Fire Protection Team Reconnects with the Life-Saving Purpose Behind Their Work

“It can be easy to lose sight of just how important fire sprinklers are when our designers are moving from project to project without ever seeing their systems in action,” said Emily Carlson, operations manager, Fire Protection. “We do testing and maintenance on our systems and they aren’t truly ‘used’ unless there’s a fire. It’s a good thing that they aren’t activated often, but that also makes it hard for some to remember just how important they are for people within the buildings we serve.”

To reinforce that purpose, the team invited guest speaker Justina Page, a burn survivor and fire safety activist, to share her story during its inaugural design summit. Fire Protection designers from across the country traveled to the company’s Dallas office for two days of team building, training on new standardization practices and discussions focused on the impact of their work.

Page is a member of Common Voices, an organization that raises awareness about fire safety by sharing survivors’ stories and advocating for stronger legislation. In 1999, a house fire claimed her son’s life and left her with third-degree burns on more than 55% of her body. She now advocates for the installation of residential fire sprinklers to help prevent similar tragedies.

“Since joining McKinstry and the Fire Protection field in December, I’ve experienced incredible learning opportunities and challenges, but the work hadn’t felt deeply personal yet,” said Elizabeth Karls, designer I, Fire Protection. “Hearing Justina’s story, her hope and sense of purpose despite such profound grief, made it impossible not to see my role differently. The way she spoke, with so much intensity, compassion and love for people, really drove home the heart of what we do at McKinstry. It reminded me that behind every system and every decision are real people and real lives we can help protect.”

Emily Carlson, Dana Edwards, a senior business operations analyst, and the Fire Protection Design Committee organized the summit. Leaders described the event as a key investment as the team implements new practices to create a more cohesive look and feel across its designs.

“This is an excellent starting point to push us forward to become one of the best and sought after sprinkler contractors in the country,” said Lance Bennett, senior designer, Fire Protection.

To learn more about McKinstry’s Fire Protection offering, click HERE.