Announcing plans to adopt a sprinkler ordinance before thoroughly reviewing your strengths and weaknesses is like jumping into the ocean and ignoring the shark warnings. Some of the hazards that await are not obvious, so fire officials who assess all potential hazards are more likely to emerge from the process with all their limbs intact.
The RFSI has resources to assist fire officials with their strategic assessment. One is a checklist that identifies potential issues that may derail your planned ordinance, e. g., the reaction from your own fire department members. The checklist was compiled from fire officials experiences with sprinkler ordinance initiatives and thus offers valuable insight. The RFSI executive director is also available to assist, either by phone or on-site.
The earlier that strategic planning takes place the better. It certainly needs to occur before any public announcements, and it is advantageous to do it before too much informal discussion takes place. The reason is that other public officials, even in the fire department, may be ambivalent or even opposed to sprinklers. Successful fire officials began by reviewing potential problems and devising ways to address them before wading into the surf. If a fire officials fire department is focused on operations (where the You light em, we fight em attitude prevails), he or she definitely needs to do some groundwork before going public.