NFPA and IAFC will support the new Secretariat structure, while UL Research Institutes will lead research and learning initiatives between Congresses

QUINCY, Mass. — The World Fire Congress has named the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association (Metro Chiefs) as its Secretariat and announced a new research framework aimed at strengthening long-term international collaboration among fire and emergency service organizations.

The June 11 announcement establishes the Metro Chiefs, a section of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), as the Congress’ coordinating body. According to the association, the Secretariat will provide continuity between biennial Congresses, preserve institutional knowledge, support host-nation coordination and maintain international engagement on fire and life safety issues.

The World Fire Congress serves as a global forum for fire and emergency service leaders to share information and discuss issues including firefighter health and safety, climate-related disasters, structural fires, wildfires, emerging technologies, prevention, response, recovery and resilience.

The 2026 World Fire Congress is scheduled for Sept. 8-9 at the QEII Conference Centre in Westminster, London. The event will be hosted by the United Kingdom and organized by the National Fire Chiefs Council.

Otto Drozd III, executive secretary of Metro Chiefs, commented on the news:

“It is an honor for the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association to serve as the Secretariat for the World Fire Congress,” said Otto Drozd III, Executive Secretary of Metro Chiefs. “What is being established through this partnership is far more than operational coordination for a single event. It is the long-term infrastructure designed to support continuity, global engagement, and sustained collaboration for future Congresses and the international fire and emergency services community.”

Phil Garrigan, chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council, said more than 60 countries have already registered to attend the Congress. He cited increasing wildfire activity, flooding, natural disasters and growing incident complexity as reasons for international collaboration.

The Congress also announced that UL Research Institutes’ Fire Safety Research Institute will support learning, research and insight efforts through the development of global Communities of Practice intended to sustain collaboration between Congresses.

Dr. Steve Kerber, vice president of fire safety at UL Research Institutes, said the initiative will focus on sharing research and data related to challenges such as climate disasters, emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, firefighter health and workforce development.

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, former U.S. Fire Administrator and chief fire safety strategist at UL Research Institutes, said the Communities of Practice will help continue international knowledge-sharing efforts that began with the inaugural World Fire Congress in Washington, D.C., in 2024.

The World Fire Congress is led by a steering committee that includes the Asociación Mexicana de Jefes de Bomberos; the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council; the Federation of European Fire Officers; the International Association of Fire and Rescue Services; the National Fire Chiefs Council; the Organización de Bomberos Americanos; and in the United States through the collaborative leadership of the NFPA and the IAFC.

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