BY DENICE THIBODEAU – DANVILLE REGISTER & BEE

When Raymond and Jennifer Custer move into their new Habitat for Humanity home in August, they will have one amenity few Danville homes have: a sprinkler system.

Volunteers from the Danville Fire Department installed the system Tuesday, with a lot of coaching from members of the Pinehurst, N.C., Fire Department, who have installed more than 100 sprinkler systems in Moore County Habitat for Humanity homes in North Carolina.

Pinehurst Deputy Fire Chief/Fire Marshal Fritz Floyd was on hand to put Danville firefighters through the same installation training his department goes through.

Pinehurst Fire Chief Jimmy McCaskill also was in Danville, prepping the sprinkler heads, connectors and lines that would be used for the system.

McCaskill said his department became interested in residential sprinkler systems in 1996 as a means of combating the limited water supply in the community. The fire department asked the town council to adopt a residential sprinkler ordinance, but it didn’t pass.

“They said it was too big brotherish,” McCaskill said.

A semi-retired fire protection engineer in the community stepped forward to help.

“Chet Schermer said, ‘We’ve done a wonderful job of protecting commercial businesses with sprinkler systems, but that’s not where people are dying; people are dying in homes,’” McCaskill said.

McCaskill said Schermer got on the phone and lined up sprinkler systems for 24 Habitat for Humanity homes planned in the community.

With the material lined up, labor was needed for the installations and that’s when the Pinehurst firefighters learned how to do the job.

Now they are teaching fire departments all over North Carolina how to install the systems. The installation in Danville on Tuesday is their first time passing what they’ve learned on to an out-of-state department.

Danville Fire Chief David Eagle expressed gratitude for the help, adding that sprinkler systems can save lives by containing a blaze until firefighters arrive, and give people valuable extra time to get out of their home.

He said the cost for a sprinkler system can range from 50 cents to $2 per square foot of a house, but that those costs can be recouped over time through reduced homeowners insurance.

The Custers, who both must use wheelchairs, said they were stunned when they heard their home would have a sprinkler system.

“We never dreamed we’d ever own a home, never mind with this,” Jennifer Custer said, as she watched about a dozen firefighters pour through the house and begin working.

Her husband agreed.

“It’s been a blessing,” Raymond Custer said. “And the blessings just keep coming.”

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