), flexible drops, sprinkler pipe and connectors, sprinkler valves, residential riser and/or FDC, couplings, hangers, pipe cement, and tape are needed. Some projects require special equipment such as a pump, tank, or backflow preventer.
AFSA couldn’t do this without its members! To sign up, contact AFSA/HFOT Liaison Paulene Norwood, executive director for AFSA’s Sacramento Valley Chapter, at paulenesacvalleyafsa@gmail.com or AFSA’s Public Relations Manager D’Arcy Montalvo at dmontalvo@firesprinkler.org. To find out more about HFOT or to make a donation, visit hfotusa.org.