Fire Department Teams With Habitat For Humanity

In communities across the United States, Habitat for Humanity houses is providing more than just secure shelters to their homeowners. Founded in 1991, Salina Habitat for Humanity has built 35 homes and provided shelter to 131 family members in our community.

On February 10, 2011, Fire Marshal Williams met with the Salina Habitat Board and present to them the importance of residential fire sprinkler systems. In September 2013 Dick Brown with the Salina Habitat board met with Fire Marshal Williams and a plan was discussed to provide and install an automatic fire sprinkler system in the soon to be constructed house at 701 N. 2nd Street.

The Salina Fire Department’s continued commitment to being a world- class department is excited about this opportunity to partner with Habitat for Humanity to make this project a success. Local business owner Joe Heinrich with Bamford Fire Sprinkler Company agreed to partner with the group and provide the materials and installation for the sprinkler system at no additional cost to the project.

Recent state legislation, does not allow for communities to require the installation of residential fire sprinkler systems in single-family homes. Thanks to the willingness by the Salina Habitat for Humanity board, this important live saving tool will soon be installed. This is the first Habitat House in the State of Kansas that will be protected by a residential fire sprinkler system. “It is through continued education, community buy in and support that this critical life saving resource could some day expand throughout our community,” states Fire Marshal Williams.

If you are interested in learning more about residential fire sprinkler systems, Habitat for Humanity and how this project came to reality. We will be hosting an open house on Thursday, December 12, 2013 from 11 a.m. to Noon at 701 North 2nd Street. City of Salina licensed contractors can receive 1 hour of contractor education for their attendance, we would ask that the contractors planning to attend arrive about 10 to 15 minutes early to sign in.

New Release from the Salina Fire Department