By Sean Tracey
In 2025 HFSC Canada awarded 16 $750 stipends to eligible fire departments to support home fire sprinkler public education activities.
These generous stipends support activities that educate about the benefits of home fire sprinklers such as side-by-side fire and sprinkler burn demonstrations, materials to build a fire sprinkler display, educational banners or virtual reality headsets to view HFSC Canada’s VR video. The only condition to apply for the stipend is that the department must be signed up as a Built for Life Fire Department and commit to making sprinklers part of its education campaign.
Here are some examples of how departments used the stipends:
• The fire department in Parksville, BC, hosted a side-by-side event burn event as part of its open house, which was attended by 125 residents and two city councillors. 
• In Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL, more than 250 people attended the fire department open house, including the mayor and CAO. The fire department used the stipend to buy a display tent.
• The fire department in Whitchurch-Stouffville, ON, had more than 2,700 residents at an open house and used its stipend to buy virtual reality goggles. Using the goggles, people can view HFSC’s 3D video that shows what it is like to be in a home fire with and without sprinklers.
Every year a greater number of Canadians live in homes protected by residential fire sprinklers. Yet many homeowners and future buyers remain uneducated about how home fire sprinklers work and their benefits. Fire departments need to add sprinkler education to their annual messaging campaigns. HFSC Canada can help through free, prepared materials, information packages, and tools fire departments can use to educate councils and address the public.
Plan now to apply for the 2026 stipend program, starting in February (watch our social media channels!). Consider becoming a Built for Life Fire Department if you have not already done so; it’s free, and it can save lives.