Ron Hazelton, television personality and spokesperson of the non-profit Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC), has received the American Fire Sprinkler Association’s (AFSA) 2008 Fire Sprinkler Advocate of the Year award for his efforts to help the public better understand the life-saving benefits of automatic fire sprinklers. AFSA Board member and Legislative Committee Chairman Joe Heinrich recently presented the award to Hazelton during the opening session of AFSA’s 27th Annual Convention & Exhibition in Washington, DC.

In 1998, Hazelton – already a strong supporter of fire safety and powerful advocate of residential fire sprinklers – assumed the role of national spokesperson for the HFSC.

“The first year HFSC was established, HFSC approached him to be the spokesperson because of his role as Home Improvement Editor of ABC’s Good Morning America,” says Peg Paul of HFSC. “HFSC wanted to work with Ron because he often addressed safety concerns in his GMA stories. Ron traveled to Scottsdale to do a story about home fire sprinklers. Working on that story and witnessing how sprinklers worked convinced him that HFSC was a great cause. He’s been a wonderful, passionate spokesperson ever since.”

As HFSC spokesperson, Hazelton narrates the coalition’s education video “Protect What You Value Most” and has recorded numerous radio and TV public service announcements. Hazelton’s current series, HouseCalls, which he produces and hosts, has also featured his choice to install a fire sprinkler system in his 40-year-old Fairfield, CT, home.

(Pictured here): AFSA President Steve Muncy (right) and Joe Heinrich, AFSA Secretary of the Board and Chairman of the Legislative Committee (left), present Ron Hazelton with the 2008 Fire Sprinkler Advocate of the Year award.