National Association of State Fire Marshals

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE FIRE MARSHALS

A Strong United Voice for Fire Prevention

NASFM Launches Online Training to Prepare for Civil Unrest

Critical safety training for fire and emergency officials in dealing with incidents of civil unrest is now available.

Brusly, LA, March 9, 2023 — The National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) has launched an awareness and prevention training course focused on helping fire prevention agencies to move from a paradigm of preventing accidental fires to one which includes the prevention of intentional fires in times of civil unrest.

The course offering was made possible through the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters grant program—grants aimed to support projects that enhance the safety of the public and firefighters from fire and related hazards. The primary goal of the funding is to reduce injury and prevent death among high-risk populations.

Increasing Safety -

“In recent years, we’ve seen an increase in injuries and deaths of firefighters and others responding to public events that have turned violent,” said Phil Oakes, NASFM Chief of Operations and Training. “First responders, including firefighters, are trained to expect the unexpected when responding to emergency calls. This new online training gives them additional awareness and strategies to help them better protect themselves and others while dealing with incidents of civil unrest.”

Click here for the full press release and click here to go straight to the NASFM Training Site.

Registration is now open for the 33rd Annual NASFM Symposium

The 33rd Annual Fire Prevention and Safety Symposium will be held July 31st through August 2nd. 2023 at the Hotel Ballast in Wilmington, North Carolina. Registration is now open for the event. Click here to register.

The NCOAA is proud to launch the CO Safety Coalition at NASFM’s 33rd Annual Fire Prevention & Safety Symposium. Join us at the NASFM Symposium for this dedicated CO Safety Summit focused on education, research, case studies, data, new technologies, and best practices. For more information go to the Symposium registration page by clicking here.

NASFM holds its first Community Risk Reduction Summit

2/27/2023: More than 70 State Fire Marshal Professionals were in attendance as the National Association of State Fire Marshals and the National Fire Protection Association just finished co-hosting a two-day summit on Community Risk Reduction. The focus was to provide collaborative resources & mentorship to our NASFM members so the CRR process can be implemented nationwide.

Already deemed a success, supporting the CRR efforts of NFPA, IAFC, Vision 20/20, and the USFA, this summit was intended to prepare State Fire Marshals and their CRR staff with tools and peer discussion to better lead state efforts. The CRR Summit was held February 20-22, 2023 at the Great Wolf Lodge in Concord NC. The CRR summit consisted of several risk reduction workshops, provided active discussions of successes and challenges around CRR and was a great opportunity to network with nationwide partners.

New Alaska State Fire Marshal

2/23/23: Alaska Department of Public Safety Commissioner James Cockrell has appointed Lloyd Nakano as the new State Fire Marshal and Director of the Division of Fire and Life Safety. State Fire Marshal Nakano has been with the Department of Public Safety since September 2005 and has been the Assistant State Fire Marshal since December 2012.

Go to the News link here for his full message.

Gordon Appoints WY State Fire Marshal

CHEYENNE – January 12, 2023 Gov. Mark Gordon has announced the appointment of Byron Mathews as State Fire Marshal and Director of the Department of Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety.

Mathews has been employed by Cheyenne Fire Rescue since 1999.

NASFM's Annual Symposium Info

The Battleship North Carolina was originally built to be the flag ship of the Atlantic Fleet in World War II just prior to the commissioning of the ship for service in the Atlantic fleet The attack on Pearl Harbor happened and the North Carolina was “repurposed” to protect the USS Enterprise Aircraft Carrier in the pacific fleet. Because the USS North Carolina was tagged to be the flags ship of the Atlantic Fleet, it was outfit with admirals quarters and admirals meeting room. A little known fact, because the North Carolina would was not the flagship of the Pacific Fleet the admiral did not reside on the North Carolina during its US Navy active service period, and therefore the Admirals Quarters and Board Room were essentially unused until the ship was decommissioned and docked for public viewing in Wilmington.

CO Safety Track at the 33rd Annual NASFM Fire Prevention Symposium

The Carbon Monoxide Safety Coalition is a first-of-its-kind effort to bring all sectors together to tackle carbon monoxide poisoning injury and death. The Coalition consists of four (4) working groups who will tackle important issues such as public education, codes, standards, regulations, surveillance data, improving diagnostics and treatment, supporting survivors, and conducting research. Everyone involved in the Coalition will have a voice in this work, from researchers to survivors, advocates, manufacturers, government agencies, and legislators. Together, we will work toward zero injuries and deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning.

NASFM AT THE TABLE

US FIRE ADMINSTRATOR SUMMIT ON FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL: STATE OF SCIENCE

October 11, 2022, the United States Fire Administration in partnership with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), hosted the U.S. Fire Administrator's Summit on Fire Prevention and Control: State of Science. The summit marks the 75th anniversary of the 1947 President Truman Conference on Fire Prevention and Control that launched the America Burning PDF report and established the USFA. Many of the outcomes from the original Truman Conference hold true today.

NASFM President Michael Desrochers and Vice-President Brian Geraci attended the summit in Emmitsburg, Maryland to represent our association. NASFM was one of three "Leading Sponsors" of the event. President Desrochers said, "The opportunity to network with other national leaders of the fire service was invaluable."

"This summit brought together national leaders from across the country representing leading fire service organizations, associations, federal agencies, researchers, doctors, safety advocacy groups, government relations professionals and more. President Joe Biden and Department of Homeland Security Secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas both made comments to the attendees virtually while Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security John Tien, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and United States Fire Administrator Dr. Lori Moore-Merrill were in attendance to hear about the challenges facing emergency services.

A first-of-its-kind livestreaming event from the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland, the event features presentations from the country's most prominent fire service leaders and researchers. The livestream event was for reporters, the public, the fire service, and local, state and national policy makers who want a better understanding of the challenges and recommended solutions to the critical fire problem in America. The summit kicks off the 100th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week.

Link to the Summit recording: https://www.firehero.org/USFA-Summit/