Common Voices advocacy group receives Senator Paul S. Sarbanes Fire Safety Leadership Award (3/6)
The Congressional Fire Service Institute and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation have selected Common Voices for the Senator Paul S. Sarbanes Fire Service Safety Leadership Award, according to a recent press release.
Named after retired-Senator Paul S. Sarbanes of Maryland, the award recognizes organizations for their outstanding contributions to firefighter health and safety. Sarbanes was a strong advocate of the nation’s firefighters and rescue personnel during his 36-year career in Congress.
Common Voices is a non-profit group whose members are committed to preventing death and injury from fire. Six women who have been sharing their stories of personal loss are the primary spokespeople for the organization and focus on the life-saving role fire sprinklers play in preventing death. The group has visited Capitol Hill numerous times to meet with members of Congress to advocate for the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act. They testified during the ICC hearings last September when home fire sprinkler systems were added to the International Residential Code. They also travel across the country speaking to the fire service and decision makers and testify at code hearings to move forward fire sprinkler initiatives.
In addition to residential fire deaths, Common Voices address other fire risks including fires in public places of assembly, fire safety in nursing homes and assisted living facilities and campus fire deaths. Members of Common Voices believe the installation of fire sprinklers can help decrease our country’s fire death statistics.
“We are extremely humbled and honored by this award, said Vickie Pritchett, Common Voices facilitator. We are encouraged that our mission to create a Fire Safe America is recognized as attainable. We believe that our efforts are helpful to many fire service organizations, bringing the tragic statistics to life through our stories helps people understand, and most of all, to take action.”
The award will be presented at the 21st Annual National Fire and Emergency Service Dinner, April 2, 2009, in Washington, DC.
For more information about the Senator Paul S. Sarbanes Award, visit the CFSI Web site at www.CFSI.org. For more information about Common Voices, visit www.FireAdvocates.org.
Named after retired-Senator Paul S. Sarbanes of Maryland, the award recognizes organizations for their outstanding contributions to firefighter health and safety. Sarbanes was a strong advocate of the nation’s firefighters and rescue personnel during his 36-year career in Congress.
Common Voices is a non-profit group whose members are committed to preventing death and injury from fire. Six women who have been sharing their stories of personal loss are the primary spokespeople for the organization and focus on the life-saving role fire sprinklers play in preventing death. The group has visited Capitol Hill numerous times to meet with members of Congress to advocate for the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act. They testified during the ICC hearings last September when home fire sprinkler systems were added to the International Residential Code. They also travel across the country speaking to the fire service and decision makers and testify at code hearings to move forward fire sprinkler initiatives.
In addition to residential fire deaths, Common Voices address other fire risks including fires in public places of assembly, fire safety in nursing homes and assisted living facilities and campus fire deaths. Members of Common Voices believe the installation of fire sprinklers can help decrease our country’s fire death statistics.
“We are extremely humbled and honored by this award, said Vickie Pritchett, Common Voices facilitator. We are encouraged that our mission to create a Fire Safe America is recognized as attainable. We believe that our efforts are helpful to many fire service organizations, bringing the tragic statistics to life through our stories helps people understand, and most of all, to take action.”
The award will be presented at the 21st Annual National Fire and Emergency Service Dinner, April 2, 2009, in Washington, DC.
For more information about the Senator Paul S. Sarbanes Award, visit the CFSI Web site at www.CFSI.org. For more information about Common Voices, visit www.FireAdvocates.org.
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