As reported by the NFPA, the Fire Marshal Forum held last week brought together 55 state, provincial, and territorial fire marshals from the United States and Canada.
The event, hosted by NFPA, served as a platform for networking and addressing critical policy challenges facing fire safety officials.
Key topics discussed included the rise of fire risks due to lithium-ion batteries, increasing natural disasters, and legislative actions that may weaken fire safety standards.
These challenges are compounded by pressures from the ongoing housing crisis, which has prompted efforts to bypass consensus-based safety standards.
Jim Pauley, NFPA President and CEO, stated during the event: “Fire marshals are a key force that drives safety forward, and none of us who care about fire safety can afford to have them silenced or pushed to the sidelines.”
The forum highlighted growing concerns over legislative trends aiming to override established safety codes to accelerate housing development.
These efforts, often spearheaded by industry groups, seek to reduce costs for builders but risk sidelining critical safety voices and weakening established standards.
During the two-day event, attendees exchanged strategies to combat these legislative threats while maintaining safety in the built environment.
Discussions focused on preserving the role of fire marshals in the decision-making process, ensuring that public safety remains a priority in legislative and regulatory frameworks.
Forum participants attended briefings on pressing issues, including:
These sessions emphasized the importance of collaboration and knowledge-sharing to address common safety challenges effectively.
NFPA underscored its commitment to supporting fire marshals through expanded regional operations and increased field engagement.
Over the past year, NFPA has doubled its regional staff to provide direct assistance to fire marshals addressing local safety concerns.
Attendees expressed gratitude for the opportunity to exchange insights and solutions during the forum.
Feedback reaffirmed the event’s value in fostering collective strategies for addressing complex safety challenges.
The NFPA-hosted Fire Marshal Forum gathered fire marshals from across the US and Canada to address shared challenges in fire safety.
Discussions focused on emerging risks like lithium-ion battery fires and wildfires, as well as legislative pressures that threaten established safety standards.
Attendees developed strategies to maintain safety-focused decision-making and received briefings on research, community risk reduction, and wildfire mitigation.
NFPA highlighted its support for fire marshals through increased field engagement.
Feedback from participants emphasized the forum’s critical role in addressing safety issues collaboratively.
