The National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA) has extended the deadline for one of the industry’s top honors, the First Line of Defense award program, to March 14, 2008.

Established in 1999, the First Line of Defense award, presented by NBFAA, recognizes the tangible values and rewards security and fire alarm systems bring to communities and the nation. It honors security installing companies, central stations and emergency authorities that successfully protect lives and property through extraordinary teamwork.

In addition to national and local publicity campaigns and prominent coverage in Newsline, NBFAA’s quarterly magazine, the winning company will receive a free trip to the inaugural Electronic Security Expo (ESX) in Nashville, Tenn., in June 2008. All finalists’ stories will also be featured in Newsline throughout the year and on the association’s Web site.

Stories from the 2007 winner and finalists are available on www.alarm.org for consumers, media and industry readers. HSM Electronic Protection Services, located in Plymouth, Minn., and Santa Ana, Calif., was honored as the 2007 First Line of Defense winner. The 2007 five finalists included: Acadian On Watch, Lafayette, La.; Certified Alarm Company of Alabama Inc., Leighton, Ala.; Brink’s Home Security, Irving, Texas; Vector Security, Pittsburgh; and Sentry Watch Inc, Greensboro, N.C.

“I would encourage everyone to think back over the last year and submit their stories. Even just submitting the story is worthwhile, because it gives owners and managers a chance to thank their employees and to remind them of the enormous responsibility they have every day in protecting the people of our country,” explained previous First Line of Defense winner, Wells Sampson of American Alarm and Communications Inc. of Arlington, Mass.

Every day security companies across the country work with central stations and public safety agencies to save lives, to avert property damage and to prevent crimes. Even though these success stories may seem like ordinary occurrences, they represent the positive contribution that the industry makes in the lives of ordinary citizens and the communities where they live.

For more information on the First Line of Defense award and complete contest rules, or to nominate your company, visit www.alarm.org or call (888) 447-1689.