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Every home fire has a story.

Faces of Fire is a campaign of the Fire Sprinkler Initiative that features stories of people impacted by fire and demonstrates the need for home fire sprinklers.

Hear from burn survivors whose lives have been forever altered, fire service members with career-ending injuries, homeowners that have lost everything--and how sprinklers could have significantly impacted these outcomes. Adding to these stories of loss are examples of homeowners saved by sprinklers and homebuilders who have embraced sprinklers as the ultimate in homeowner safety.  

More Faces of Fire
Faces of Fire/Electrical is a campaign that features stories of people impacted by electrical incidents and demonstrates the need for continued education and awareness about electrical hazards both on the job and at home.


Fire service stories
  • Linda Daughetee and her husband lost their 24-year-old son, Shane, a firefighter, in a house fire.
  • Chief Brian Black was on duty when he learned that his house was on fire. He has rebuilt with sprinklers. 
  • A firefighter working with Chief W. Keith Brower, Jr., was severely burned and forced to retire.
  • A house fire took away Angie Roach's independence and ability to continue a career that she loved.
  • Linda Chavis' son, Jeffrey, lost his life as a result of burns he sustained from battling a house fire.
  • Tonya Hoover, California's former state fire marshal, hopes other states will embrace sprinkler requirements.
  • Safety educator Meredith Hawes is working to educate the public about sprinklers.
  • Jo Brinkley-Chaudoir lost her fire department partner while responding to a home fire.
  • One of Chief Jeffery Hudson's firefighters was the first city firefighter to die in the line of duty.
  • Firefighter Paul Machado was injured from a house fire after leaping from a window. His burns sidelined him for a year.
  • Firefighter Lionel Crowther's injuries from a home fire had lasting impacts on his family's emotional well-being.
  • Burned in a home fire when he was two years old, Phil Tammaro is now urging all firefighters to promote home fire sprinklers.

Burn Survivor Stories
  • Princella Lee Bridges ran back into her burning home, changing her life forever.
    Location: South Carolina
  • Justina Page was severely burned and lost one of her 22-month-old sons in a devastating home fire.
  • Dr. James Gallagher, a burn care specialist, details the painful aftermath of home fires and what burn survivors endure. 

Homeowner Stories
  • Irv and Cathy Bailey lost two children in a house fire on Christmas morning.
    Location: Kentucky
  • Months after moving into their dream home, Mayer and Sheryl Fistal lost everything.
  • Sam Davis, a homebuilder in Florida, believes so strongly in sprinklers that he's installed them in dozens of homes. 
  • Anne Mazzola survived a house fire thanks to a successful sprinkler activation.
  • Building official Stuart Tom talks about sprinkler requirements in the state of California.