BARRINGTON, N.H.—Norris Inc was on-sight recently at the Barrington Fire Department. Northern New England’s leading commercial life-safety and security systems integrator was approached by BFD Lieutenant Larry Coon to come in and teach a class on fire alarm panels to the Barrington and neighboring Lee departments.
Giving back is what we do
Life-safety and security company Norris helps out.
At the time, Coon inquired as to the cost of such a training session.
“There will be no charge for the training,” Norris Chief Operations Officer Craig Elkanich said in reply. “I was a firefighter for 15 years, and my father is a fire chief in Gray, Maine. We welcome the opportunities to give back.”
Norris is no stranger to such endeavors, having taught similar classes for fire science and electrical science classes at Eastern Maine Community College and Southern Maine Community College. Whether by teaching classes, helping to support the families of first responders who have passed, handing out scholarships, supporting children’s hospitals, or saving owls, we love to give back.
Teaching those who keep us safe
On June 19th, Norris Vermont Operations Director Glenn Gurney and Norris Field Technician Barney Boyle taught a class of first responders some alarm system basics. The goal was to show them what to look for on the fire panel annunciator when firefighters respond to an alarm and thereby help them to gain valuable situational intelligence.
According to Gurney the outreach was a good night where much was shared and learned.
“It was successful and very well received. Barney was great,” Gurney said. “After the class, there was a bit of socialization time and Barney ended up with a pretty sizable crowd around him. He was showing them different things on the demo fire alarm panel that we had set up.”
A successful life-safety venture
Coon agreed the venture was a success.
“The guys were great. They came in and showed us some different alarm panels, how to address a system, and some ways to troubleshoot an alarm panel,” Coon said. “The guys were knowledgeable and informative, also it added a personal touch with Barney being a resident here in town.”
Boyle was glad to be a part of the Norris-provided training.
“We set up a working panel and were able to show them a few different devices, how they work and how they come in as a signal—trouble versus supervisory versus alarm,” Boyle said. “So maybe they will be a bit more comfortable when they walk up to an activated panel.”
Gurney expressed satisfaction in volunteering for the benefit of the first responders who help to keep us safe.
“It was a privilege for us to give a little something back to our community. Especially to those who work tirelessly to protect us,” Gurney said. “We look forward to future opportunities to assist them and other departments and community organizations throughout northern New England.”
Maintaining the ties
Coon said he looked forward to maintaining the relationship going forward.
“This type of training was very important to the firefighters and staff here at BFD. Norris’ assurance in quality shows—they not only care about their company but also about the first responders and citizens using their products,” Coon said. “This training gave all of us here at BFD a better understanding on addressing and troubleshooting alarm systems, alarm panels, and detectors.”
What is Norris all about?
Norris, Inc.—a South Portland, Maine-based life-safety and security systems integrator with satellite offices in Bangor, Maine; Lee, New Hampshire; and Burlington, Vermont—was founded nearly 40 years ago by two brothers, Brad and Harty Norris. The brothers remain on the board of directors today and continue to help steer the enterprise toward its goal of advancing life-safety, security, and communications while striving to grow in its status as Northern New England’s leading systems integrator. Norris provides fully integrated life-safety and security solutions, comprising disparate systems including fire alarm, intrusion detection, access control, video surveillance, emergency notification and communications.
[…] Norris Chief Operations Officer Craig Elkanich agreed. “The function went well. There were almost three hundred businesses there and the Augusta Civic center was essentially at its max capacity for the event. This is the second year we have participated in the hire a vet campaign,” Elkanich said. “Some of our best employees currently serve, or served in the past in either the military or as a first responder.” […]