In honor of Women in Construction Week (March 1-7, 2026), we spoke with women currently working as system inspectors with Summit Fire & Security to learn more about their career paths in fire and life safety, the support that helped shape their journeys, and what it’s like working in this essential field.
Yensi Morales is an Inspector out of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. She has been in the fire protection industry for nearly six years and has been with Summit Fire & Security since June 2023. She focuses on fire alarm inspections and service, as well as fire sprinkler inspections. Yensi is currently the only woman in the Harrisburg office performing inspections.
“We’re excited to spotlight Yensi, one of the most driven and detail-oriented technicians on our team,” shared Timothy Kinneer, Branch Manager of Harrisburg, PA. “She brings intelligence, focus, and a relentless commitment to excellence to every job she takes on. Her meticulous approach ensures the work is done right the first time — no shortcuts, no compromises.
“Yensi isn’t just exceptional in the field — she’s a leader among her peers,” continues Timothy. “She’s the go-to resource when other technicians need help, especially with the Field Service app, ServiceChannel platform, and our BuildingReports system. She takes the time to train, guide, and support the team, helping everyone become more efficient, confident, and accurate in their work.”
Read on as Yensi shares her journey into the fire and life safety industry.
How did you discover the fire and life safety industry?
A friend gave me a tip about fire and life safety and suggested I apply to an open position. When I first started, I didn’t know anything about fire protection. I mean, I didn’t even know how to reset a panic alarm. I quickly started to learn the ropes, and now I’m a lead tech.
In my previous role, I was solely focused on inspection of fire alarms. But when I joined Summit, I didn’t know how to perform sprinkler inspections, and I really wanted to learn. So, I started taking training courses, and now I do the inspections by myself for both dry systems and wet systems.
I like to take advantage of every learning opportunity available, and I’ve been really focused on code compliance, so I am completely confident while in the field. It’s incredible all that I’ve learned and that I can now do everything by myself.
What aspects of the fire protection industry do you enjoy?
I think my favorite part is the importance of what we do. It’s not just a job; it’s the things that we do to save lives. Because a small thing can happen in a building that can cause a big fire. And the things that we do ensure everything is working properly. And it’s so meaningful because we are saving lives.
I also feel very supported in my role. I know that I can call a colleague if I’m experiencing a challenge with a sprinkler issue. I can even call the training department if it was something that we were reviewing in a training course. This industry has been very supportive, and everyone wants to help each other succeed.
Can you describe the training that you have received and how it has impacted your job performance?
I’ve taken several different training courses including the ITM training with Summit. It’s a two-year course where I learned how to inspect and test fire alarms and sprinklers. I got a lot of hands-on experience too. Summit has labs where we can work on dry systems, wet systems, special hazards, and fire pumps. We also did a lot of troubleshooting for the fire alarm and sprinkler systems.
Before the training, I was honestly afraid to work on fire sprinklers, because if you make a mistake, you can get water everywhere and can cause a lot of damage. I remember being especially nervous working in stores that have dry systems on the second floor, where it felt like there was more potential to damage a larger area.
Then I took the training, and that was a game changer. I can now open the main drain or open the low points, and nothing is going to happen inside the room because I’m taking control of the pipes and not the pipes taking control of me. Now I am completely confident working with sprinklers and my knowledge of the NFPA 25 codes. I have training courses to thank for that.
What does a typical day look like for you?
I do inspections on a lot of giant stores. So, I’m looking at their fire safety systems to make sure they’re clean and in good condition. For instance, I’m looking at fire sprinklers to make sure there are no leaks and ensure the system is sending signals to the fire panel. And the same for the fire alarm, making sure all the duct detectors and pull stations can successfully send signals to the main panel. Because sometimes in large stores signals can be blocked, or sometimes a piece of furniture was placed in front of a pull station. So, checking all of these systems is essential to keep the people and property safe.
When performing inspections, I can visit up to four stores a day. But I usually focus on different disciplines, such as backflows, wet sprinkler systems, or dry systems, during each visit. I also meet with the store managers to explain what we’ll be doing during the inspection, and if any deficiencies are found what the next steps are to service or repair that fire safety system.
What advice would you share with other women looking to join the fire and life safety industry?
There are so many opportunities in this industry. And there are training courses available to learn everything you need to know about each system or service. If you want to focus on fire sprinkler inspections, there’s training for that. If you prefer to focus on fire alarm service, there’s training for that. Like I said earlier, I didn’t know how to reset a panic alarm when I first started. And now with all of the knowledge I’ve gained, I can go to a store by myself and do whatever needs to be done.
In this industry, the only thing that we want is to do a good job and keep everyone safe.
