U.S. Fire Administrator’s 

Summit on Fire Prevention 

and Control Proceedings

Oct. 11-12, 2022 

Published January 2023

®

Letter From the U.S. Fire Administrator to the President of the United States i

Letter From the U.S. Fire 

Administrator to the 

President of the United States

Jan. 9, 2023

The President

The White House

Washington, D.C.

Dear Mr. President: 

It is my honor to present the Proceedings Report from the 2022 U.S. Fire 

Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control, held Oct. 11, 2022, at the 

National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland. This historic meeting 

of governmental officials, fire service leaders and scientists convened to address 

America’s fire problem.

The summit marked the 75th anniversary of President Truman’s 1947 National 

Conference on Fire Prevention. The federal government has historically played a 

significant role in combating the “menace of fire,” as President Truman described at 

the 1947 conference. This most recent summit identified the top issues and outlined 

a national strategy to address the fire problem currently facing our nation. 

You continued President Truman’s legacy with your virtual remarks illustrating 

your commitment to reducing the death toll caused by fires and your profound and 

personal respect for America’s fire service. Thank you for being part of this historic 

summit and reminding firefighters that they are the “heart of the community.”

Now, more than ever, we have the means to address the fire-related challenges 

we face, including wildfire due to climate change, improvements in codes and 

standards to protect our most vulnerable citizens, developing recruitment programs

for a diverse and well-trained American fire service, and the reduction of cancercausing chemicals affecting firefighters, as well as supporting the mental health of 

our first responders. Innovative thinking, the willingness to use all available tools, 

and, perhaps most importantly, the collaboration of all parties is necessary to meet 

these challenges. The summit was only the beginning of a comprehensive and 

strategic approach to addressing these challenges.

Since the summit, the U.S. Fire Administration and national fire service organizations 

have been working together to develop comprehensive and actionable solutions.

I look forward to discussing this progress with you at the 2023 Summit on Fire 

Prevention and Control, which will take place the week of Oct. 8, 2023.

Sincerely and respectfully,

Lori Moore-Merrell, DrPH, MPH

U.S. Fire Administrator

USFA

Table of Contents iii

Table of Contents

Letter From the U.S. Fire Administrator to the President of the United States .. i

Executive Summary...................................................................................................... 1

Summit background.............................................................................................. 1

National Roundtable ............................................................................................. 2

Facilitated discussion ............................................................................................ 4

State of Science ...................................................................................................... 4

State of Science highlights.................................................................................... 7

Summit deliberations............................................................................................ 7

Additional information.......................................................................................... 7

Fact Sheets

Impact of Climate Change .................................................................................... 9

Fire Service Apprenticeship Program ................................................................. 11

Impact of Occupational Cancer ........................................................................... 12

Impact of Behavioral Health ................................................................................ 13

Elevation of the Fire Service in Federal Policy Development .......................... 14

Impact of Codes and Standards........................................................................... 16

National Roundtable Agenda ..................................................................................... 17

State of Science Agenda .............................................................................................. 18

Summit Transcripts ...................................................................................................... 19

National Roundtable ............................................................................................. 19

State of Science: President Joseph Biden ........................................................... 41

State of Science: Opening remarks from U.S. Fire Administrator 

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell.................................................................................... 46

State of Science: Opening remarks from Chief Ron Siarnicki, Executive 

Director of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation ........................... 48

State of Science: Closing remarks from U.S. Fire Administrator 

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell.................................................................................... 49

State of Science Presentations ................................................................................... 51

National Roundtable Facilitated Discussion............................................................. 81

2022 Presidential Proclamation on Fire Prevention Week ..................................... 83

Report: Impact of Climate Change............................................................................. 85

Issue statement ..................................................................................................... 85

A wicked problem .................................................................................................. 85

Defining the issue .................................................................................................. 86

Targeted actions..................................................................................................... 86

Impact Areas ................................................................................................................. 87

Occurrence of wildfire........................................................................................... 87

Firefighting resources ........................................................................................... 87

Response differences between types of fires ................................................. 87

Training, equipment and personal protective equipment............................. 88

Water access........................................................................................................... 89
iv U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

State of Science............................................................................................................. 91

Fires in the WUI: Facts and figures...................................................................... 91

The role of climate change ................................................................................... 92

Land management impacts.................................................................................. 93

Demographic and community changes.............................................................. 93

Emerging Issues Identified at the Summit................................................................ 95

A wicked, but solvable, problem.......................................................................... 95

Modern building codes.......................................................................................... 95

Training.................................................................................................................... 96

Next steps ............................................................................................................... 96

Report: National Firefighter Apprenticeship Program ........................................... 97

Report: Comprehensive Firefighter Cancer Strategy..............................................103

Report: Firefighter Behavioral Health Resources....................................................109

Report: Codes and Standards Implementation and Enforcement........................ 113

Report: Elevation of the Fire Service in Federal Policy Development................... 119

Appendix A: Organizations Represented at the Summit........................................ 121

Appendix B: Summit Attendees .................................................................................123

Appendix C: Summit Speakers Biographies.............................................................. 127

National Roundtable ............................................................................................. 127

State of Science ......................................................................................................136

Appendix D: Summit Media ........................................................................................145

Media advisory.......................................................................................................145

Social media samples ............................................................................................ 147

Articles..................................................................................................................... 151

NFPA Journal: Fall 2022........................................................................................151

FireRescue1 by Lexipol........................................................................................154

Firehouse ..............................................................................................................156

Homeland Security Today...................................................................................159

UL Research Institutes ........................................................................................161

Appendix E: National Emergency Training Center (E Auditorium): Site of 

the 2022 U.S. Fire Administrator's Summit on Fire Prevention and 

Control.....................................................................................................................165

Appendix F: National Roundtable Briefing Document............................................ 167

Appendix G: State of Science Program...................................................................... 192
Executive Summary 1

Executive Summary

Summit background

The mission of the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) is to support and strengthen fire 

and emergency medical services (EMS) and stakeholders to prepare for, prevent, 

mitigate and respond to all hazards. The USFA is part of the U.S. Department of 

Homeland Security’s (DHS’s) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). An 

annual conference is authorized by 15 U.S.C. § 2213: 

“The Administrator is authorized to organize, or to participate in organizing, 

an annual conference on fire prevention and control. He may pay, in whole 

or in part, the cost of such conference and the expenses of some or all of 

the participants. All of the Nation’s fire services shall be eligible to send 

representatives to each such conference to discuss, exchange ideas on, and 

participate in educational programs on new techniques in fire prevention and 

control. Such conferences shall be open to the public.”

The 2022 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control was held 

on Oct. 11 at the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The 

summit included 4 segments:

1. National fire service leaders participated in an invitation-only National 

Roundtable to brief the Biden Administration, the DHS and FEMA on the fire 

service’s critical issues.

2. National fire service and research experts presented the State of Science to an 

in-person and virtual audience. 

3. Attendees of the National Roundtable were invited to participate in a facilitated 

discussion about the National Roundtable testimony.

4. Summit deliberations were held on Oct. 12 with key stakeholders representing 

national fire service organizations and academic and scientific partners.
2 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

The summit marked the 75th anniversary of President Harry S. Truman’s 

Conference on Fire Prevention which took place in Washington, D.C. The summit 

also coincided with the 100th anniversary of the National Fire Protection 

Association’s (NFPA’s) Fire Prevention Week.

The topics of the National Roundtable testimony were based on recommendations 

from attendees at 2 previously held meetings hosted by the National Fallen 

Firefighters Foundation (NFFF). The Truman Fire Forum was held in August 2022 

in Independence, Missouri. The National Firefighter Life Safety Summit was held 

in September 2022 in San Antonio, Texas. The reports from these 2 meetings are 

included in the QR code at the conclusion of this Executive Summary. 

The testimonies, delivered by national fire service leaders, were related to 6 

identified problems in America’s fire service and recommended solutions. These 

proposed solutions have become the Fire Service National Strategy, championed by 

the USFA. The strategies are:

1. Prepare all firefighters for the climate-driven increase in wildfires in the 

wildland urban interface (WUI) by providing them with the proper training and 

equipment.

2. Invest in a national apprenticeship program to address the shortage of 

firefighters and to make the fire service more diverse and inclusive.

3. Establish a comprehensive firefighter cancer strategy that invests in research, 

provides access to screening for firefighters, and reduces and eliminates PFAS 

exposure.

4. Provide behavioral health resources and suicide prevention initiatives for all 

firefighters.

5. Create safer communities by implementing and enforcing codes and standards, 

especially in the WUI and underserved and vulnerable populations providing 

affordable and fire-safe housing.

6. Elevate the fire service in federal policy development to an equal basis with law 

enforcement. (**Please note that this strategy was changed during the summit 

deliberations from “involve” to “elevate.”)

National Roundtable

U.S. Fire Administrator Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell began the National Roundtable 

noting that there was only 1 day from Jan. 1 through Oct. 11 for which there was 

no reported loss of life from a residential fire. Dr. Moore-Merrell stated, “We 

should do everything we can on the federal, state and local levels to achieve a 

fire-safe America.” She also noted that the fire service representatives at the 

National Roundtable were representing the fire service as a whole rather than their 

individual organizations.

The National Roundtable provided national fire service organizations 

representatives the opportunity to provide testimony to the following President 

Biden Administration representatives:

ĵ Alejandro Mayorkas, DHS Secretary (virtual remarks).

ĵ John Tien, DHS Assistant Secretary.

ĵ Deanne Criswell, FEMA Director.
Executive Summary 3

ĵ Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, U.S. Fire Administrator.

ĵ Caitlin Durkovich, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for 

Resilience and Response for the National Security Council (NSC).

Highlights of their opening remarks include:

ĵ DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas: “The bottom line is that you all take care 

of us, and we must take care of you. You have my commitment to fight for 

the resources you need and deserve to make the progress that the firefighter 

community needs, to address the increasing challenges we face today.”

ĵ DHS Deputy Secretary John Tien: “We know, as the secretary often will say, 

that we are a department of partnerships. We must be connected to all of you. 

And not just connected to all of you in understanding what you go through, but 

figuring out how we can resource, whether it’s through funding, whether it’s 

through offices, especially in terms of medical support through our new Office 

of Health Services or our chief medical officer, Dr. Pritesh Gandhi. We must 

determine ways to find out how we can support you specifically.”

ĵ FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell: “I just want to underscore that the 

work that we put forth today, and in the weeks and the months to come, is an 

investment towards the safety of our future generations. This was the vision 

that President Truman had when he held the first fire conference 75 years ago. 

And it will remain true 75 years from now. And I want everyone here to know 

that your voices and your perspectives, they matter, and that together we can 

meet the mission to advance fire and life safety for all Americans.”

ĵ Senior Director for Resilience and Response for the NSC Caitlin Durkovich: 

“Whether it is a major disaster, a multialarm fire like has been mentioned 

in Philadelphia or in the Bronx, or a single emergency call, a wildfire, a 

mass casualty event, a hazmat spill, or a medical emergency, you are there. 

Firefighters are all-hazards responders, and local fire departments are 

foundational to the resilience of our communities. The president understands 

this implicitly, which is why he is such a strong supporter of the fire service and 

is committed to ensuring you have the resources and support you need to do 

your jobs.
4 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

The following National Roundtable participants represented the fire service and 

provided testimony related to the fire problem in America:

ĵ Chief Donna Black, International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC).

Topic: “Impact of Climate Change”

ĵ Chief Kevin Quinn, National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC).

Topic: “Fire Service Apprenticeship Program”

ĵ General President Edward Kelly, International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF).

Topic: “Impact of Occupational Cancer”

ĵ Chief Ernest Mitchell, Jr., NFFF.

Topic: “Impact of Behavioral Health and Equality with Law Enforcement in 

Federal Policy Development”

ĵ Mr. James Pauley, NFPA.

Topic: “Impact of Codes and Standards”

Open discussion took place after each of the fire service representatives delivered 

their testimony. The federal representatives noted the importance of partnering 

with other federal agencies to work on the strategies. For example, Deputy 

Secretary Tien commented on the similar challenges the Veterans Administration 

faces in dealing with veterans exposed to toxic chemicals resulting in cancer. FEMA 

Administrator Criswell stated that she is committed to working with Dr. MooreMerrell to support the USFA’s development of mental health and suicide prevention 

programs. 

There was also a recognition of the 100th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week with 

a reading of the Fire Prevention Week Presidential Proclamation by Senior Director 

Caitlin Durkovich.

The transcript of the National Roundtable is included in the Proceedings Report. 

The video of the National Roundtable is included in the QR code at the end of this 

Executive Summary.

Facilitated discussion

Commissioner Adam Thiel, Philadelphia Fire Department, led a discussion with 

summit attendees immediately following the National Roundtable about the 

testimony delivered during the National Roundtable. 

State of Science

The State of Science began with opening remarks from U.S. Fire Administrator Dr. 

Lori Moore-Merrell. She provided a summary of the National Roundtable discussions 

and emphasized that the National Roundtable fire service representatives spoke 

with 1 voice, the voice of the whole fire service. She also noted the importance of 

partnerships, both within the fire service and with federal partners, to tackle the 

challenges facing the fire service and the fire problem in America. 

Chief Ron Siarnicki, Executive Director of the NFFF, was the next speaker. The NFFF 

was the co-host of the State of Science portion of the U.S. Fire Administrator’s 

Summit on Fire Prevention and Control. Chief Siarnicki acknowledged the more than 

100 firefighter recruits from Prince George’s County, Maryland; Loudon County, 
Executive Summary 5

Virginia; and the District of Columbia who were in the audience for the State of 

Science. “You are the future of the American fire service,” Siarnicki stated, “and being 

a part of this historic event is going to set you on a journey to learn so much about 

what’s happening in your industry.” Chief Siarnicki also thanked the sponsors of the 

State of Science, including the premier sponsor, the NFPA. Leading sponsors included 

the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM), the National Fire Sprinkler 

Association (NFSA), and Underwriters Laboratories’ (UL’s) Fire Safety Research 

Institute. Supporters included the International Code Council (ICC) and Milliken.

President Joseph Biden provided virtual remarks at the State of Science discussing 

many of his administration’s initiatives related to firefighters and the fire problem 

in America. For example, the Cancer Moonshot is addressing environmental 

and toxic exposures to prevent cancer. There is a special claims unit at the U.S. 

Department of Labor (DOL) that can now process federal firefighters’ cancer claims 

more efficiently. The new Protecting America’s First Responders Act extends the 

benefits under the Public Safety Officers’ Death Benefits Program to the families 

of firefighters killed in training. The U.S. Department of Defense is using satellite 

imagery to detect wildland fires in the early stages. President Biden confirmed his 

lifelong commitment to the fire service by stating, “I want you to know that my 

administration is doing everything we can to make sure you have the resources you 

need to do your job as safely and effectively and efficiently as possible.”

The format of the State of Science included presentations divided into 4 panels. Each 

presentation segment was introduced by a member of the summit planning team.

Impact on Communities

Introduced by Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell

Commissioner Adam K. Thiel, City of Philadelphia Fire Department

Topic: “Retrospective of Fire Fatalities in Philadelphia”

Deputy Assistant Chief Frank Leeb, City of New York Fire Department (FDNY)

Topic: “Twin Parks Fire (Jan. 2, 2022)”
6 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

Dr. Susan M. Moore, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 

(NIOSH)

Topic: “Impact on Firefighters Working in Underserved Communities”

Dr. Steve Kerber, Fire Safety Research Institute

Topic: “Risks in the Changing Built Environment”

Chief Shane Ray, NFSA

Topic: “A Fire Safe America: A Happy and Safe Quality of Life Through Fire 

Safety”

Climate Change Impact on the Fire Service

Introduced by Ms. Lorraine Carli, Vice President, Outreach and Advocacy, NFPA

Karl Fippinger, ICC

Topic: “Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Codes and Standards”

Michele Steinberg, NFPA 

Topic: “Wildfire Disasters: A Wicked Problem”

Rick Swan, IAFF

Topic: “Responding to the Interface: Training to Prepare Structural Firefighters 

for WUI”

Impact on Firefighter Recruitment, Retention and Training

Introduced by Ms. Vickie Pritchett, Executive Officer, NFSA

Chief John H. Oates, International Public Safety Data Institute

Topic: “Data-Informed Insights on Recruitment and Retention”

Chief John S. Butler, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (Virginia) 

Topic: “Recruitment Challenges for Career Departments Focused on Diversity, 

Equity, and Inclusion”

Chief Brita Horn, Rock Creek Volunteer Fire Department (Colorado)

Topic: “Recruitment Challenges for Volunteer Fire Departments”

Impact on Firefighters’ Health

Introduced by Chief Tonya Hoover, Deputy U.S. Fire Administrator

Dr. Kenneth Fent, NIOSH

Topic: “National Firefighter Registry: The Missing Piece”

Dr. Jeff Burgess, University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of 

Public Health 

Topic: “The Fire Fighter Cancer Cohort Study (FFCCS): A Scientist-Fire Fighter 

Collaboration”

Dr. Sara Jahnke, Center for Fire, Rescue & EMS Health Research

Topic: “Women Firefighters & Cancer”

Dr. Denise L. Smith, Skidmore College

Topic: “Firefighter Cardiovascular Health”

Patrick Morrison, IAFF

Topic: “Firefighter Behavioral Health”
Executive Summary 7

State of Science highlights

ĵ Despite our vast technological advances these truths remain – 

Ý During a fire today, you have the least amount of time to safely exit your burning 

home than at any time in history.

Ý Your chance of dying in a fire today is higher than 40 years ago.

ĵ Fire deaths, injuries and displacement disproportionately affects lower income 

communities and people of color. Safe and affordable housing should not be 

mutually exclusive.

ĵ 99 million people or a third of the U.S. population now live in the WUI 

environment, yet most have no idea what WUI is or the dangers it poses. 

ĵ Fire departments across the United States, both career and volunteer, are 

experiencing dramatic personnel shortages. This situation is a national problem 

and without intervention will continue to worsen affecting the ability to meet 

emergency call volume demand in many areas.

ĵ Technology including micro-mobility products powered by lithium ion batteries 

are providing a new wave of fire causes.

ĵ Automatic fire suppression systems like sprinklers save lives, yet resistance for 

these devices remains. 

The State of Science was livestreamed to a virtual audience representing every 

state in the U.S. and 18 countries. The PowerPoint presentations from the State of 

Science are included in the Proceedings Report. The video from the State of Science 

is included in the QR code at the end of this Executive Summary.

Summit deliberations

The summit deliberations took place on Oct. 12, immediately following the Summit 

on Fire Prevention and Control. National fire service organizations and lead 

academic and scientific partners collaborated and committed to strategies to 

address the challenges discussed at the summit. There were 6 work groups formed 

based on the 6 topics from the National Roundtable. The work groups will meet 

during 2023 in preparation for the 2023 Summit on Fire Prevention and Control.

Additional information

National Roundtable 

and State of Science

NFFF reports 1947 report from 

the President’s 

Conference on Fire 

Prevention

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Impact of Climate 

Change

Impact Areas 

Occurrence of Wildfi re

According to a June 2022 U.S. Congressional Budget Offi ce report, the 

intensity of wildfi res has increased, as has the number of wildfi res 

impacting the built environment over the past 30 years. As our nation 

continues to grow and develop in the WUI, our communities are faced 

with increased wildfi re threats associated with:

Ý Increased populations.

Ý Reduced land management practices.

Ý Dangerous increase of fuel buildup.

Ý Climate change.

The fi re service today is faced with three main fi re types:

1. Structural fi res — fi res involving built construction where trained

fi refi ghters have specifi c strategies and tactics to maintain life safety

and gain control of a fi re, including interior attack, exterior attack,

search and rescue, ventilation, salvage, and overhaul.

2. Wildland fi res — fi res typically involving trees and other vegetation

where wildland trained fi refi ghters use specifi c strategies and tactics

to gain control and suppress the fi re, including off ensive (direct attack)

and defensive (indirect attack), backfi re burning, and trenching. These

strategies use equipment and/or resources such as bulldozers, aircraft,

hand crews, and fi re engines to construct fi re lines that provide control

and containment of the fi re.

3. WUI fi res — fi res occurring in the built (structural) environment directly

adjacent to or intermixed with a wildland area. WUI fi re operations have

non-standardized and relatively new and diff erent strategies and tactics

when compared with either strictly structural or wildland fi refi ghting.

Firefi ghters operating in the WUI use primary and secondary tactics

typically conducted by structural engine crews attempting to adapt

these tactics to fi t the wildland fi re situation.

Prepare all fi refi ghters for the climate-driven increase in wildfi res in the wildland urban 

interface (WUI) by providing them with the proper training and equipment.

Issue

WUI fi res are one of the most 

devastating fi re problems in the 

United States. Currently, most 

structural fi refi ghters receive 

little to no training on how to 

respond, remain safe, and/or 

how to operate eff ectively in 

an extremely dangerous and 

dynamic fi re environment.

®
U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control — Impact of Climate Change

Firefi ghting Resources 

Wildfi re knows no boundaries. Fires can start and burn across federal, tribal, state, local, and private lands. 

That means fi res are often fought with a combination of agencies and fi refi ghters from diff erent training 

backgrounds and employers. These diff erences include seasonal federal and state wildland fi refi ghters, state 

and local career fi refi ghters, and volunteer fi refi ghters from community-based fi re stations. While some 

fi refi ghters trained to operate in the built environment are also specifi cally trained to engage in wildland 

fi refi ghting, the majority have little to no training for operating in an urban or suburban confl agration with 

multiple structures burning simultaneously.

Advances in command and coordination, especially at large, long-duration wildland and WUI fi re events, have 

improved resource deployment and operations on the ground. However, these resources often take time to 

get into place. Therefore, initial response often comes from state and local fi re departments, many of which 

are already dealing with limited and overworked staff . 

Training, Equipment, and Water

Local fi re department responders are typically trained as structural fi refi ghters given that single family 

dwellings are the most common fi re risk they encounter. Structural fi refi ghters, accustomed to fi ghting one 

structure fi re at a time, are now being confronted with multiple structures burning simultaneously. They must 

react and respond with uncharacteristic tactics and strategies to successfully mitigate the event by reducing or 

eliminating fi re spread. The reality is that they must add urban interface wildfi re strategies and tactics to their 

operational repertoire. 

As the risk of losing entire communities from wildfi re extends to a year-round threat, staffi ng resources, 

proper training, and equipment are necessary to fi ght these WUI fi res. 

Training and Equipment 

Communities across the nation are experiencing an increasing number of larger and more destructive 

wildland, urban interface, and suburban confl agration fi res. Because these fi res are occurring more often in 

both suburban and rural areas adjacent to or intermixed with the wildland, structural fi refi ghters are regularly 

involved in suppression eff orts and responsible for defending homes and critical infrastructure. According 

to the National Fire Protection Association Needs Assessment, 88% of structural fi re departments in the U.S. 

respond to urban interface fi res, but only 40 percent of those fi re departments provide training on urban 

interface strategy and tactics. 

Additionally, there is often diffi culty accessing wildland fi refi ghting equipment including PPE and proper 

footwear, for both women and men who attend training and are involved in WUI fi refi ghting.

Water Access 

Particularly in the West, water is a limited and often contested resource. Drought conditions elsewhere in the 

country are causing similar eff ects to spread eastward. Scarcity of water has a severe impact on fi refi ghting 

eff orts. Additionally, fi re in watershed areas and burn scars following a fi re can contaminate water resources 

as debris and other contaminants aff ect both availability of potable water and treatment eff orts. 

More Information 

®
U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Fire Service 

Apprenticeship Program

Impact Areas 

Local communities are facing numerous challenges when 

it comes to staffi ng local fi re departments. The COVID-19 

pandemic, civil unrest, active shooter, and mass casualty 

events have all contributed to recruitment and retention 

challenges for career and volunteer fi re departments. In 

addition, increasing emergency call volumes, greater time 

demands, time-consuming training requirements, aging 

communities, and the physical and behavioral risks of the 

occupation create further challenges to fi re departments 

struggling to maintain suffi cient staffi ng levels.

The fi re service struggles to recruit and retain women 

and people of color. The most recent data from the 

Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2019 reported that 11.6% 

of career fi refi ghters were Hispanic or Latino, 8.5% were 

African American, and 1.3% were Asian-Pacifi c Islanders. 

Women represent 11% of volunteer fi refi ghters and 5% of 

career fi refi ghters, according to the NFPA’s 2022 “U.S. Fire 

Department Profi le” report based on 2020 data.

The creation of a National Fire Service Apprenticeship 

program would assist local communities in addressing 

the shortage of fi refi ghters in both career and volunteer 

departments and help make the fi re service become 

a more diverse and inclusive vocation. The fi re service 

apprenticeship program should be designed to mirror the 

Department of Labor’s Registered Apprenticeship and the 

Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs.

Invest in a national apprenticeship program to address the shortage of fi refi ghters and 

to make the fi re service more diverse and inclusive.

Issue

In recent years there has been a steady 

decline in the number of fi refi ghters in 

the nation. This decline is impacting both 

career and volunteer departments, leaving 

the communities they serve vulnerable to 

threats, and increasing the stresses among 

fi refi ghters and the municipalities. It is 

imperative that we invest in programs to 

incentivize individuals to join volunteer and 

career fi re departments. 

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Number of Career Firefighters

Figure 1. Number of Career

Firefighters and Rate per 1,000 People

Career

Firefighters

Rate per 1,000

People

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Number of Volunteer Firefighters

Figure 2. Number of Volunteer

Firefighters and Rate per 1,000 People

Volunteer

Firefighters

Rate per 1,000

people

More Information 

®

NFPA. US Fire Department Profi le 2019 Rita Fahy, Ben Evarts and 

Gary P. Stein, December 2021. https://www.nfpa.org/-/media/

Files/News-and-Research/Fire-statistics-and-reports/Emergencyresponders/osfdprofi le.pdf
U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Impact of 

Occupational Cancer

Impact Areas 

Research

Greater investment in research will expand our 

understanding of the mechanisms between occupational 

exposures and cancer, why fi refi ghters are at heightened 

risk from some cancers, and to better understand the 

cancer risks of our under-studied populations, including 

women and minorities. 

Access to cancer screenings

Preventive screenings can identify cancer in its earliest 

stages when positive treatment outcomes are more likely. 

However, it remains diffi cult for individual fi refi ghters to 

receive early screenings as current screening guidance 

does not account for their occupational exposures. Revised 

screening guidance can help medical professionals and 

insurance companies understand the need to screen 

fi refi ghters based on their higher cancer risk. 

Reduce and eliminate PFAS exposures

PFAS are likely carcinogenic chemicals that degrade very 

slowly, earning the label “forever chemicals.” PFAS are 

found in a fi refi ghter’s blood, their fi rehouses, some 

fi refi ghting foams, and perhaps most concerning, bunker 

gear. These chemicals are intensifying exposures, even 

though it is coming from the very gear meant to protect 

fi refi ghters. Next-generation PPE can remove this risk.

Establish a comprehensive fi refi ghter cancer strategy that invests in research, provides 

access to cancer screening for fi refi ghters, and reduces and eliminates PFAS exposure.

Issue

Firefi ghters have a 9% higher risk 

of developing cancer and a 14% 

higher risk of dying from cancer 

compared to the general public. 

More Information 

®
U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Impact of Behavioral 

Health

Impact Areas 

Firefi ghters and other rescue personnel develop PTSD at a similar rate 

to military service members returning from combat, according to an 

August 2016 study from the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology. 

The report reveals that approximately 20 percent of fi refi ghters and 

paramedics meet the criteria for PTSD at some point during their career.1

This compares to a 6.8 percent lifetime risk for the general population. 

The connection between PTSD and traumatizing rescue work is clear.

The number of fi refi ghter suicides is estimated to be at least 100 per 

year. According to the “Ruderman White Paper on Mental Health and 

Suicide of First Responders,” the suicide rate for fi refi ghters is 18 per 

100,000 compared to 13 per 100,000 for the general public. 

The federal government has a responsibility to protect those who 

protect us by investing in the protectors’ mental health. Grant programs 

funding peer-supported behavioral health and wellness programs 

within fi re departments should be established by Congress. Resources 

should be available to health care providers highlighting best practices 

for addressing post-traumatic stress among public safety offi cers. 

Accurate data on the prevalence and causes of post-traumatic stress 

and suicide with the fi re service must be collected. According to 

evidence-based research, behavioral health awareness campaigns 

provide eff ective intervention methods. It is our collective responsibility 

to provide those who serve with the tools they need to help themselves 

and each other. 

The FBI launched the Law Enforcement Suicide Data Collection on 

January 1, 2022.2 to help improve understanding and prevent suicide 

among law enforcement offi cers. We applaud this eff ort, and a similar 

data collection model is needed at the U.S. Fire Administration.

It is our position, that we need to provide behavioral health resources 

and suicide prevention initiatives for all fi refi ghters. Like other injuries, 

early detection, access to culturally competent behavioral health 

specialists and proper screening can help reduce the eff ects of posttraumatic stress. Many insurance providers cap the costs related to 

behavioral health assistance and treatment centers for behavioral 

health programs are often out of the reach of the average fi refi ghter.

1 https://www.iaff recoverycenter.com/blog/trauma-fi refi ghting-and-ptsd/

2 https://www.fbi.gov/services/cjis/ucr/law-enforcement-suicide-data-collection

Provide behavioral health resources and suicide prevention initiatives for all fi refi ghters.

Issue

An increasing number of 

fi refi ghters are dying by suicide 

suff ering from behavioral 

health issues, including 

post-traumatic stress, from 

exposures that they have 

suff ered while delivering 

emergency medical services 

to the public. There is a 

lack of culturally competent 

behavioral health specialists 

to assist fi refi ghters, and local 

Employee Assistance Programs 

are ill-equipped to assist fi rst 

responders.

More Information 

®
U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Elevation of the Fire Service in 

Federal Policy Development

Impact Areas 

The White House Fiscal Year 2023 budget proposal includes $1.97 

billion in discretionary funding to support state and local law 

enforcement, an increase of 12% over the previous fi scal year.1 This 

represents a signifi cant investment in local law enforcement and is 

much needed. Despite the signifi cant fi re problem our nation faces, 

the Administration requested $740 million for grants to local fi re 

departments.2 The National Fire Protection Association estimated 

the total cost of fi re in the United States in 2014 was $328.5 billion, 

approximately 1.9% of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product.3 Federal 

investments in fi re protection and response are not suffi cient to 

address the scope of the problem.

In addition to supporting local law enforcement, federal law 

enforcement agencies have a signifi cant presence in the federal 

government. These agencies include the Air Force Offi ce of Special 

Investigations, Army Criminal Investigation Division, Defense Criminal 

Investigative Service, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Coast Guard 

Investigative Service (Department of Defense), Customs and Border 

Protection, Federal Protective Service, Immigration and Customs 

Enforcement, U.S. Secret Service (Department of Homeland Security), 

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement 

Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshal 

Service (DOJ), U.S. Park Police (Department of Interior), IRS Criminal 

Investigations Division (Department of Treasury), U.S. Postal Inspection 

Service (U.S. Postal Service), Probation and Pretrial Services (Judicial 

Conference of the U.S.), and U.S. Capitol Police (United States Congress).

Nearly every department and agency in the federal government 

touches upon fi re and emergency services. These departments are 

responsible for engaging with fi re service stakeholders — inside and 

outside of the federal government — when developing policies and 

1

FACT SHEET: President Biden’s Budget Invests in Reducing Gun Crime to Make Our Communities 

Safer (White House; March 28, 2022)

2Fiscal Year 2023 President’s Budget

3Total Cost of Fire in the United States (NFPA; October 2017)

Involve the fi re service in federal policy development on an equal basis with law 

enforcement.

Issue

The fi re service must be included 

in federal policy development 

on an equal basis with law 

enforcement when federal 

agencies develop policies and 

programs related to public safety, 

such as fi rst responder behavioral 

health, building and fi re codes, 

and the fi ve mission areas of 

the National Preparedness Goal 

(prevention, protection, mitigation, 

response and recovery). 

®
procedures impacting fi re and life safety. Despite the fi re service’s 

signifi cant footprint within these departments’ mission, there is a 

lack of coordination and cohesive policy development among these 

agencies. Consistent, competent and eff ective leadership at the U.S. Fire 

Administration level can coordinate these policies and ensure that the 

fi re service stakeholders can eff ectively operate at the national level. 

The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) should be elevated within the 

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and transformed 

into a multi-disciplinary response, preparedness, and mitigation 

agency. As many response agencies already have, each FEMA region 

should have a dedicated USFA specialist to assist in the planning and 

response to disasters. USFA must be fully funded and appropriately 

staff ed in order to execute its mission.

More Information 

®

Department of Defense 

Ý Military fi refi ghter health and safety 

Department of Justice 

Ý Bureau of Justice Assistance 

Ý Public Safety Offi cers’ Benefi ts Program 

Department of the Interior

Ý Bureau of Land Management 

Ý Wildland fi refi ghting 

Department of Agriculture

Ý U.S. Forest Service 

Ý Wildland fi refi ghting 

Department of Commerce 

Ý National Telecommunications and 

Information Administration 

Ý First Responder Network Authority 

(FirstNet) 

Department of Labor 

Ý Occupational Safety & Health 

Administration 

Department of Health and Human Services

Ý Centers for Disease Control & Prevention/

National Institute for Occupational Safety & 

Health

Ý National Firefi ghter Registry 

Department of Housing and Urban 

Development

Ý Public and Indian Housing 

Ý Safe and aff ordable housing for our most 

vulnerable populations 

Department of Transportation

Ý National Highway Traffi c Safety 

Administration 

Ý Offi ce of EMS 

Department of Energy

Ý Offi ce of Environment, Health, Safety & 

Security 

Ý Fire Protection Program 

Department of Education

Ý Offi ce of Postsecondary Education 

Ý Campus Safety & Security 

Department of Veterans Aff airs 

Ý Safe and aff ordable housing for veterans 

and their families 

Department of Homeland Security 

Ý Federal Emergency Management 

Agency/U.S. Fire Administration 

Ý National Fire Academy

Ý Assistance to Firefi ghters/Staffi ng for 

Adequate Fire & Emergency Response/Fire 

Prevention & Safety Grants 

The federal government has numerous agencies and programs impacting the nation’s 

fi re and emergency services. Nearly every department in the federal government 

touches upon fi re and emergency services. Here is a snapshot of some of the various 

programs in the federal government impacting fi re and life safety.
U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Impact of Codes and 

Standards

Impact Areas 

Model building codes improve building resilience to natural 

disasters and save $11 for every $1 invested.1

All nationally recognized modern building and fi re codes 

require the use of life-saving technology, like smoke 

alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, and automatic fi re 

sprinkler systems. 

Nearly a million households live in public housing units 

in the United States,2 and fi re safety improvements in 

public housing must receive heightened attention. In 1992, 

Congress passed the Federal Fire Safety Act (15 USC 2227), 

requiring newly constructed multi-family housing units to 

have fi re sprinklers. HUD estimates that approximately 

570,000 multi-family public housing units are in their 

inventory that were constructed before the sprinkler 

requirement. A signifi cant portion of these units lack the 

protection off ered by fi re sprinklers. 

In buildings with automatic fi re sprinkler systems, 

the civilian fi re death rate is 89 percent lower than 

non-sprinklered buildings and the injury rate is 27 

percent lower. Furthermore, property damage decreases 

signifi cantly in buildings protected by fi re sprinklers.3

Investments must be made in retrofi tting public housing 

with fi re sprinkler systems.

Nearly three out of fi ve home fi re deaths are caused by 

fi res in properties without smoke alarms or smoke alarms 

that failed to operate.4 HUD must provide resources to 

public housing authorities to either retrofi t housing units 

with hardwired smoke alarms or require the installation of 

tamper-resistant long-life battery-powered smoke alarms. 

1

Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves: 2019 Report (National Institute for Building Sciences; 

December 1, 2019)

2

U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, Office of Public and Indian Housing 

3US Experience with Fire Sprinklers (NFPA; October 2021)

4 Smoke Alarms in US Home Fires (NFPA; February 2021)

Create safer communities by implementing and enforcing codes and standards, 

especially in the wildland urban interface (WUI) and under-served and vulnerable 

populations providing aff ordable and fi re-safe housing.

Issue

State and local governments are responsible 

for promoting the use and enforcement of 

current codes and standards. The federal 

government can help by incentivizing 

compliance and providing funding to local 

jurisdictions for code implementation, 

inspection, and enforcement. This 

will increase fi re and life safety in our 

communities, especially in the WUI and 

among under-served and vulnerable 

populations.

More Information 

®

Philadelphia Fire Department 

units operating at January 2022 

multi-fatality fi re in the city’s 

Fairmount neighborhood. 

Photo credit: PFD Community 

Action Team

January 9th 2022: Bronx, New 

York: FDNY units operating at 

the Twin Parks Fire. Tragically, 17 

people died at this fi re. However, 

many more were rescued by the 

FDNY. Photo credit: Frank Leeb
National Roundtable Agenda 17

National Roundtable Agenda

From the National Roundtable Briefing Document (Appendix F)

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell

U.S. Fire Administrator

Mr. Clifton Truman Daniel*

National Roundtable

Chief Donna Black

President, IAFC

Chief Kevin Quinn

First Vice Chair, NVFC

General President Edward Kelly

IAFF

Chief Ernest Mitchell, Jr.

Board of Directors Member, NFFF

Former U.S. Fire Administrator

Mr. James Pauley

President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), NFPA

Presidential Proclamation of the 100th Fire Prevention Week Closing Remarks

*Mr. Daniel was unable to attend the summit.
18 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

State of Science Agenda

From the State of Science Program (Appendix G)

Opening Remarks

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, U.S. Fire Administrator

Chief Ron Siarnicki, NFFF

Impact on Communities

Introduced by Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell

Commissioner Adam K. Thiel, City of Philadelphia Fire Department Deputy 

Assistant Chief Frank Leeb, FDNY

Dr. Susan M. Moore, NIOSH

Dr. Steve Kerber, Fire Safety Research Institute

Chief Shane Ray, NFSA

Climate Change Impact on the Fire Service

Introduced by Ms. Lorraine Carli, Vice President, Outreach and Advocacy, 

NFPA

Karl Fippinger, ICC

Michele Steinberg, NFPA 

Rick Swan, IAFF

Impact on Firefighter Recruitment, Retention and Training

Introduced by Ms. Vickie Pritchett, Executive Officer, NFSA

Chief John H. Oates, International Public Safety Data Institute

Chief John S. Butler, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (Virginia) 

Chief Brita Horn, Rock Creek Volunteer Fire Department (Colorado)

Impact on Firefighters’ Health

Introduced by Chief Tonya Hoover, Deputy U.S. Fire Administrator

Dr. Kenneth Fent, NIOSH

Dr. Jeff Burgess, University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of 

Public Health Dr. Sara Jahnke, Center for Fire, Rescue & EMS Health Research

Dr. Denise L. Smith, Skidmore College

Patrick Morrison, IAFF

Closing Remarks

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell
Summit Transcripts 19

Summit Transcripts

National Roundtable 

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell:

Good morning. I’m Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, the U.S. Fire Administrator, and it is 

my pleasure to welcome you to the United States Fire Administrator’s Summit on 

Fire Prevention and Control at the National Emergency Training Center here in 

Emmitsburg, Maryland. The Summit on Fire Prevention and Control begins this 

morning with a National Roundtable, where we have renowned fire service leaders 

prepared to brief homeland security leadership, FEMA and the administration on 

the critical issues facing the fire service and our nation. Later today, in a livestream 

event, we will hear from leading fire service researchers and subject matter experts 

on the current state of science for fire and firefighter health and safety.

June 8th was a historic day this year, because on June 8th, it was the only day this 

year so far that there have been no known reported civilian home fire fatalities. 

Every other day this year, civilians have died in a fire at home, where they should be 

safest. Some of these tragedies make the evening news, like the January 5th fire in 

Philadelphia that killed 12 people, among them 9 children. And just 4 days later on 

January 9th, 17 people, including 8 children, were killed in the Bronx, New York. 44 

civilians were injured, and 17 of those injured were under the age of 18.

But the many other lives lost so far this year did not make the national headlines. 

As your U.S. Fire Administrator and with my 35 years of experience in the fire and 

emergency services, I know that these are preventable deaths. We gathered this 

National Roundtable from different organizations, but today we stand together as 

a unified fire service. Some of the issues discussed may take some time to resolve, 

but others can begin immediately.

We must begin today, because climate change affects where fires occur, and directly 

impacts firefighters without sufficient training and protective equipment. Chief 

Donna Black from Duck, North Carolina, and the president of the International 

Association of Fire Chiefs will speak to this issue.

We must begin today because we’re facing a fire problem in America with fewer 

firefighters than we need. Chief Kevin Quinn from the Union Fire District in Rhode 

Island and the National Volunteer Fire Council will present a plan to increase 

the number of firefighters with a similar program already underway in the U.S 

Department of Labor.

We must begin today, because somewhere in our country today, a firefighter is 

being diagnosed with cancer from their exposures on the job. General President Ed 

Kelly from the International Association of Firefighters will speak about this issue.

Firefighters also face a mental toll that must be addressed. Chief Ernie Mitchell, 

former U.S. Fire Administrator and representative of the National Fallen Firefighters 

Foundation will discuss the efforts needed to prevent firefighters dying from 

suicide. We are not just here today to talk about the fire problem in America. We’re 

also here to offer solutions. Therefore, Chief Mitchell will also offer a possible 

solution to elevate the fire service within the federal government to work side by 

side with other agencies working to protect and serve their communities.
20 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

And finally, we must do a better job at ensuring that no more lives are taken from 

fires that could have been prevented by the codes and standards that are in place 

if they were only enforced. Mr. Jim Pauley, president and CEO of the National Fire 

Protection Association, will be speaking about this issue.

We must begin today, because until every day is like June 8th, we must do 

everything we can at the federal, state and local levels to achieve a fire-safe 

America.

To start this roundtable is a leader whose passion for the security of the homeland 

is only surpassed by his integrity and his compassion for people. It is now my 

honor to introduce to you the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, 

Alejandro Mayorkas.

Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas (appeared virtually):

Thank you very much Dr. Moore-Merrell, and I’m very sorry that I’m not there in 

person, but I greatly appreciate the opportunity to share a few thoughts with you 

this morning. And you’ll see that the subjects that I touch upon briefly are those 

that Dr. Moore-Merrell referenced in her opening remarks just now. I do want to 

recognize Dr. Moore-Merrell for being such an extraordinary U.S. fire administrator. 

She’s such a powerful voice for the firefighter community across our entire country.

I think that the recent and devastating Hurricane Ian showed our nation yet again 

the bravery and selflessness of our firefighter community, with so many of you and 

other emergency responders being the first on the scene to rescue people and 

address their most urgent needs.

In August, I learned a great deal more about the needs of firefighters when I sat 

down with the leadership of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and heard 

them speak of the challenges all of you face. Some were heartbreaking, frankly, but 

so important to know. They define the work that Lori, I, Administrator Criswell, our 

superb leader of FEMA, and many others must do for you and with you. Firefighters 

respond not just to fires and extreme weather events, but increasingly to events 

such as protests or mass gatherings that could become violent and jeopardize 

people’s safety.

When one fire chief lamented in our International Association of Fire Chiefs’ 

discussion that he needed help to equip his squad with ballistic gear, like bulletproof 

vests, which they don’t yet have, there were nods all around the table. Traditional 

equipment is also much in need, and supply chain delays are presenting acquisition 

and timing challenges. We are, I want you to know, tackling your equipment needs 

with the urgency that the situation requires.

I learned also at the IAFC leadership meeting how widespread certain cancers are 

among firefighters past and present. Dr. Moore-Merrell referenced that a moment 

ago. Since then, I’ve pulled more specific data, which has only increased and 

elevated my concern. Our new office of health security can and will play an active 

role in really supporting prevention programs and responsive care.

I also heard of our need to grow our SAFER and AFG grant programs. I learned 

about the importance of simplifying our grant application process to make these 

resources more accessible to fire departments of all sizes and of all resources 

across the country. And we will make that a priority.
Summit Transcripts 21

We also need to increase the funding for the fire administrator and build capacity 

in response to increasingly dynamic fire events. The bottom line is that you all 

take care of us, and we must take care of you. You have my commitment to fight 

for the resources you need and deserve to make the progress that the firefighter 

community needs to address the increasing challenges we face today.

I want to thank you for everything that you do, and please know that you have the 

full support of our department behind your noble mission. Thank you so much.

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell:

Thank you, Mr. Secretary. We really appreciate your spending some time with us this 

morning and continuing to engage with the fire service to make our nation safer. 

Thank you, sir.

Our next leader is also from the Department of Homeland Security. Deputy 

Secretary John Tien is here with us today, and Deputy Secretary Tien certainly 

understands public service and what it’s all about. He is a graduate of the United 

States Military Academy and a veteran of 3 combat tours. His military decorations 

are numerous. We are so grateful that you are here this morning, sir. Thank you.

Deputy Secretary John Tien:

Great. Thanks very much. I appreciate that. And you mentioned, Lori, that I 

understand service. I certainly do from a United States Army side, 3 combat tours 

in Iraq. But I also understand the service and the sacrifices, the bravery and the 

courage of all of you in the firefighting community. On my stepfather’s side, I am the 

grandson of a fire chief from Staten Island, and I am also the nephew of a fire chief 

from Staten Island. If you probably put those 2 dots together, it was my uncle who 

replaced my grandfather in Staten Island a while back, in the ’40s and ’50s. If you 

guys want to do any Googling around that, Bud Hennessy and Bill Hennessy.

So, I certainly appreciate that. I’ve heard the many stories of them from them, 

and again, of the sacrifices and of the courage. And he’s still alive. Bud Hennessy, 

up in Staten Island, in his mid-90s, and he tells me about all of the challenges that 

are ongoing today for all of you. The line-of-duty deaths, as the secretary just 

mentioned, we certainly appreciate. I think it’s 70% line-of-duty deaths due to 

cancer.

The PTSD, which I can connect to from a United States Army veteran piece, it is hard 

to go in literally on the front line and to experience the sorts of things that you first 

responders — those who are in combat tours — experience and not at some point 

be impacted by that mentally, emotionally and quite honestly, physically.

When I was looking through your amazing National Fallen Firefighters Memorial 

Weekend book here, as I was flipping through, I came across Lieutenant Bud 

Hills from Aurora, Colorado, and it immediately jumped to mind, my uncle Bud 

Hennessy. And I was reading through his bio, and I just saw a lifetime of service to 

protecting, as the secretary just said, protecting all of us.

So as the secretary said, the Department of Homeland Security, through our 

great administrator, Deanne Criswell, through our great fire administrator, Dr. Lori 

Moore-Merrell, the Department of Homeland Security is with you. We know, as 

the secretary often will say, that we are a department of partnerships. We must be 

connected to all of you. And not just connected to all of you in understanding what 
22 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

you go through, but figuring out how we can resource, whether it’s through funding, 

whether it’s through offices, especially in terms of medical support through our new 

Office of Health Services or our chief medical officer, Dr. Pritesh Gandhi. We must 

determine ways to find out how we can support you specifically.

So with that, I’m honored to be here today. I look forward to being educated even 

more so on all of, not only what you do, but the challenges that you face, and 

looking forward to the testimony. So with that, back to you, Dr. Moore-Merrell.

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell:

Thank you so much, sir. Thank you. We really appreciate that and the very personal 

touch you just put on that story. So, thank you so much.

Our next leader is someone that you have all seen in action, particularly in the last 

couple of weeks. Our FEMA administrator, Deanne Criswell. She began her career 

as a firefighter in Aurora, Colorado, later leading up that city’s Office of Emergency 

Management. She served also as commissioner of the New York City Office of 

Emergency Management, coordinating the COVID-19 response. Administrator 

Criswell also proudly served for 21 years in the Colorado National Guard as a 

firefighter.

And she is an advocate for the fire service, she is an advocate for firefighters, and 

she is an advocate for the USFA. I can’t tell you how many doors she is opening to 

make sure we can elevate this administration to what it should be. And so, I am very 

happy and honored to introduce you to my friend, Deanne Criswell.

Deanne Criswell:

Lori, thank you so much. It’s such an honor to be here today at the United States 

Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control, and to join everybody 

as we kick off the 100th annual Fire Prevention Week. It takes, like you said, 

partnerships to do this. And so I am also extremely grateful that President Biden, 

who you’ll hear from later today, as you just heard from DHS Secretary Mayorkas 

and Deputy Secretary Tien, that leadership is listening, and that we want to hear 

from all of you so we can continue to improve on the important work that you do.

And Lori, I just want to thank you personally. Your leadership with the USFA has 

been instrumental, making great changes. Happy to be part of this team.

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell:

Thank you.

Administrator Deanne Criswell:

So the discussion that we’re going to have today about the challenges that our 

fire service face, as well as our communities, is very timely. It’s needed, and it’s 

something that I personally take very seriously. I began my career nearly 3 decades 

ago in Aurora, Colorado. Bud Hills, worked with him in Aurora, and I saw firsthand 

the danger that fire poses, not only to the citizens, but to our firefighters, to our first 

responders.

And I was honored to be able to participate in the remembrance just this past 

Sunday, and speak at, and join many of you, at the National Fallen Firefighters 
Summit Transcripts 23

Memorial Service. The stories at this service that were shared by the leaders of the 

fallen and their loved ones were deeply moving, and they serve as a real solemn 

reminder of the serious consequences of the work that you all do. Tragically, in 

2022, so far more than 1,600 people have been killed by a fire, and that includes 77 

firefighters.

But the threats to the lives of these public servants extends well beyond the calls 

that they take. As was the case for the recent loss of FDNY EMS Lieutenant Alison 

Russo, who was senselessly murdered just steps from her station house just a few 

weeks ago. So let us never forget the ultimate sacrifices made on behalf of our 

safety, the heroes who made them, and the loved ones who were left behind.

And on top of the fire danger are the cascading impacts of increased cancer rates 

and mental health issues of our first responders, and everything that they’re facing. 

These factors — as well as a growing call, volumes of increased responsibilities — 

have led to a steady decline in the number of firefighters that we have. And this is a 

deeply concerning problem for me. And it’s a problem we must face, we must come 

together to address. So, I am confident that the voices at the table today have the 

power to define the solutions that we need to protect those who vowed to put the 

needs of others before their own.

So now, while any community can face the dangers of fire, we have unfortunately 

seen time and again that it disproportionately impacts our most vulnerable 

populations: older adults, children, people with access and functional needs, 

low-income families. The recent devastating fires in Philadelphia and the Bronx 

really highlight this tragic truth.

But the impacts of fire is not limited to our cities. Our precious wildlands are also 

being ravaged by unforgiving impacts of wildfire. As we continue to see across 

the western United States, extreme heat, prolonged drought and high winds are 

serving as compounding factors to the year-round wildfire crisis. The call to mitigate 

these threats is growing louder each and every day. That is why FEMA, the U.S. 

Fire Administration and our federal partners are leaning into a national cohesive 

strategy to develop resilient landscapes, fire-adapted communities and effective 

response capabilities.

For example, we are helping lead the new Wildland Fire and Management 

Commission that is going to deliver workable and impactful solutions to Congress. 

This commission, comprised from partners across all levels of government and 

the private sector, is focused on creating safer communities by implementing and 

enforcing higher codes and standards, especially in the wildland urban interface 

and in our underserved communities. This is just 1 step that FEMA is taking to 

ensure that we are building a safer and more fire-resilient nation. The work ahead 

of us is extensive, but it’s not impossible if we have a strong set of partners with us 

each step of the way. And today is the start of that process.

And finally, I just want to underscore that the work that we put forth today and 

in the weeks and the months to come is an investment towards the safety of our 

future generations. This was the vision that President Truman had when he held the 

first fire conference 75 years ago. And it will remain true 75 years from now. And I 

want everyone here to know that your voices and your perspectives, they matter, 

and that together we can meet the mission to advance fire and life safety for all 

Americans. So, thank you so much for taking the time to join us here today to have 

this important discussion.
24 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell:

Thank you, ma’am. We really obviously appreciate your personal touch on this 

meeting as well. We’re very excited also to have Director Caitlin Durkovich here, 

representing the president and the team at the National Security Council. Caitlin is 

the NSC Senior Director for Resilience and Response, and quarterbacks the White 

House’s response to major domestic incidents, including wildfires, hurricanes, 

floods and terrorist attacks. She’s also responsible for coordinating national policy 

in these areas and has been a tremendous voice and advocate for firefighters since 

day 1 of the Biden administration. At this time, please welcome Caitlin Durkovich.

Senior Director Caitlin Durkovich:

Lori, thank you very much, and good morning to all of you. I am honored to be 

here today, and honored to represent President Biden and his White House at this 

important roundtable. As Lori mentioned, I am senior director for resilience and 

response at the National Security Council. And I’m sure the words resilience and 

response resonate with all of you.

As recent events continue to show us, firefighters are a critical and essential part of 

the nation’s incident response infrastructure and play a major role in sustaining our 

national resilience. Like other Americans, we at the White House watched anxiously 

as Hurricane Ian made landfall in Fort Myers, wondering what was happening on 

the ground and what type of damage and destruction the storm would leave in 

its wake. Then we all saw what happened next. Local firefighters and other first 

responders doing what they do best, running into the devastation as soon as it was 

humanly possible to begin search and rescue efforts and help those in needs, often 

putting their own needs to the side.

Firefighters from both local departments and urban search and rescue teams 

from across the country have spent days searching, rescuing and providing vital 

assistance to survivors. And as Florida begins to recover, firefighters will be a 

stabilizing factor for those communities, helping them stay resilient while they 

navigate the long road to recovery that we all know lie ahead.

Whether it is a major disaster, a multialarm fire like has been mentioned in 

Philadelphia or in the Bronx, or a single emergency call, a wildfire, a mass casualty 

event, a hazmat spill, or a medical emergency, you are there. Firefighters are 

all-hazards responders, and local fire departments are foundational to the 

resilience of our communities.

The president understands this implicitly, which is why he is such a strong 

supporter of the fire service, and is committed to ensuring you have the resources 

and support you need to do your jobs. I look forward to hearing directly from all of 

you today, and to discussing where we can work together to address the emerging 

challenges within your community. Thank you, Lori, for the opportunity. Thank you 

for your service, and back over to you.

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell:

Thank you so much, Caitlin. So let’s get to it. Our first testimony this morning is 

coming from Chief Donna Black. Donna, please share your thoughts on the impact 

of climate change, firefighting, including what you have seen in your hometown.
Summit Transcripts 25

Chief Donna Black:

I’m honored to speak with you this morning. As fire chief of Duck, North Carolina, I 

have witnessed the effects of climate change. I have seen hurricane-driven storm 

surges and wind endanger our residents and visitors, and damage our buildings, 

beaches and roads. As climate change drives extremes in weather, we see 

extremes emerging in our nation’s fire problem. Due to climate change, more fire 

departments are responding to an increasing number of wildland urban interface in 

suburban conflagration fires.

The wildland urban interface is where suburban and rural areas merge with the 

wildland. About one-third of our population lives in this built environment. My 

state ranks fourth in terms of houses in the wildland urban interface, trailing only 

California, Texas and Florida. Fires in the wildland and wildland urban interface 

are also larger and more destructive. The western states continue to experience 

significant impacts, including increases in fires so severe that they threaten forest 

recovery.

These fires are not limited to the western U.S. The Southeast may see these large 

fires increase by 300 to 400% in the next 30 years. Nor are these fires limited to 

a season. Colorado’s Marshall fire burned 6,000 acres, destroyed more than a 

thousand homes and businesses, and caused over $500 million in damages in 

December. Well outside the traditional wildland fire season.

With suburban conflagration fires in the wildland urban interface, structural 

firefighters are not fighting a single-family house fire. Instead, they’re responding to 

entire neighborhoods and communities under threat. The NFPA’s needs assessment 

found that while 88% of structural fire departments respond to interface fires, only 

50% have training on interface fires involving multiple structures. This must change. 

We need funding to provide all firefighters, career and volunteer, with the training 

and equipment necessary to meet these challenges. Properly equipped and trained 

firefighters can conduct rapid fire attack operations, reducing life and property loss, 

preserving scarce firefighting resources, and lessening environmental impacts.

Finally, water is a critical issue. As droughts continue, limited water for firefighting 

is not something that may happen someday; it’s happening now, today. In July, 

firefighters in Pembroke, Massachusetts, could not use their fire hydrants because 

of a water shortage. Officials in Las Vegas, New Mexico, announced they had 

about 20 days of water left after ash and debris from the state’s largest wildfire 

contaminated the supply. Without readily available water, firefighters may not be 

able to stop a small brush fire from becoming a disaster.

In closing, we cannot continue this cycle. Our current system, while much improved, 

cannot overcome climate change, population growth, and complex changes in both 

our society and the built environment. We must prepare our firefighters for the 

climate-driven increase in wildfires in the wildland urban interface by providing 

them with the proper training and equipment. Thank you again for this opportunity. 

Appreciate it.

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell:

Thank you, Donna. Chief, I appreciate those comments. I want to turn now to our 

leaders and see if they have any questions regarding your testimony.
26 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

Deputy Secretary John Tien:

Chief, actually, I do. You mentioned briefly in your comments, which were all terrific 

and really strong identification of some very specific things. And as you heard 

Secretary Mayorkas speak during his comments about being there to be supportive 

through programs, but also through funding. If, and now this is a big if, if funding 

was no object, what would you actually specifically focus on for your department 

and as a representative of the firefighting service for funding?

Chief Donna Black:

Absolutely. So we all are sitting here, and we have firefighters that are very 

structurally focused, and then we have our wildland firefighters. And where we 

need to bridge that gap is with funding and training, to make sure that all of us have 

the ability to help when we face these WUI situations. So again, funding and training 

that gets disseminated down to the smallest department, to the largest metro 

department that’s in that wildland environment, that interface.

Administrator Deanne Criswell:

Well, let me piggyback on that for a second, Chief Black, too.

Chief Donna Black:

Sure.

Administrator Deanne Criswell:

So, I was in Colorado at the Marshall Fire maybe 48 hours afterwards, and it’s not 

your traditional wildfire. It was really a conflagration of that community and those 

neighborhoods. And the wildland firefighters that we normally see come in, it was 

really the structural firefighters that managed that entire incident. And so, when 

you talk about training, what training exists already, or what training would you 

recommend we put forth to help that? Because we’re going to see more situations, 

I fear, like we saw in Colorado in the future, because it was extreme drought, and it 

was high wind. It was just a perfect confluence of climate-related events that then 

drove that fire into what we saw.

Chief Donna Black:

Sure, sure. So NWCG, IAFF, IAFC all have programs for training. I think what we’re 

realizing with these wildland urban interface fires is we have to cross-train for that 

fire behavior. Again, wildland firefighters are very skilled in what they’re looking at 

and what are the risks, and then the structural firefighters know what to do. I think 

that bridge to training between both, because we are meeting in the middle with 

these terrible fires.

Administrator Deanne Criswell:

Does anything exist already for structural firefighters? Or is it something that we 

have to really get within NWCG to start to bridge that?

Chief Donna Black:

Yeah. We need to bridge that. There are structural firefighters that have no training 

at all in wildland.
Summit Transcripts 27

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell:

Okay. Anybody else have comments?

President Ed Kelly:

I’d just point out that it’s an interesting dilemma, because as a city firefighter, 

I work in Boston downtown, you wouldn’t think this would be a city firefighter 

problem. But as I was educated by what we call our RTI — responding to the 

interface — instructors, is that when wildfire hits the interface where people live, 

it’s usually in rural communities. And who do they call? Who has numbers? They 

call the cities and say, “Can you send 100, 200, 300 firefighters right away?” So 

what we see is firefighters that might be in downtown high-rise districts being 

pulled and immediately deployed an hour or 2 out of the city to go right into this 

wildfire interface response. So it doesn’t just affect what would be considered rural 

structural firefighters that need this training. It’s actually every firefighter who 

needs this; that’s what we’re learning.

Senior Director Caitlin Durkovich:

Chief, technology is changing how we fight wildland fires. And in addition to 

additional training and resources, what data and technology do our urban 

firefighters need both to better understand the hazards within their particular 

community, but to help them get ahead of these hazards?

Chief Donna Black:

Sure. Definitely technology changes, one, how we can fight, how we can look at 

a fire. And then the built environment piece is so important. The community risk 

reduction piece to make sure that we’re paying attention to where we’re building 

homes, and that firefighters were preplanning for that and we know what’s going 

on there. Any type of technology that’s going to help us, one, learn the environment 

better, but then during the event, be able to keep eyes on what’s going on will be 

very helpful. But the built environment is such an important piece to this as well.

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell:

And sensors, I think, for ignition. Sensing?

Chief Donna Black:

Yes.

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell:

The closer we can get to ignition, the point of ignition. So when the fire before — so 

locating resources quickly is absolutely imperative. So being able to sense a fire, 

sense ignition and move resources rapidly to engage is really key.

Senior Director Caitlin Durkovich:

Thank you. 

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell:

Right. Yes, please.
28 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

President Ed Kelly:

The other major difference is PPE. If you look at what a wildland firefighter would 

respond to for PPE, when we have those interface fires, we’re sending our structural 

firefighters sometimes into high-heat environments for long durations in PPE that is 

not designed for that wear, and it causes significant biological impact.

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell:

Thank you. Excellent. Alright. We’ll go to our next testimony, please. Chief Quinn, 

please brief us on firefighter recruitment and retention efforts.

Chief Kevin Quinn:

Thank you. In my opinion, in my 47 years in the fire service, being a firefighter, 

I’ve learned, represents one of the most significant ways to give back to your 

community. Sadly, the number of people interested in becoming firefighters is 

declining. While we must study why this is happening, I can share with you the 

challenges that I’ve heard and seen from firefighters across the country. Over the 

past 2 1/2 years, there have been many mass retirements in the fire departments 

due to COVID, the pandemic, and a number of other factors such as the decline 

that has happened because of civil unrest, active shooters and those mass casualty 

events. Both career and volunteer departments are affected by this.

In order to maintain services within their communities, fire departments are 

requiring mandatory overtime, and they’re having difficulty recruiting and retaining 

employees. In Minneapolis for instance, the fire department normally receives 

about 2,500 applications per that year, but this year they only received 700. While 

there has been a decline in the number of volunteer firefighters over the past 30 

years, the call volume has tripled, primarily due to increased emergency medical 

calls. Increasing time demands, time-consuming training requirements and aging 

communities make finding and keeping new volunteers very challenging.

The fire service struggles to recruit and retain women and people of color. The 

most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 11.6% of career 

firefighters were Hispanic or Latino, 8.5% were African American, and 1.3% were 

Asian. Women represent 11% of volunteer firefighters and 5% of career firefighters, 

according to the NFPA’s 2022 United States Fire Department Profile Report based on 

the 2020 data.

Dr. Moore-Merrell mentioned earlier that we are here today to provide some 

solutions. One solution to our firefighter shortage is to invest in a national 

apprenticeship program to address the shortage of firefighters, and to make the 

fire service more diverse and inclusive. A fire service apprenticeship program 

could mirror the registered apprenticeship program or the industrial recognized 

apprenticeship program administered by the Department of Labor. 

Fire departments can benefit from apprenticeship programs by attracting people 

who may not be interested or think that they were interested in becoming a 

firefighter or joining the fire service originally as a career, or in some way to serve 

your community. The recent grants awarded under the Apprenticeship Building 

America program are grounded in equity, job quality, sustainability and evidencebased practices. Diversity, equity and inclusion are vital to the fire service and our 

longevity, and these types of grants support those factors. The fire service occupies 
Summit Transcripts 29

a unique place in American society, trusted and often welcomed. We need to do 

everything we can on every level of government to attract firefighters to serve their 

communities. And I heard you say leadership is listening, and we thank you for 

being here today.

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell:

Thank you, Chief Quinn. We appreciate that comment. And I certainly know that as I 

travel and talk with fire chiefs — firefighters across the country — this subject is top 

of mind throughout the entire country. So let me turn and see if our leaders have 

questions for Chief Quinn.

Administrator Deanne Criswell:

Yeah, I’ll start. Chief Quinn, thank you so much. You mentioned how much our roles 

have changed, and we see that across our public service industry. Our emergency 

managers, our firefighters, our law enforcement officers, to be a public servant 

today is very different than what it was to be a public servant before. But it’s still not 

a job that you do; it’s who you are. That’s really what drives that. And so, when you 

talk about increasing the number of people, how have you worked, or what kind of 

relationships have you had with the Department of Labor? Where has that worked 

for you, or where could we do improvement to make them a partner in this as well?

Chief Kevin Quinn:

Thank you. It’s a good question. We do have, through the Department of Education, 

some very successful pockets of programs where we’re involved with the high 

schools and we’re involved with the junior colleges, but the Department of Labor, 

we’re really looking for a national program, an apprenticeship program that brings 

fire individuals into the service, the fire service. And the shortage is really impacting 

career and volunteers, and I think we need to look at those services that are 

working in other areas, the industrial and some of the trades, that grab them early 

and often, and then they get rewarded by becoming a career firefighter or serving 

your community. So I think the Department of Labor is really what we’re looking to 

develop, a brand-new national apprenticeship program for the fire service. That’s 

the ask.

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell:

Any other comments?

Senior Director Caitlin Durkovich:

How do you use new recruits to go out and be a force multiplier in terms of 

recruitment, and for them to advocate? Because we are facing shortages in many 

professions, but in some ways the best way to recruit are to have your folks go out 

and do it. What programs do you have around that?

Chief Kevin Quinn:

Current programs that we have obviously are very localized in the commitment and 

the connections and the partnerships that may exist, but there’s so many pockets 

of non-programs that are out there. So we are looking at approaching the youth and 

getting them in early. And it’s a long-term problem, but it’s a better solution to that. 

So we do have pockets that are working very well, extremely well. And we try to 
30 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

replicate those that are in existence now through the Department of Ed or whatever 

credits we’re given. But we’re really looking at this as a complete labor change in the 

fire service, both career and volunteer through the apprenticeship program. So we 

really want you to look at what’s working now in the trades and let’s replicate.

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell:

Other questions? Any comments?

Chief Kevin Quinn:

Thank you.

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell:

Thank you, Chief Quinn. So now let’s move on to President Ed Kelly. President Kelly, 

please talk to us about firefighter cancer.

President Ed Kelly:

Thank you. And thank you to President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas and the 

tremendous leadership from the administration that’s here today. In particular, your 

own Dr. Moore-Merrell for what you’ve done to lead the fire service. Very important 

part of what the governmental responses for the citizens of this country. And what 

we’re asking the federal government to establish is a comprehensive firefighter 

cancer strategy that invests in research, provides access to cancer screening for 

all firefighters, and reduces and ultimately eliminates exposure to PFAS and other 

dangerous chemicals.

In 2010, NIOSH found firefighters have excess cancer risk compared to the 

general population for multiple cancers, including testicular, brain, prostate, 

colon, mesothelioma, multiple myeloma and leukemia. Recently, the World 

Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer, IARC, 

declared a firefighter’s occupational exposure at the highest level: a class-1 threat 

carcinogenic to humans. Given that there is no doubt that the higher risk is due to 

our occupational exposures, what we need now is to further understand the link 

between these exposures and cancer development.

Some critical research has been done to define the connection between exposures 

and genetic mutations. That research must continue and expand until we know 

enough about the causation of cancer and firefighters to change our outcomes. 

Thus far, what we are learning from the science on this matter is of great concern to 

our profession. 

Second, we need access to health screenings for all firefighters throughout their 

time as a firefighter, and in retirement when the chronic exposures usually manifest. 

For example, firefighters have a higher risk of lung cancer, yet it’s often difficult for 

individual firefighters to get lung screenings due to existing recommendations that 

do not take into account that our profession is a significant risk factor for cancer. 

We must direct medical professionals and insurance companies to account for this 

occupational risk when making coverage decisions. A comprehensive, aggressive 

screening program will help us find and treat cancer early, when there is a greater 

likelihood of a positive outcome.
Summit Transcripts 31

Finally, we need to reduce PFAS exposures. Because of the slow rate in which they 

degrade, PFAS have been termed forever chemicals. None of the over 12,000 types 

of PFAS have proven to be safe. PFAS are in some of the foams we use to put out 

particularly difficult fires, and we urge action to ban the production and use of 

these foams as they have in European countries. PFAS accumulate in our bodies, 

compounds our exposures, and contribute to higher rates of several cancers 

and other health complications. They can pass in utero and via breast milk to the 

children of female firefighters. And PFAS are a driver of higher rates of testicular 

and prostate cancers in male firefighters.

Most concerning, our bunker gear, our PPE, the very gear we rely on to protect 

us is making us sick. It’s manufactured with this PFAS in it. Next generation PPE 

must be developed, evaluated and manufactured as quickly as possible. Most fire 

departments cannot afford to simply replace their bunker gear, and we need to 

make sure that funding isn’t a barrier to that replacement. We also need to plan for 

the safe disposal of our existing gear so we’re not spreading PFAS contamination 

into the environment. Time is of the essence. We must act now. Together, we can 

ensure that other families do not experience the pain that so many of our families 

have felt. Thank you.

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell:

Thank you, President Kelly. Any questions from our leaders?

Deputy Secretary John Tien:

Sort of a question, but I’ll start with a comment. And I know not everything 

necessarily parallels to what’s happening in the Department of Veterans Affairs, 

but I’m sure you’re very aware of the recent passage of the PACT Act, and around 

burn pits and things of that nature, which especially in Iraq and Afghanistan, that 

veterans were exposed to. And one of the things that the VA found was that was a 

bit of a challenge, was first to get their own medical staff understanding what was 

going on during, but also after. And then the second was actually a recognition on 

the part, and this case would be for the firefighters, to acknowledge this need. So 

do you find that both during and particularly after, based on what you just said, 

President Kelly, that your firefighters are appreciative of this need to go get these 

physicals, to get the screenings? The first thing has got to be to have them available. 

I get that, and we’ll look to see how we can support that. But how is the culture in 

terms of seeking the proactive care?

President Ed Kelly:

We’ve gone — as a union, we’ve developed recommended protocols for fire 

departments to adopt which require certain levels — in many cases higher levels — 

of screening for not only cancers but other physiological screenings. So, we have 

aggressively pursued earlier detection, and that has — I was just with one of our 

young firefighters that was just diagnosed at 30 years old, and he went for his annual 

physical, which was something that the union fought to put into our contract. When 

he went for his physical, the bloods showed that he needed further testing, and they 

unfortunately diagnosed stage 4 liver cancer that had spread to his lymph nodes and 

his heart. And so, he’s in our prayers. So, I was with him just 2 days ago.

So, we are aggressively pursuing different ways to make sure our members are 

aware. We’ve done a good job educating our members to be aggressive with their 
32 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

own physicians, their own primary cares, make sure that they’re getting those more 

advanced levels of screenings, if they can. Oftentimes without other demarcations, 

the doctors can’t prescribe that level of screening, which is one of the challenges 

that we mentioned. But the VA is very much someone that we look forward to 

potentially partnering with in the future.

Deputy Secretary John Tien:

Let us know on the partnerships. We’ll be supportive to that. Just like what the 

administrator’s talking about labor and then education as the chief is saying. Looks 

like Chief Black was going to comment here.

Chief Donna Black:

Yeah. Mr. Secretary, just to add on that, it’s very difficult in the volunteer 

combination world to have the same requirements for physicals. So it’s a real 

challenge. It’s funding, it’s availability. So there is a challenge in the volunteer 

combination world to get physicals to start with, or to pick up on any potential 

issues.

President Ed Kelly:

One of the other avenues that we’re pursuing is a partnership with the American 

Cancer Society, so that we are hopefully educating oncologists and primary care 

physicians, that when they have patients that are firefighters, that they are at an 

extreme risk, based not only on a lot of other data and research, but certainly 

IARC’s declaring it a class-1 carcinogen. Firefighting.

Deputy Secretary John Tien:

That makes a lot of sense.

Administrator Deanne Criswell:

And President Kelly, you and I talked before we came in here about the increasing 

number of younger firefighters that are now being diagnosed with cancer. And 

in your testimony, you talked a lot about the gear. So what can be done to help 

develop the gear that is needed? What steps do we need to take to make sure 

that they have gear that will protect them from heat and fire, but also not be a 

contributor to this early diagnosis of cancer?

President Ed Kelly:

Well, I’m glad that you mentioned that we are seeing more and more younger 

firefighters diagnosed with cancer. I mentioned Mat Troy, who is fighting stage 

4 liver cancer. If you went across the street from him and up 4 houses, Danny 

Ranahan, another firefighter, has Hodgkin’s lymphoma that he’s been fighting for 2 

years. We have 4 firefighters on that street, 2 of them 30 years old, fighting cancer. 

Another firefighter in my district got diagnosed at 30 years old with non-Hodgkin’s 

lymphoma. Younger and younger diagnoses we’re seeing across the fire service.

And one of the factors that we can’t avoid, the obvious exposures we’re getting 

from our bunker gear every time we go out the door. It’s mind boggling that we’re in 

this situation. Defies logic. But if we don’t work with the manufacturers, work with 

the NFPA, who currently their standards committee is drawing up new standards, 
Summit Transcripts 33

and develop and invest in the next generation of bunker gear and PPE in general, we 

are just poisoning our fire service, and beyond. We are taking that gear into people’s 

homes every single day. Every single day. And that is just spreading contamination 

throughout the environment.

So we have to invest in it. We have to work with our manufacturers, work with 

the NFPA, develop new standards as quick as we can, turn around PFAS-free PPE, 

and find a safe way to dispose of what will be, ballpark, north of a million sets of 

contaminated gear, and replace it.

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell:

Thank you, Chief Kelly. Any other comments on the subject? Any other questions? 

Our next testimony is about another health impact that firefighters experience. 

PTSD affects far more of our ranks than we even know, and unfortunately often 

ends in death by suicide. Chief Mitchell, please speak to us about the impact of the 

job on firefighter mental health.

Chief Ernie Mitchell:

Thank you. As my esteemed colleagues have discussed, preventing and mitigating 

fires is crucial to protecting the lives of citizens, and protecting firefighters from a 

toxic environment is vital. Today I want to share another issue affecting families and 

fire departments across the country: the increased number of firefighters dying by 

suicide and suffering from behavioral health issues. It is our position that we need 

to provide behavioral health resources and suicide prevention initiatives for all 

firefighters. According to organizations tracking the issue, the number of firefighter 

suicides is estimated to be at least 100 per year. Additionally, the Ruderman white 

paper on mental health and suicide for first responders noted that the suicide rate 

for firefighters is 18 per 100,000, compared to 13 per 100,000 of the general public.

We are responsible for protecting those who protect us by investing in their mental 

health, including collecting accurate data. According to evidence-based research, 

behavioral health awareness campaigns provide effective intervention methods. It 

is our collective responsibility to provide those who serve with the tools they need 

to help themselves and each other.

The fire service, as well as our brothers and sisters in blue, are both dealing 

with occupational-related behavioral health issues. The FBI launched the Law 

Enforcement Suicide Data Collection on January 1st, 2022, to help improve 

understanding and prevent suicide among law enforcement officers. We applaud 

this effort and see this data collection as a model for what is needed in the fire 

service. Federal agencies have poured millions of dollars into addressing the 

suicide problem for our colleagues in blue, but there is no comparable effort for 

the fire service. As policies and programs are developed by federal agencies on first 

responders’ behavioral health and other topics, it is time to involve the fire service 

in federal policy development on an equal basis with law enforcement.

Nearly every cabinet-level department in the federal government plays a role in 

addressing fire prevention in America. Each has programs to address fire safety 

issues, in keeping with its specific mission. Our fire administration must be elevated 

to adequately represent the 1.1 million firefighters serving in this country. Where 

relevant issues touch law enforcement, emergency medical services, and the fire 
34 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

service, it is essential that the federal government gives equitable consideration 

to each discipline. Initiatives addressing sustainable infrastructure, resiliency in 

the built environment or public health initiatives cannot operate in silos. Public 

safety must be approached holistically, which requires equal support to all first 

responders: the fire service, EMS providers and law enforcement.

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell:

Thank you, Chief Mitchell. Any questions from our leaders?

Deputy Secretary John Tien:

Can I offer a quick thanks and then a question, and maybe I’ll leave the resilience 

and the infrastructure parts to my colleagues to my left? Number 1, Chief Mitchell, 

thanks very much for your prior service as a U.S. fire administrator. I think 2011 to 

2017, as I recall.

Chief Ernie Mitchell:

Yes.

Deputy Secretary John Tien:

Right. So thank you very much and for continuing your work in a mission of service 

to not only your community, but to America.

This is somewhat connected to what President Kelly just spoke about when we 

discussed the VA, and you just mentioned that every cabinet has a role in terms 

of fire prevention. But specifically around the piece that you began with around 

suicide prevention, and I spoke about at the very beginning, which obviously this is 

true endemic in both the active duty, the Reserve, National Guard and the veterans 

community. Have you had any opportunities or any success in anything you want to 

reinforce, or perhaps opportunities to partner with the VA Department of Defense, 

who clearly are going through and have been going through really since post-9/11, 

an increased suicide rate among veterans in active duty?

Chief Ernie Mitchell:

Not at an extensive level. There are some early initiatives. We are talking to active 

military about things in that same sphere of how we can benefit the firefighters in 

this country. But there’s a level of scale, and while there are excellent programs and 

certain areas and communities around the country to get it to go nationwide, what 

we are up against is typically just that lack of resources to make it happen to the 

scope that it needs to happen. Because it’s just a lot of folks to educate. There is a 

stigma attached to it at the personal level, inside. And then systemically, we are not 

yet able to apply the information and knowledge, and even diagnosis and treatment 

nationwide. But yet there are efforts, excellent efforts for instance by the IAFF. 

And President Kelly and their organization are doing that. The Fallen Firefighters 

Foundation is also working with others, the fire chiefs. But we need to elevate it, 

and that comes with the additional resources.

Deputy Secretary John Tien:

Thank you.
Summit Transcripts 35

Senior Director Caitlin Durkovich:

Chief, thank you very much for your service. And my question to you is, is the model 

that would work for the career fire personnel different than the model that we need 

for the volunteer firefighters?

Chief Ernie Mitchell:

There are levels to it. As was mentioned earlier, there’s some difficulty, while all 

need an elevation in the resources and the training, there are additional challenges 

for the volunteer community, because of the other demands on their time. But 

there are challenges specific to career as well, because there are a need to fill 

behind people that are in training and treatment. So they can all — but I think 

1 package — they’re essentially doing the same job. It’s just that it’s modeled in 

different ways. So I think yes, it could all be approached in a very similar way.

Chief Kevin Quinn:

May I follow up for that? Career-wise, they’ve got employee assistance programs. 

In the volunteer ranks, we do not. But yesterday in fact, we just broadcast a new 

hotline for the volunteers and their families. So we are working on the networks, 

but it’s a different model, as Chief Mitchell just said. So thank you.

Administrator Deanne Criswell:

And I think Chief Mitchell, I just want to add on to this too. The stigma you 

mentioned is important, and we’ve really focused even in the emergency 

management community, and how do we de-stigmatize the need to get additional 

help. And I just wanted to share something that I was part of during our response to 

COVID-19 in New York City with the hospitals. And so, the hospitals had a program 

to help destigmatize this, and they called it Helping Healers Heal. And so, they had 

1 very specific for the nurses and the doctors. But during COVID-19, to piggyback 

on what Deputy Secretary Tien said, we actually brought in combat stress mental 

health teams, and they adapted their program because the words that we were 

getting, it was as close to a battlefield as anything that they’d ever seen.

And so, we took the combat stress training that DOD had, and then combined it 

with the health training to create a very specific program. And so, I think listening to 

you speak, we really want to be able to partner with you on doing something similar. 

It’s great to have the resources for people to call, but I think the training piece, you 

might agree, is where we need to help destigmatize that.

And I think that there are some good models out there. And I don’t know if you had 

any additional examples of models like I just talked about, but I’m committed to 

working with Dr. Moore-Merrell here on the things that we can do to support the 

U.S. Fire Administration developing this kind of training that we can get out to our 

firefighters.

Senior Director Caitlin Durkovich:

And I would just add training also that is culturally sensitive too.

Administrator Deanne Criswell:

Yeah.
36 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

Chief Ernie Mitchell:

Yeah. Yes. And it’s interesting you said it. It’s because I think when we talk about 

the stigma and we talk about there’s a tremendous need for additional education 

and culturally sensitive clinicians. And all of that helps. And for instance, in the 

fire service, the Foundation has created an arm called the First Responder Center 

for Excellence to deal largely with behavioral health, and partnerships and 

the incentivizing partnerships similar to all of us getting together, incentivizing 

partnerships across industries and across institutions I think would largely support 

this work like with the — and getting it — making it more acceptable to all. We have 

what we call Stress First Aid, similar to what you just mentioned. But these things 

are again, growing. They just need some more focus and a booster shot, if you will, 

no pun intended, to infuse them with the energy and the resources to make it take 

off. But thank you for that.

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell:

Yes, thank you. And President Kelly, you had something.

President Ed Kelly:

Yeah. Just to piggyback on the issue, there was a book written about the fallout of 

the Chernobyl disaster, and what they studied and learned was the greatest health 

impact from the Chernobyl disaster was behavioral health. And when we look at 

the challenges that we have as a society, but certainly those of us that work in a 

profession that has acute stresses, we’ve seen in our ranks what has become a very 

serious factor for us.

And our response has been to — we’ve developed our own Center of Excellence for 

Behavioral Health right here in Maryland. We’re in the process of opening up one on 

the West Coast in Temecula, California, with specialized training focused on posttraumatic stress injury. Because we define it as an injury because you can recover 

from it. And we also have over 8,000 peer support-trained members that will deploy 

in places like Hurricane Ian last month.

And when we have critical incidents where our members are exposed to very acute 

stresses, that we can get them educated and trained. We’re also working through 

our behavioral health team to educate clinicians so they get the training they need 

to identify specific needs from our profession. And another interesting one this 

morning is our service dogs are — we’re in our program more and more utilizing 

canines, which have proven through studies and more and more studies to be a 

tremendous value in high-stress situations. And we are dealing with trying to make 

sure that we have the funding for them, get the dogs the treatment that they need. 

And that was one of our issues this morning, talking to Dr. Whu, who’s our head of 

health and safety, our chief medical officer. So those are challenges that we have 

that we deal with, that we’re working, that we fund as the union, trying to get help 

in there that we could use assistance through grants to try to provide those services 

to our members and their families.

Administrator Deanne Criswell:

Just before you go on, Lori, just one more follow-up to what President Kelly talked 

about with cancer and Chief Mitchell on the mental health needs. You heard the 

secretary talk about the Office of Health Security. How can this office, and it’s 
Summit Transcripts 37

new — it’s a new office, right? How can we tap into that? How can it be beneficial to 

help address some of these issues?

President Ed Kelly:

Well, certainly with the resources that the federal government brings to bear, there 

are so many needs that the Health Securities mission would synergize with what we 

are trying to accomplish as leaders in the fire service from all sides to try to make 

sure that we are protecting our greatest asset, which is the people we send in when 

people need help. And that’s a wide mission. And we certainly welcome all the help 

we can get.

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell:

Right. Excellent conversation. Did you have something, Chief Mitchell? Please.

Chief Ernie Mitchell:

Not to be — not to just repeat, but I think just coming together. Like you said, it’s 

new, but can we sit down and talk about how we pull together on this? I know there 

was a behavioral health conference for the fire service a couple of years ago. And I 

can remember just letting people know what’s going on. You sit there — I sat there 

listening to clinicians talk about — telling us that we are an at-risk population, the 

fire service. And then I heard a description of symptoms, and I go, “Oh, maybe that’s 

what was wrong with me back then.” But I just think we need to get together and 

explore. It’s fairly — relatively new for us to really tackle, but I’m just — thank you 

that it’s stood up and that that’s available.

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell:

Excellent. Thank you, Chief. So we’re going to wrap it up with Mr. Pauley. So Mr. 

Pauley, as we’re nearing the end of this roundtable, please share your thoughts on 

the 1 thing that I mentioned earlier. There’s 1 thing that we can start immediately, 

and I’d love to hear your thoughts on how do we reduce death and injury from fire.

Mr. Jim Pauley:

Well thank you, and good morning, and thank you for your leadership, and thank 

you for taking the time to be here this morning. There are more than 300 codes 

and standards that influence fire and life safety in the built environment in the 

United States. And we can create safer communities by assisting local jurisdictions 

in implementing and enforcing these codes and standards. And this will in turn help 

keep Americans safe from the menace of fire as described by President Harry S. 

Truman in 1947.

Now, state and local governments are responsible for promoting the use and 

enforcement of current codes and standards, but the federal government can help. 

It can help by incentivizing compliance and providing funding for local jurisdictions 

for code implementation, inspection and enforcement. There’s also proper use 

of life-saving technology, things like smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, 

automatic fire sprinkler systems. All of these have been proven to save lives, and all 

modern buildings require these systems, and the fire codes need to be consistently 

and aggressively enforced to back up these systems.
38 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

In addition, we strongly urge that all federally funded construction projects be 

required to the most current fire and building codes. And that federal housing 

assistance needs to be tied to the compliance of the most current fire life safety, 

electrical and building codes. Fire disproportionately impacts our most vulnerable 

populations: older adults, children, people of color, low-income populations and 

people with disabilities. This is an equity issue. Safe housing and affordable housing 

should not be mutually exclusive concepts.

Nearly a million households live in public housing units in the United States. Fire 

safety improvements in public housing must receive heightened attention. In 

1992, Congress passed the Federal Fire Safety Act requiring newly constructed 

multifamily housing units to have fire sprinklers. HUD estimates that approximately 

570,000 multifamily public housing units are in inventory today constructed before 

the sprinkler requirement, and of which today still a significant portion lacks 

sprinklers. We have to take investments in retrofitting public housing with fire 

sprinkler systems. An NFPA study found that in buildings with sprinkler systems, the 

civilian fire death and injury rates were 89% and 27% lower.

Additionally, HUD needs to ensure that all public housing units are equipped with 

working smoke alarms, and that they’re installed and maintained under the relevant 

codes and standards. Nearly 3 out of 5 deaths are caused in properties without 

smoke alarms or that do not have a working smoke alarm. HUD should provide 

resources to public housing authorities to retrofit these housing units with either 

hardwired smoke alarms or the installation of tamper-resistant, long-life, batterypowered smoke alarms.

By embracing these current fire and life safety codes and standards at all levels of 

government, we can make great strides in addressing the fire problem in our nation. 

Together I know we can create safe communities by implementing and enforcing 

codes and standards, including and especially in the wildland urban interface and 

underserved and vulnerable populations as I talked about, in affordable and firesafe housing.

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell:

Thank you, Mr. Pauley. We’re going to break there and see if there are any questions 

for Mr. Pauley.

Administrator Deanne Criswell:

So, I really appreciate your testimony there. FEMA’s been — we’re doing a lot of 

work to just advance the adoption of building codes. And I think as you would 

know, it’s just about 40% of the counties across the nation have adopted the latest 

building codes. And we’ve released our first-ever national building code strategy 

that complements the initiative out of the White House to help get communities 

to understand the benefits of adopting these codes and how it actually saves 

lives. From your perspective with the NFPA, is it about the same percentage that 

have adopted the fire codes? Or what do you see as the biggest limitation in these 

communities adopting the most current fire codes?

Mr. Jim Pauley:

So, it’s a great question. The percentages do tend to follow because generally those 

code adoptions kind of go hand-in-hand at those jurisdictions. So, whether you’re 
Summit Transcripts 39

talking electrical codes, fire codes or building codes, you can see similar patterns. 

Generally, adoption of the code can move forward, but one of the most lacking 

areas is actually enforcement of the code after it’s adopted. And this is where we’re 

seeing a real decline in available inspection resources, in training. As the fire service 

has talked about, not having people coming into the fire service, this is happening 

in the inspection and enforcement community as well, where people are not 

entering into those professions, and we’re seeing a real drop in what inspection and 

enforcement looks like locally.

The other challenge on the adoption side, and I’ll use the sprinkler example as one. 

The national codes today require sprinklers in every single-family dwelling that is 

built today. But as those codes get adopted and used at the local level, generally 

pressures from the building industry write those sprinkler requirements out at 

the local level, and so we’re building houses without this life-saving technology 

that’s being in place. And that’s another area that I know incentivizing those local 

jurisdictions to move to the latest codes. As FEMA has done, certainly in the floodprone areas that we have seen, and in hardier construction in the hurricane areas, 

we need to do that same thing as we associate it with fire safety, and apply those 

same incentives. DOE did it with energy codes, as the incentives that would go to 

the states using the latest energy code would be applied. We should be doing that 

with the electrical code, with fire codes, and continue with building codes.

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell:

Any other questions for Mr. Pauley? All right, Jim, will you please tell us about Fire 

Prevention Week, and this week, and why it’s significant, please?

Mr. Jim Pauley:

Well, thank you for that. And it is important to note, as was mentioned, this year 

marks the 100th anniversary of the National Fire Protection Association’s Fire 

Prevention Week. And this year’s theme is Fire Won’t Wait, Plan Your Escape. And 

this theme clearly applies to all communities, including those that are in the urban 

interface. And each year the president of the United States signs the Proclamation 

for Fire Prevention Week signaling the federal government’s support of saving lives 

and property. And it is my understanding that President Biden has also signed the 

proclamation for this 100th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week.

Senior Director Caitlin Durkovich:

Mr. Pauley, that is correct. I happen to have with me today a replication — a replica 

of the 2022 Fire Prevention Week Proclamation that was signed by President Biden. 

And if you would allow me, I would now like to read a portion of the proclamation.

“For 100 years, Fire Prevention Week has provided an opportunity to educate 

all Americans on the actions they can take to keep themselves and their loved 

ones safe from fire. No matter what time of day or night we call for help, our first 

responders across the nation risk their own lives to protect us and the ones we 

love. During Fire Prevention Week, I ask everyone to learn more about how we can 

better protect each other by practicing fire safety, and taking time to think about 

what it means to have a fire-safe environment in our homes, our businesses, our 

neighborhoods, and across our communities.
40 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

Fire is truly everyone’s fight. I ask all Americans to renew your efforts to make our 

great nation a safer place by learning more about fire safety. Together we can make 

a difference and make America a safer place for all. Fire is a disaster we can prevent. 

Now, therefore, I Joseph R. Biden, Jr., President of the United States of America, by 

virtue of the authority vested in me by the constitutional laws of the United States, 

do hereby proclaim October 9th through 15th 2022, as Fire Prevention Week.”

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell:

Thank you so much, Director Durkovich. I’d now like to invite the members of our 

roundtable to gather just behind our 4 leaders, if you’ll remain seated, we’re going 

to have a photo opportunity to mark this point in time. So we will gather here, and 

you can see we’ve practiced that very well, right? Yeah. That — so we’ll take — if 

you’ll just lower — grab your mics and just lower the — there we go. 

Thank you so much. So this concludes our National Roundtable portion of the 2022 

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control. I want to thank 

Secretary Mayorkas, Deputy Secretary Tien, Administrator Criswell and National 

Security Council Senior Director Durkovich for your time and attention today. We 

are so grateful you’ve heard about the critical issues that are facing the fire service, 

and we know that you will consider these challenges as you continue to serve our 

country.

Thank you to the members of our roundtable who brought your testimony today, 

and to our audience who were here to observe. We have lots of collaboration, 

and I am grateful for you all coming together with one voice today. So, I’d like to 

ask our observers in the audience to please remain seated while our roundtable 

participants are escorted out. We’re going to depart. I’m going to ask Commissioner 

Adam Thiel of the Philadelphia Fire Department to come and moderate a continued 

discussion with you, our observers, about the challenges that were just presented. 

And you will continue to document the content of the roundtable discussion.
Summit Transcripts 41

State of Science: President Joseph Biden 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Oct. 11, 2022

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT BIDEN

AT THE SUMMIT ON FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL

South Court Auditorium

Eisenhower Executive Office Building

2:56 p.m. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Doctor, thank you very, very much. It’s very gracious of you. I 

appreciate it. And the U.S. Fire Administration is doing a great job. 

Look, I want to take this opportunity to thank you all, to — for an opportunity to 

speak at this summit.

And it’s wonderful to see so many good friends, you know, sitting out there looking. 

Eddy — Ed Kelly. And I think President Black is there. Kevin, I hope — I — I can’t 

quite see what — I can’t see you out — in the front there, I think.

And I actually wish I could be there with you in person. And you know I mean it.

You know, and I’ve — I’ve had to pay respects with you this past weekend on the 

National Fallen Firefighters Memorial.

30 years ago — God, it seems like 30 years ago. 30 years ago, I was the original 

co-sponsor with Paul Sarbanes and others of the National Fallen Firefighters 

Foundation Act. And over the years, I’ve spoken to — at too many — too many 

funerals for fallen firefighters. From the national events like the memorial of Arizona 

19 Hotshots in 2013, to the individuals in my home state that unfortunately are too 

numerous to name.

And each one — each one of you is a hero to the community. You’ve touched 

people’s lives. So I’d — I’d like to take a moment at the top here to honor the 

lives we’ve lost of those in the past 2 years, including from COVID: 135 on-duty 

firefighters in 2021, another 77 to date in 20 — 2022.

And it’s a — it’s an acute reminder of the risk firefighters bear and, quite frankly, of 

their bravery. You’re the only ones who run toward flames and not away from them 

when that fire bell rings. 

And you — look, you know, many of you — many of you heard me say before: First, 

God made man. Then he made a few firefighters. God made man, and then he 

made a few firefighters.

I grew up in Claymont, Delaware. And across — I went to a little school called Holy 

Rosary grade school across from the Claymont firehall. And all my buddies, they 

came — either became a firefighter, a cop or a priest. I wasn’t qualified for any of 

them, so here I am.

But — (laughs) — you know, it’s truly amazing that an estimated 1,041,200 local 

and municipal firefighters — 65% of you are volunteers. And I’m proud to say in 

Delaware, in my home state, it’s 98.3% of all firefighters are volunteer firefighters. 
42 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

And by the way, I know you’re all having trouble keeping — because of COVID and 

because of the — the schedules people have these days — getting — attracting 

enough volunteers to man — man all the stations. You’re the heart of the 

community.

You know, people don’t appreciate you until they need you. But then they do, and 

you’re always there. 

Firefighters have saved my life and the life of my family. I want to just tell you for 

a moment — I know a lot of you know from — if anyone is from Delaware there 

knows — you know, way back in 1972, before I got sworn in, my family — my wife 

was Christmas shopping with my 3 children and — and a tractor trailer — they got 

in an accident — broadsided, and killed my wife, killed my daughter. And my 2 boys, 

who were then almost 3 and almost 4, were on top of their dead sister and mother. 

And it took the Jaws of Life from my local fire department volunteers to get them 

out and get them to the hospital. And it saved their lives.

In addition to that, what happened was — I was — I was doing “Meet the Press,” and 

lightning struck a little pond behind my house, came up through the ground, into 

the air conditioning system. Ended up generating this thick, black smoke literally 

— literally that — of those proportions. And from the basement to the third floor, 

the attic, everything was ruined. And the kitchen floor — we almost lost a couple 

firefighters, they tell me, because the kitchen floor was — the — burning between 

beams in the house, in addition to almost collapsed into the basement.

And then — and then I was — I got rushed to the hospital for a — it turned out to be 

almost a 9-hour operation with a cranial aneurism — in the middle of a snowstorm 

by my fire company. They got me down. They saved my life. And so, I owe you. And 

so many other Americans owe you as well, so many families.

The only thing that saves lives of a firefighter are more firefighters. The only thing 

that saves lives of a firefighter are more firefighters. That’s why, as a senator and as 

a — when I was out of office and then back as president, we do everything we can 

to support and pay for firefighters — more firefighters.

You know, and you’re there for most people who’ve just lost everything. And by the 

way — again, to ad-lib a second here — I — you know, you’re also — what people 

don’t realize, you’re the same folks who are there holding the boot in a corner to 

raise money for the people who just lost their home. Not a joke. That’s what you do. 

That’s what you do.

You’re the ones who line the Little League fields. You’re the one — you’re just — 

anyway, you’re an incredible group of individuals.

You know, in Delaware, we used to say — back when I first started running as a kid, 

I’d say, “There’s 3 parties in Delaware: Democrats, Republicans and firefighters.” 

And thank God I had the firefighters.

I just got off with the president of the Delaware volunteer fire company who said, 

“Joe, do you remember I was in your first campaign in 1972?” (Laughs.)

Anyway, you’re on the frontlines for emergencies and disasters all across this great 

nation, from the devastating wildfires in the West to the thousands of fires that 

local firefighters respond to every day, and response to Hurricane Ian in Southwest 

Florida.
Summit Transcripts 43

And, by the way, I point out that I’ve flown over just — just the last 18 months, flown 

over most of the major fires in the West. More timber, more housing has burned to 

the ground than all of the landmass in the state of New Jersey. That’s how much has 

been lost.

And, you know, I went down to Florida to see the response last week. Firefighters 

helped rescue thousands of survivors and answered the call — not just for fires, 

just answered the call. And in some cases, their own homes and firehouses were 

damaged, destroyed or washed away. Because that’s who you are. When tragedy 

strikes, you suit up.

And when the impacts of climate change are becoming increasingly evident, we’re 

calling on you more and more and more.

Extreme heat and prolonged drought have turned wildfire season into wildfire 

years. And local firefighters are being called in more to respond to the fires in the 

wildland urban interface where we’re moving out into the forest areas to develop 

and it becomes local and federal.

So I want you to know that my administration is doing everything we can to make 

sure you have the resources you need to do your job as safely and effectively and 

efficiently as possible. 

You know, we invested $350 billion in the American Rescue Plan to help states and 

local — states and cities keep first responders on the job, including firefighters on 

the job when — during COVID-19.

And between the American Rescue Plan and my 2023 budget request, we’ve 

increased federal firefighting grants by $320 million, which includes money to fund 

1,200 more local firefighters in the field, hundreds more emergency response 

vehicles, and thousands — thousands of sets of turnout gear. A pioneer in research 

on issues from — including like cancer prevention. 

You know, it’s close to my heart. Cancer is a leading killer of firefighters. Toxic 

substances you’ve been exposed to as part of your job are almost certainly — 

certainly connected to those cancer diagnoses. And we’re doing — we’re going to do 

something about it.

The Cancer Moonshot is bringing together every part of our government to cut 

cancer death rates in half and to end cancer as we know it, including by addressing 

environmental and toxic exposures to prevent cancer. 

We just passed national legislation — national legislation to deal with the burn 

pits in Afghanistan and Iraq, and — that so many of our soldiers — we finally got it 

passed so that we can care for their families if they’ve been — lost their lives or care 

for them, in fact, if they — if they’re going through this.

We created a special claims unit at the Department of Labor to ensure that they’re 

processing federal firefighters’ cancer claims quickly. 

And we’re also taking (tackling) PFAS — the so-called “forever chemicals” that for 

years have been in your gear, your equipment and the suppression agents that you 

depend on to do your job. I’m determined — I’m absolutely determined to make 

sure you have the gear that protects you without making you or your family sick. 
44 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

And I’m urging Congress to send to my desk the Federal Firefighters Fairness 

Act — let me say it again: the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act — which are going 

to help federal firefighters and their families assess critical worker compensation 

resources, including making sure that several forms of cancer are presumed to be 

caused — presumed to be caused by the firefighter’s job. 

And I’m also — I’m also proud that last November, I signed into law Protecting 

America’s First Responders Act, which extends the benefits under the Public Safety 

Officers’ Death Benefits Program to the families of firefighters killed in training and 

made it easier to qualify for permanent disability. 

The final point — I’m sorry to go on so long, but I feel passionately about this. The 

final point I’d like to make today is that we’re doing everything we can to ease the 

burden on our firefighters by preventing fires. This is the 100th — hard to believe — 

it’s the 100th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week. And the landmark legislation I’ve 

signed into law includes historic investments to reduce the risk of fire.

The Bipar- — the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes significant forest 

management, increases community resilience and — to wildfires, and harnesses 

new technologies to keep communities safe. It’s also repairing vital infrastructure 

and — firefighters and other first responders rely on to quickly get to the — to those 

— those in need. 

By the way, we’re talking about the — all the bridges that are in tough shape. I was 

out in western Pennsylvania. There was a fire station, a bridge over a creek and a 

school not far from there. They have to go — I think it was 7 miles, if that — they 

couldn’t go across the bridge because it wasn’t strong enough to maintain and 

ha- — excuse me — handle the firetruck. 

You know, the Inflation Reduction Act enables us to take unprecedented steps to 

confront climate crisis, which is going to protect forest health, reduce fire risk and 

supercharge our clean energy future. 

We’re also maximizing protections for people when fires do break out, through a 

national initiative to help states, local, and tribal and territorial governments adapt 

and adopt the most up-to-date building codes that reflect the threats from the 

climate — from climate change. 

We’re using the Department of Defense’s satellite imagery to detect wildfires in 

their early stages so firefighters have a better chance to suppress the fires early 

before they can impact on local communities. And we’re working to help it — we’re 

working to help educate the public on basic fire safety, like preparing fire escape 

plans, testing smoke and carbon monoxide alarms monthly and replacing those 

alarms every 10 years. This is the simple steps we can take to save lives. 

Look, on behalf of my own family and every American, I just want to close by saying 

again: Thank you, thank you, thank you. Fires will always be a fact of human life. 

And when the worst happens, when those alarms go off, when everything and 

everybody you love is in danger, there’s no better sight in the world than that 

firefighter who’s ready to go to work.

So, thank you for being who you are. Thank you for all the heroes you represent. 

You are — you are on the alert and on call in communities all across this country 

right now as I speak. 
Summit Transcripts 45

So, God bless you all. And may God protect our firefighters. Thank you for letting 

me have a chance to talk to you. I wish our — I literally do wish I were there with 

you. Thank you. And thank you, Lori. 

3:09 p.m. EDT

Source: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2022/10/11/

remarks-by-president-biden-at-the-summit-on-fire-prevention-and-control/
46 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

State of Science: Opening remarks from U.S. Fire 

Administrator Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell

Good afternoon. It is so exciting to see all of you here, gathered for this occasion. 

It’s been a very exciting morning already, and now we continue on this occasion. So 

I’m very proud to be able to kick off this afternoon’s event of the State of Science of 

the U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control.

But as we kick off this afternoon, there are many of you who were not able to 

participate this morning in our roundtable discussion. And so, I want to share 

not only some photos with those in the room, and those who are joining us live, 

welcome to you as well, but I want you to see some photos from the morning, and 

I want to recap just a little bit of the discussion. Because this morning marked a 

historic event, where we had leaders who were here to listen.

The roundtable discussion had representation from the White House, with Senior 

Director Caitlin Durkovich from the National Security Council Resilience and 

Response. We had with us virtually the Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas, to 

join us to offer comments. We had also the Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security 

present to listen. We also had the FEMA Administrator, Deanne Criswell, who is from 

our ranks, here in the room to listen. We also had members, prominent members 

of the fire service, to represent you. I want those members who are present with us 

this afternoon to stand as well.

So, first of all, Chief Donna Black was here to offer comments on your behalf as the 

president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs. Chief Kevin Quinn from the 

National Volunteer Fire Council, General President Ed Kelly from the International 

Association of Firefighters, Chief Ernie Mitchell represented the National Fallen 

Firefighters Foundation, and as a former U.S. fire administrator. And Mr. Jim Pauley, 

president and CEO of the National Fire Protection Association.

I will just say, they represented you well, as the leaders represented this morning 

spoke with one voice. All of those people representing those major organizations 

did not speak for their organization. They spoke for you, one voice of the fire 

service. They talked about partnering. They talked about answering and stepping 

up to tackle challenges currently facing the fire service. “We must address these 

issues,” is what Deputy Secretary Tien said. “We must address them with urgency,” 

from Secretary Mayorkas, as he expressed the department’s commitment to fight 

for resources that you need. He said that you should not have to struggle for the 

resources you need to save lives. Deputy Secretary Tien also offered that DHS will 

have a partnership in this mission.

The FEMA administrator told us that leadership is listening. “Together, we must 

define solutions necessary to protect all responders. The work today is an 

investment in our future and the future of the next generation of the fire service.” 

And Director Durkovich emphasized that firefighters are foundational to the 

resilience of our communities.

The fire service leaders each represented an issue and a fire problem or a challenge 

to firefighter health and safety from a much wider lens. The roundtable participants 

highlighted some of these issues. First, we must provide all firefighters, both career 

and volunteer, with the training and equipment to meet the challenges they now 

face due to climate change and the threat of wildfire in the interface. There was an 
Summit Transcripts 47

opportunity for the fire service to take a leadership role in helping communities 

prepare for the effects of climate change, and the impact on our responders. We 

also discussed the decline of firefighter recruitment and retention. One solution 

suggested is to invest in a national apprenticeship program, to address the shortage 

of firefighters and to make the fire service more diverse and inclusive.

Another issue discussed is the need to create a national comprehensive firefighter 

cancer strategy, considering the link between cancer and on-the-job exposures. We 

have a need for firefighter health screenings, and we must reduce PFAS exposure, 

particularly in our gear. The next generation of PPE must be developed and 

manufactured and the replacement gear disposed of safely. The point was made by 

General President Kelly that early detection is key in firefighter cancer diagnosis. We 

are responsible for protecting those who protect us. We talked a lot about mental 

health. Chief Mitchell noted that there’s still a stigma associated with behavior 

health issues, and we must develop a holistic approach to help all our responders.

Finally, we discussed the need to make safer communities by enforcing codes and 

standards. Jim Pauley said that safe housing and affordable housing should not be 

mutually exclusive. Code adoption moves forward, but enforcement is where the 

problem begins. We must incentivize local communities to ensure that they are 

using the latest building codes. 

And finally, the 2022 Presidential Proclamation for the 100th Fire Prevention Week 

was presented by Director Durkovich, and it had been signed by President Joe 

Biden.

The speakers’ testimonies were consistent with what you will hear this afternoon, 

during the State of Science. Each speaker that will come forward today will bring 

a perspective on where we are on the current issues, and where we face gaps in 

particularly addressing the fire problem and firefighter health and safety in our 

country.

After the National Roundtable, Commissioner Thiel this morning led a discussion of 

the observers in the group where we consistently recorded the feedback beyond 

the roundtable. Today, we will be recording that same conversation as we move 

through the afternoon. So, everything that is said in this room today will become 

historic record for the proceedings of this summit.

So, this was but a brief snapshot of the morning, and with feedback already from 

the participants, the observers this morning, it was a historic event. I can’t begin to 

tell you how very important this summit is. We’ve identified some very real issues, 

and we have a lot of work yet to do. I really want to thank everyone for being here 

to step forward and to participate in the morning events, and now we’ve expanded 

it in the afternoon events with not only our audience in house, but to our virtual 

audience who is watching live this afternoon.

Now, I’d like to introduce a very good friend. Ron Siarnicki is the former fire chief 

of Prince George’s County, Maryland, Fire and EMS Department. He’s been an 

executive director of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation for the past 

21 years, and he is a true champion of firefighter safety. I can tell you that this 

partnership between the USFA and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation is 

what has led us to where we are today. Without that partnership, USFA would not 

have been able to pull off this event. Chief Siarnicki, if you will join me, please.
48 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

State of Science: Opening remarks from Chief Ron Siarnicki, 

Executive Director of the National Fallen Firefighters 

Foundation

Good afternoon. First of all, thank you for joining us for today’s State of Science. 

As part of the United States Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and 

Control, it is a real privilege and honor to support Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell’s efforts to 

reduce the impact of fire in America. The foundation is very proud to work side by 

side with the United States Fire Administration on so many projects, but especially 

in providing this opportunity for the American fire service, and more importantly, 

the individuals who are working to keep our communities safe.

What better place to gather for this event than here at the National Fire Academy, 

only steps away from the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial. And for those 

of you watching, it’s at Emmitsburg, Maryland. 2 days ago, the nation gathered 

here to honor 148 firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their 

communities. Every year after the memorial, I reflect on what we as an organization 

and as an industry and as a nation can do to reduce the number of families, friends 

and colleagues who have been affected by the loss of a firefighter. All of us owe 

it to those who have lost a firefighter to do all in our power to prevent another 

firefighter from dying, and to prevent the public from suffering any loss from such 

an occurrence. To those of you in the audience today and watching virtually, we 

hope the presentations motivate you to get more involved in supporting solutions 

to address the fire problem in America.

As I look out into the audience, I see many friends and colleagues from our national 

fire service organizations and research institutes who I’ve had the pleasure of 

working with for the past 21 years. I also see, though, 100 firefighter recruits 

from Prince George’s County, Maryland; Loudon County, Virginia; and the District 

of Columbia. All of you recruits, please stand. Please be seated. They won’t sit 

down unless you tell them. I asked you to stand because you are the future of the 

American fire service. And being a part of this historic event is going to set you on a 

journey to learn so much about what’s happening in your industry.

And I would like to take a second to speak to those recruits personally. You’re 

beginning a very significant journey in a pivotal time in our fire service history. I 

have to say, over my fire service career, I have seen new technologies making it 

easier for firefighters to stay out of harm’s way. The knowledge of fire behavior 

continues to change, and how we operate on the fire ground are lessons that have 

been learned. And we now know more about the actions we can personally take to 

decrease our chances of firefighter injuries and deaths. Each of you recruits are now 

responsible for learning as much as possible about the distinct aspects of being a 

firefighter during your fire service career.

A longstanding value of the fire service is to care for your brothers and sisters. It 

is your responsibility to ensure you’re doing everything possible to leave the fire 

service better than how you found it. I have to say, your department leadership 

supported you in being here today, and we thank them for making that opportunity 

possible, and I ask that you do the same.

The State of Science presentations would not be possible without the commitment 

of the United States Fire Administration. Our leader, Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, who’s 

been a longtime champion for firefighter health and safety. I have to say, every day, 
Summit Transcripts 49

Dr. Moore-Merrell demonstrates her commitment to protecting the nation from fire, 

helping firefighters here learn about the training tools available and the equipment 

they need to do their job effectively. And she does all she can to ensure that every 

firefighter goes home at the end of their tour duty. So, I say to our nation’s chief fire 

officer, Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, thank you. Please stand.

Like any event of this magnitude, it takes resources to make it happen. The 

foundation has a supportive group of partners who help ensure our success by 

answering the call whenever we need their help. And I would like to take a moment 

to thank those sponsors who provided the resources to make this event possible. 

Our State of Science sponsors are the National Fire Protection Association, who 

is our premier sponsor. Jim, please. Thank you. We’re fortunate to have 3 leading 

sponsors: the National Association of State Fire Marshals, the National Fire Sprinkler 

Association, and UL’s Fire Safety and Research Institute. Please take a bow. And 

lastly, we have 2 supporters of our project today, the International Code Council and 

Milliken, who help fill the gap in our need for resources. Thanks to both of you.

So, as I conclude, I have to take a second and thank the team that made all this 

happen. It was a joint effort between the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 

and the United States Fire Administration. So, all of those individuals that have been 

working behind the scenes, thank you, and please stand, because your efforts are 

truly appreciated.

So collectively, we have the opportunity today to impact fire and life safety in our 

nation, not just in the near term, but for generations to come. I encourage all of you 

to take the information discussed here today back to your fire organizations, your 

communities, your elected officials, and share that so that we can make our nation a 

safer place to live, work and play. Thank you.

State of Science: Closing remarks from U.S. Fire Administrator 

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell

What a significant panel. Thank you. Thank you. Well done, all of you. I asked them 

just to stay. We, as you see, are well ahead of schedule, and that is due to all of our 

panelists today staying on point and presenting amazing information. So, I hope you 

all listened quickly, not just in the room, but our online watchers as well.

So, with that, this does conclude our United States Fire Administrator’s Summit. I 

do want to recognize once again our recruits in the room. As Pat Morrison just said, 

you’ve heard a lot of very heavy information. In fact, I had staff lean over and say: 

“I know why you have a recruitment problem. Who would want this job?” So, we do 

want you to know that we are working very hard, as you’ve heard today, at reducing 

the fire problem, because the way to keep you safest and healthiest is the fires you 

don’t go to, right? This is what we have to do.

So, prevention, community risk reduction are huge pieces of what we have ahead 

of us, but our continued efforts to make sure that we continue on with our health 

and safety, our behavior health, and certainly awareness and research in cancer, 

cardiovascular, behavior health and certainly our minorities — women issues, 

particularly.

So, with that, I want to thank you all for being part of today. This was a historic 

event, as I said in the beginning. I think it has been marked even more so as the day 

progressed today. So, leaders, for you, this is just the beginning. The recruits now, I 
50 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

hope you picked up and will appreciate maybe not today, but in years to come, the 

significance of you sitting in this room today, because of what will happen based 

on this meeting. And I hope that this meeting is cited in history, in years from now, 

because today is just the beginning. Tomorrow, many of you will stay with us in 

another session where we begin to say, “What next?” So we’ve laid it all out on the 

table today, but what next? Each national organization will have a participant at 

the table tomorrow. Our researchers will be present, and our governmental affairs 

experts will be engaged. They will join in a strategic discussion about, “What next?” 

So once again, only the beginning.

I have to stop and make sure that once again, that I thank all of my staff, USFA staff 

who have worked tirelessly along with NFFF staff to make this happen. Behind the 

scenes, this was a yeoman’s effort, and so if you would join me, please, to thank 

them once again.

With that said, I will now close the 2022 USFA Summit on Fire Prevention and 

Control. Thank you all for joining us today.
State of Science Presentations 51

State of Science Presentations

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire 

Prevention and Control

National Emergency Training Center

October 11, 2022

Impact on Communities

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Commissioner Adam Thiel

City of Philadelphia Fire Department

JANUARY 5, 2022

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

12

Fire deaths

Photos: Philadelphia Fire Department

2021

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

3,332

36

Structure fires

Fire-related 

deaths Photos: @ThielAdam

2021

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

3,332

36

Structure fires

Fire-related 

deaths Photos: @ThielAdam

2021

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Photos: @ThielAdam

39 Fire-related deaths
52 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

2000-2019

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

692

Fire-related 

deaths

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Photos: @ThielAdam

Commissioner Adam Thiel

City of Philadelphia

Adam.Thiel@Phila.gov

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

CONTACT INFORMATION

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire 

Prevention and Control

National Emergency Training Center

October 11, 2022

Twin Parks Fire

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Deputy Assistant Chief Frank Leeb 

FDNY Command Chief on 1/9/22
State of Science Presentations 53

TWIN PARKS FIRE

JANUARY 9, 2022 - 333 EAST 181 STREET, BRONX NY

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

 19 story structure – fireproof 

 Duplex and single level 

apartments 

 Fire began in apartment 3N 

 120 apartments, 118 occupied

Lloyd Mitchell/AM New York

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

 Fire was discovered at 

approximately 10:50 am

 Delayed notification – 1st 911 

call at approximately 10:54 am

 Numerous open doors –

apartments and stairwells 

CONTRIBUTING FACTORS

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

3N 3J 3N 3J

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

 FDNY units arrived in 3 minutes

 Reports of unconscious people 

received before arrival 

 Smoke had already filled the 

stairwells prior to FDNY 

extinguishment efforts 

 5th alarm assignment – bringing 

hundreds of firefighters and EMS 

personal to the scene

 More than 60 EMS transports

 More than 30 in cardiac arrest

THE RESPONSE

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

The FDNY rescued an extraordinary 

number of people.

However,

an extraordinary number of victims 

did not survive.

Historic, but not unprecedented 
54 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

 Overwhelming grief 

 Mostly immigrants

 Many displaced

 Increased pressure on existing 

housing stock

 Generational impact

THE COMMUNITY

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

The victims:

Names and 

photos 

Not just 

numbers or 

statistics 

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

 Sprinklers

 Smoke alarms

 Resident education 

 Two-way voice communications

 We must not squander the 

opportunity this tragic fire 

presents and better protect all 

residential housing. 

 Funding

PREVENTION

Lloyd Mitchell/AM New York

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Although we lost 17 lives on 

this day, the number of lives 

saved by the FDNY were 

countless and the hard work 

and determination of every 

member was recognized by 

the department and the 

community.

FDNY

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

All 17 victims who 

succumbed to smoke 

inhalation at some point 

during the incident either left 

their apartments or left their 

apartment doors open.

FIRE SAFETY MESSAGING

THANK YOU

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

 U.S. Fire Administrator - Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell

 FDNY leadership

 Chief of Department John Hodgens

 Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh

 FDNY Bureau of Fire Investigation

 Chief Fire Marshal Daniel Flynn

Past and current members of the FDNY (Fire, EMS and Civilian –for their 

unwavering dedication to the life saving mission of the FDNY
State of Science Presentations 55

Deputy Assistant Chief Frank Leeb

FDNY

Frank.Leeb@fdny.nyc.gov

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

CONTACT INFORMATION

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire 

Prevention and Control

National Emergency Training Center

October 11, 2022

NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR EQUITABLE PPE PROTECTIONS

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Use ∙ Availability ∙ Accessibility ∙ Acceptability ∙ Knowledge

Virtual Workshop (Nov 8 and 9)

Characterize priority issues and potential solution pathways to 

inform the National Strategy

Announce Partnership opportunities

Registration: Equitable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) 

Protections Workshop | NPPTL | NIOSH | CDC

Crowdsourcing Ideas for Innovation: Turnout Gear Fit

Example Research Project

Determining the magnitude of impact that community 

vulnerability has on first responder safety and health risks

Impact on Firefighters Working in Underserved 

Communities

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Susan M. Moore, PhD

Emily J. Haas, PhD

“SOCIAL VULNERABILITY” IS A MEASURE OF HOW EXTERNAL 

STRESSES NEGATIVELY IMPACT COMMUNITY MEMBER HEALTH 

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Merging the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI)1 with computer aided dispatch and investigation data allows the 

impact that community vulnerability has on first responder risks to be determined

SVI Theme SVI Subthemes How do these community factors influence...

Theme 1: Socioeconomic 

status (SES)

• % below poverty estimate

• % below unemployed estimate

• per capita income estimate

• % no high school diploma estimate

• Number structural fires

• Types of ignition sources

• Number and type of personnel and apparatus

• Effective evacuation strategies

• Exposure to infectious diseases Theme 2: Household 

composition/disability

• % ≥65 and ≤17 years old

• % with a disability

• % of single-parent households

Theme 3: Racial/ethnic 

Minority/language

• % belonging to racial/ethnic minority 

• % who speak English less than well

Theme 4: 

Housing/transportation

• % multiunit structures

• % mobile homes

• % crowding

• % no vehicle

• % group quarters

1CDC’s SVI data comes from the American Community Survey
56 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

31 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

 This case study involved three collaborating fire 

departments in Ohio, New York, and 

Massachusetts1

 Used the same data reporting system – 160k 

incidents across all departments

 Infectious disease variable – potential exposure 

documented by 911 operator* * Confirmed community case counts allowed us to adjust for those incidents 

likely not related to disease of interest

CASE STUDY: OH, NY, MA

Established community vulnerabilities as shown by the darker teal color

Findings:

The magnitude of exposure risk for just a one-unit 

increase in each SVI theme was:

 Racial/ethnic Minority/language

 Odds increased by 94.4% 

 Household composition/disability

 Odds increased by 49.3%

 Housing/transportation

 Odds increased by 33.6%

 Socioeconomic status

 Odds decreased by 19%

1 Haas, E.J., Furek, A., Casey, M., Yoon, K.N., & Moore, S.M. (2021). Applying the 

Social Vulnerability Index as a leading indicator to protect fire-based emergency 

medical service responders’ health. International Journal of Environmental 

Research and Public Health, Special Issue on Worker Safety, Health, and WellBeing in the USA, 18, 8049. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18158049.

WHY IT MATTERS

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

 Evidence-based resource requests and 

allocations

 Community-based partnerships to implement 

focused interventions and training

 Improved emergency preparedness planning

Fire Prevention Examples: 

Evidence-based requests for funding or community 

partnerships to support the most vulnerable communities

 Distribute smoke detectors 

 Educate and facilitate use of sprinkler systems in 

new construction or renovated 

buildings/dwellings

 Develop and implement public fire education 

programs related to hoarding

PPE-Related Examples (Infectious Disease): 

Risk-based approach to PPE selection, distribution, and use by first responders (e.g., 

during shortages)

Reducing responder risk by prioritizing 

intervention distribution (e.g., respirators and 

masks) to the most vulnerable communities

ORG CHART

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Disclaimer: The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position of the National Institute for 

Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Mention of a company or product name does not constitute endorsement by NIOSH.

Photo Credit: All photos courtesy of NIOSH or Shutterstock unless otherwise noted

Visit NIOSH’s Public Safety Program: 

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/programs/

pubsaf/default.html

Workshop Registration link: 

Equitable Personal Protective 

Equipment (PPE) Protections 

Workshop | NPPTL | NIOSH | CDC

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Susan M. Moore, PhD

Associate Director for Science

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL)

sme6@cdc.gov

Emily J. Haas, PhD

Research Health Scientist

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL)

wcq3@cdc.gov

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

CONTACT INFORMATION

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire 

Prevention and Control

National Emergency Training Center

October 11, 2022
State of Science Presentations 57

Risks in the Changing Built Environment 

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Steve Kerber, PhD, PE

During a fire today, you have 

the least amount of time to 

safely exit your home than at 

any time in history.

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

SEVERITY OF 1 OR 2 FAMILY HOME FIRES

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

1980: 7.1 deaths per 1,000 fires 20%

2019: 8.5 deaths per 1,000 fires

TODAY’S FIRE ENVIRONMENT

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

• Faster fire propagation

• Shorter time to flashover

• Rapid changes in fire 

dynamics

• Shorter escape times

• Shorter time to collapse

• New/unknown hazards

Larger Homes Open Spaces Evolving Fuel 

Loads

Voids Spaces

Changing Bldg. 

Materials New Technologies

FIRE DEATHS

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

2012: 2,855 fire deaths 30%

2019: 3,704 fire deaths

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control
58 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

LAYERS OF FIRE SAFETY

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

(3-5 minutes)

(6+ minutes)

EVOLUTIONS BEYOND HOMES

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

 Wildland Urban Interface Fires 

(Suburban Conflagration)

 Expanded use of lithium-ion 

batteries in vehicles, charging 

stations, mobility devices and 

energy storage systems

 Expansion of large warehouses to 

support fast shipping

 Evolving construction practices such 

as plastic blocks, tall wood 

buildings, combustible facades, etc.

A PATH FORWARD

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

 Fire is fast

 Manual suppression is often behind the speed of fire, automatic suppression 

is not

 Complacency and indifference lead to fire deaths

 Escape planning, smoke alarms and closed doors save lives

 Evolutions will continue; we can’t let them continue to outpace safety

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Steve Kerber, PhD, PE

Fire Safety Research Institute

Stephen.Kerber@ul.org

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

CONTACT INFORMATION
State of Science Presentations 59

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire 

Prevention and Control

National Emergency Training Center

October 11, 2022

A Fire Safe America

A Happy and Safe Quality of Life Through Fire Safety

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Chief Shane Ray

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

CHANGING 

ENVIRONMENT

 Homes

 Businesses

 Contents

 Incidents

THE FIRE PROBLEM IN AMERICA

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

THE MODERN BUILT ENVIRONMENT

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control
60 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

CURRENT EDITIONS OF CODES AND STANDARDS

ARE ESSENTIAL AND PROVEN

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

 Smoke alarms

 Fire sprinklers

 Firefighters

 Over 12,500

 12,500

 10,000

 35,140 

 65

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

THEN NOW

96% 

Effectiveness 

for 121 years

VISION FOR THE FUTURE

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Quality of Life for Happy, Safe Families

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Shane Ray

President

National Fire Sprinkler Association

ray@nfsa.org

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

CONTACT INFORMATION

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire 

Prevention and Control

National Emergency Training Center

October 11, 2022
State of Science Presentations 61

Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) 

Codes and Standards

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Karl Fippinger, CEM, PMP

Vice President, Fire and Disaster Mitigation

International Code Council

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

The zone of transition between 

unoccupied land and human 

development. It is the line, area or 

zone where structures and other 

human development meet or 

intermingle with undeveloped 

wildland or vegetative fuels.

- U.S. Fire Administration

THE WILDLAND URBAN 

INTERFACE

WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE GROWTH IN THE 

UNITED STATES

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

From 1990-2010:

 The wildland urban interface grew by 

33% to over 190 million acres.

 The number of homes in the wildland 

urban interface expanded by more 

than 41%.

 The wildland urban interface 

continues to grow by approximately 2 

million acres per year.

 99 million people, or 1/3 of the U.S. 

population now live in the wildland 

urban interface.

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Wildfire activity is becoming more extreme 

and destructive with more record-breaking 

fire events in terms of number of structures 

lost and acres burned in a single event.

- Core Logic 2022 Risk Report

2021 | 59,000 wildfires | 7.13 million acres 

burned | 5,972 structures destroyed | 3,577 

residences

- National Interagency Fire Center

2005 - June 2022 | 97,196 structures 

destroyed

- Headwaters Economics

WILDFIRE RISK TO COMMUNITIES

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

At risk from 

wildfire:

+46 million 

residences 

+70,000 

communities

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

NATIONAL BUILDING CODE ADOPTION TRACKING

According to FEMA, 

only 25% of hazardprone jurisdictions in 

the U.S. adopt the 

latest two editions of 

hazard-resistant 

building codes.
62 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

KEY CONCEPTS FOR REGULATING THE BUILT 

ENVIRONMENT

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Parcel Level | Neighborhood Level | Community Level

 Ignition-Resistant 

Construction

 Defensible space

 Emergency 

Vehicle Access

 Water Supply

 Fire Sprinklers 

IWUIC ADOPTION

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

The IWUIC is adopted:

 Statewide in only 5 states

 MT, NV, PA, UT, WA

 94 counties across 24 states

 New federal buildings over 5,000 s/f 

built on federal lands since 2016

Karl Fippinger, CEM, PMP

Vice President, Fire and Disaster Mitigation

International Code Council

kfippinger@iccsafe.org

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

CONTACT INFORMATION

CREATING SAFER AND MORE WILDFIRE RESILIENT 

COMMUNITIES

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

A landmark 2008 building code designed for California’s fire-prone regions 

requiring fire-resistant roofs, siding and other safeguards appears to have 

protected more than 100 homes in the path of the 2018 Camp Fire.

- McClatchy analysis of the 2018 Camp Fire in California

51% of the 350 single-family homes built after 2008 in the path of the Camp 

Fire were undamaged.

By contrast, only 18% of the 12,100 homes built prior to 2008 escaped damage.

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control
State of Science Presentations 63

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire 

Prevention and Control

National Emergency Training Center

October 11, 2022

Wildfire Disasters: A Wicked Problem

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Michele Steinberg

Wildfire Division Director

National Fire Protection Association® 

We’ve got a wicked problem on 

our hands! • Difficult to clearly define

• Multi-causal

• Incomplete, contradictory and 

changing requirements

• Socially complex – no clear solution

• Solving one aspect may reveal or 

create other problems

• Isn’t the responsibility of any one 

entity

A wicked problem is:

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

What can we control?

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

The Problem is getting WORSE

 A volatile climate

 Extreme droughts, hotter temperatures

 Bouts of heavy precipitation grows vegetative fuel

 Water impacts

 Land use and management decisions

 Growing population and construction wildfire-prone areas

 Overgrowth of forested lands due to over-suppression

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Homes as fuel – location, design, materials, immediate surroundings

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control
64 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

Federal Emergency Management Agency

CAL FIRE Damage Inspection Program Data

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control 80

• 87% are responsible for 

WUI/wildland firefighting.

• 78% of departments who perform 

WUI/wildland firefighting 

operations have unmet needs in 

training.

• Two-thirds of departments have 

unmet needs in the area of 

wildland personal protective 

clothing. 

Fire Department Needs –

Wildfire and WUI

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Land use and management contribute to wildfire disasters

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Wildfires are inevitable; disasters are not

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

2022 Presidential Summit on Fire Prevention and Control 82

 What happens here is critical 

to structure survival

 Home materials and 

surroundings dictate its 

ignitability

 There are things we can do to 

prevent home ignition

Home Ignition Zone

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Thank you

Michele Steinberg

Wildfire Division Director

National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®)

msteinberg@nfpa.org

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control
State of Science Presentations 65

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control 2022 Presidential Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire 

Prevention and Control

National Emergency Training Center

October 11, 2022

Responding to the Interface

Training to prepare structural firefighters for WUI

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Rick Swan

DALLAS, TX. -- JULY 25, 2022

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

BACKGROUND

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

 We are all aware of the issues surrounding wildland fire in the urban 

interface.

 By the very nature of the name, these fires will occur in and around 

communities mostly protected by structural firefighters.

 Fact

 In the U.S., there are approximately 25,000 wildland firefighters.

 There are over 35,000 professional firefighters in California alone.

LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA. -- MAY 12, 2022

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control
66 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

MARSHALL, CO. -- DECEMBER 30, 2021

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

2015 AND 2021 NFPA NEEDS ASSESSMENT 

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

 87% responding say they perform WUI firefighting

 78% of those responding have not received formal training in WUI 

firefighting

 Smaller departments do not have access to specialized WUI 

firefighting operations 

 66% cannot equip ALL their emergency responders with wildland 

firefighting protective equipment

 97% cannot handle an incident involving more than 5 structures on 

their own

A GAP IN THE TRAINING MODELS

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

 National Wildfire Coordination Group (NWCG) S-215 

 Designed for Wildland Firefighters

 24 hours of in-person classroom training

 S-130 (40), S-190 (8 online) and L-180 (4 online) prerequisites (FFT1)

 Prescribed classroom sites

 Responding to the Interface

 Designed for Structural Firefighters

 16 hours of in-person training 

 8 hours classroom review, 8 hours field training and exercises 

 10 hours of on-line training

 Available for any community

Rick Swan

International Association of Fire Fighters

rswan@iaff.org

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

CONTACT INFORMATION

CONCLUSIONS

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

 Almost 90% of fire fighters responding to Urban Interface Fires are 

structural fire fighters.

 More than 75% of those surveyed do not provide formal Urban Interface 

Fire training.

 There is a training GAP for structural fire fighters for standardized Urban 

Interface Fire Training.

 NWGC S-215 (Fire Operations in the Wildland Urban Interface Course) is a 

minimum requirement, and other organizations' equivalents should be 

considered.

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control
State of Science Presentations 67

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire 

Prevention and Control

National Emergency Training Center

October 11, 2022

Data Informed Insights on Recruitment and 

Retention

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Chief John Oates

WHAT THE DATA SAYS ON WHERE WE ARE NOW AND 

WHERE WE STRUGGLE, AND WHERE WE CAN GO

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

 Traditionally, the fire service has not been required to actively recruit or 

actively endeavor to ensure members stay in the department

 Career fire departments today:

 Unprecedented low application numbers

 Struggle to ensure a diverse workforce

 Volunteer fire departments today:

 Low incumbent membership

 Low number of applicants

 Increased service delivery demand

WHY DO PEOPLE JOIN? WHY DO PEOPLE STAY?

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

A large majority of fire departments across the United States (US) depend on volunteer firefighters 

for emergency responses. Over the last decade, suburban and rural populations have soared, while 

the numbers of volunteer firefighters have fallen by over 10%, suggesting that improvements in 

recruitment and retention are necessary to counteract that trend. This article presents the results 

of a mixed methods research design that evaluates volunteer firefighters’ motives to join, their 

expectations to continue service, and their contemporary satisfaction with service. The project 

evaluates how these different factors affect volunteers’ prospective service length. Results suggest 

that a values orientation is the most prevalent influence affecting firefighters’ commitment to the 

volunteer fire service, but that personal enhancement and understanding goals were best able to 

systematically explain variance in the prospective service period. The findings presented here are 

used to outline recommendations to improve recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters and 

reduce levels of insularity in recruitment networks. 

Dr. David A. Greene, Deputy Chief, Colleton County (SC) Fire-Rescue

Dr. Marcus E. Hendershot, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Schreiner University (TX)

WHY DO PEOPLE JOIN? WHY DO PEOPLE STAY?

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

IS THE PROBLEM RECRUITMENT OR PROCESS?

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Filled out preliminary background application and met minimum 

requirements

13,236

Took and passed written test 6,504

Submitted CPAT certification within time window 966

Scheduled and passed oral interview 622

Filled out questionnaire and passed Initial Panel Review 446

Passed in-depth background check and Final Panel Review 205

Passed medical and psychological evaluations 187

1.4% success rate

Rand Corporation, 2014
68 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

CASE STUDY

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

 The study population included 588,337 EMTs and 105,356 paramedics. 

 The proportion of females earning initial EMT certification rose from 28% in 2008 to 

35% in 2017. 

 Throughout the study period, less than one-fourth of newly certified paramedics were 

female (range: 20-23%). 

 The proportion of EMS professionals identifying as Black remained near 5% among 

EMTs and 3% among paramedics. 

 The proportion of newly-certified Hispanic EMS professionals rose from 10% to 13% 

among EMTs and from 6% to 10% among paramedics

Females and Minority Racial/Ethnic Groups Remain Underrepresented in 

Emergency Medical Services: A Ten-Year Assessment, 2008-2017

Chief John Oates

International Public Safety Data Institute

john@i-psdi.org

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

CONTACT INFORMATION

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Recruitment Challenges for Career 

Departments Focused on Diversity, Equity, 

and Inclusion

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Chief John S. Butler

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire 

Prevention and Control

National Emergency Training Center

October 11, 2022

WHAT WE TRIED AND DIDN’T WORK

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

 Stricter Selection and Denial policies

 Limited applicant pool

 Updated; now reflective of current culture

 Limited appointments for written test and CPAT

 Attendance challenges

 Now offering additional opportunities

 Communication 

 Not remaining engaged with applicants

 Now engaging with applicants throughout on various communication 

platforms
State of Science Presentations 69

WHAT’S WORKED/CURRENTLY WORKING

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

 Updated Selection and Denial criteria

 Viewing applicants - “whole person” approach

 Recruitment marketing appealing to all demographics

 Diverse team of recruiters

 Diversity in advertising

 Increased access and exposure 

 Development of infrastructure for data analysis 

 Applicant demographics

 Comparative measures on applicants 

WHAT WE INTEND TO EXPLORE MOVING FORWARD

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

 Increase data collection and analytics

 Learn more about applicants

 Data-informed decisions 

 Increase in-person presence 

 Recruit in our own backyard

 Schools, faith-based organizations, local events

 Evaluate online marketing and recruitment companies

 Increase Internet-based outreach

 Improve website/end-user interface

Chief John S. Butler

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department

ChiefJohnButler@fairfaxcounty.gov

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

CONTACT INFORMATION

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire 

Prevention and Control

National Emergency Training Center

October 11, 2022

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Recruitment Challenges for 

Volunteer Fire Departments

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Chief Brita Horn
70 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

RECRUITMENT CHALLENGES

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

 General

 Societal changes: widespread decline in volunteerism 

 Pace of life

 Risks of firefighting for serving communities

 Fire Service 

 Insularity

 Lack of expansion of recruiting outside of existing networks

 Department pressures: dwindling budgets, expanded response 

requirements

 Safer work environments 

APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Registered apprenticeship 

programs enable employers to 

develop and train their future 

workforce while offering career 

seekers affordable paths to secure 

quality, high-paying jobs. 

Source: Department of Labor, www.apprenticeship.gov

APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

 Built on many of the same tenets valued by the fire service:

 Industry-led 

 Structured on-the-job learning 

 Supplemental education 

 Quality and safety 

 Credentials 

 Incorporating solutions to challenges fire departments are facing by 

building on various diversity models

 Improved data access and capture

 Resources for cancer prevention, healthy lifestyles and behavioral 

health support 

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Chief Brita Horn

Rock Creek Volunteer Fire Department

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

CONTACT INFORMATION

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire 

Prevention and Control

National Emergency Training Center

October 11, 2022
State of Science Presentations 71

National Firefighter Registry: 

The Missing Piece

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Kenny Fent, PhD, CIH

WHAT DO WE KNOW?

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

https://www.iarc.who.int/infographics/iarc-monographs-evaluate-the-carcinogenicity-of-occupational-exposure-as-a-firefighter/

WHAT DON’T WE KNOW?

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

 What is the cancer risk for volunteer firefighters?

 What is the cancer risk for the sub-specialties of the fire service?

 How does the cancer risk vary for demographic groups?

 How does the cancer risk vary regionally across the U.S. fire service?

 How prevalent are rare forms of cancer among firefighters?

 How does the cancer risk change with increasing exposures, 

including major events?

 What other occupational and non-occupational risk factors 

contribute to cancer risk among firefighters?

 To what extent do different control interventions and workplace 

practices reduce the risk of cancer?

 Are there other chronic illnesses that are elevated in firefighters?

THE MISSING PIECE

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Firefighter

Occupational 

exposures

Cancer

 Cancer is reportable in all 50 states

 Most states do not collect detailed information 

about occupation

 NFR allows you to register yourself as a firefighter

 NFR makes it possible to study the relationship 

between “firefighting” and “cancer”

NATIONAL FIREFIGHTER REGISTRY (NFR)

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Mission: To generate detailed knowledge about cancer in the fire service 

through a voluntary registry that reflects our nation’s diverse firefighters

Vision: To equip the fire service and public health communities with the 

knowledge they need to reduce cancer in firefighters

Goal: Enroll 200,000 firefighters

Specific aims:

1. Collect self-reported information on workplace & personal characteristics through web portal 

2. Obtain records from fire departments or agencies to track trends and patterns of exposure

3. Link with health information databases including population-based cancer registries and the 

National Death Index to detect cancers and deaths

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

ENROLLING IN THE NFR

 Visit web portal NFR.cdc.gov 

 Confirm eligibility and click Login.gov 

 Create account

 Read and sign consent form

 Fill out user profile

 Complete the questionnaire

 Demographics, work history, health 

history, lifestyle

30 – 45 minutes
72 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

DATA SECURITY

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Logging into web portal 

requires multi-factor 

authentication 

Email, password, and another 

form of authentication (e.g., 

text message passcode)

Data uploaded to an 

encrypted database 

each time the firefighter 

clicks “save and 

continue” or logs out

Logging out saves progress

Privacy protected by an 

Assurance of 

Confidentiality 

Identifiable information will 

not be shared outside of 

NIOSH

WHO’S ELIGIBLE?

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

 ALL firefighters!

 Active and retired

 Career and volunteer

 Structural, wildland, or other specialties

 Those with or without cancer

 NIOSH will reach out to select fire departments to solicit 

participation and request incident records 

 Most will enroll through the open enrollment route (NFR.cdc.gov) 

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER ENROLLMENT?

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Matching to state cancer 

registries and data analyses

Data collection (including incident 

records and follow-up surveys)

Starting line Enroll 

firefighters in 

NFR

Personal and 

demographic 

information

Demographic 

and regional 

differences in 

cancer risk

Work history 

and use of 

controls

Exposure-response 

relationships and 

impact of controls

Cancer risk by 

job category

Other occupational 

and nonoccupational factors

Quantification 

of cancer risk 

modifiers and 

confounders

200,000 or more!

Over next few years

Over next 10+ years

Kenny Fent, PhD, CIH

Lead, National Firefighter Registry (NFR) Program

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

kif5@cdc.gov

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

CONTACT INFORMATION

THANK YOU

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

The findings and conclusions in this presentation are those of the authors and do not 

necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. 

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control
State of Science Presentations 73

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire 

Prevention and Control

National Emergency Training Center

October 11, 2022

The Fire Fighter Cancer Cohort Study (FFCCS):

A Scientist-Fire Fighter Collaboration

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Jeff Burgess, MD, MS, MPH

FIRE FIGHTER CANCER COHORT STUDY (FFCCS)

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

FFCCS

Collect blood, urine, and 

other biological samples at 

enrollment, every two 

years, and as needed after 

exposures. Report back 

results to firefighters.

BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES

Collect exposure data from 

firefighters at the fireground, 

during training activities, and 

at other locations.

COLLECT EXPOSURE DATA

Integrate exposure, biological 

and health survey data 

through a centralized data 

center. Data protected by a 

Certificate of Confidentiality.

INTEGRATE DATA

Conduct basic and applied 

research through a communityengaged approach with the fire 

service to advance firefighter 

cancer control and prevention.

MISSION STATEMENT

10,000 firefighters enrolled 

and followed over 30 years.

TARGET GOAL

Fire Service Oversight and 

Planning Board and firefighter 

research champions in each research project.

FIRE SERVICE PARTNERSHIP

FFCCS RESEARCH CONCEPTS

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Toxicity

Reduction Treatment Early detection

Exposures Cancer

Prevention

Examples:

Polycyclic aromatic 

hydrocarbons (PAHs), 

PFAS (forever 

chemicals)

Flame retardants

Examples:

DNA damage

Epigenetic 

changes

Anti-müllerian 

hormone (AMH)

Examples:

Identification of 

firefighters at high 

risk for cancer, for 

advanced screening

136

FFCCS INCLUDES ALL 

TYPES OF 

FIREFIGHTERS

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

FFCCS ENROLLMENT TO DATE

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

31.1%
74 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

FFCCS PROJECTS AND FUNDING

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Funding: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) EMW-2014-FP-00200, EMW-2015-FP-00213, EMW-2017-FP-00860, EMW2018-FP-00086, EMW-2019-FP-00526, EMW-2019-FP-00517, EMW-2020-FP-00430, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences 

(NIEHS) P30 ES006694, P30 ES017885, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), University of Arizona Cancer 

Center, International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), some individual fire departments, and the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

Grant 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025

0) Pre-FFCCS

1) Framework

2) Expansion

3) PFAS

4) WUI

5) Women

6) Volunteers

7) PACES

8) Wildland

FFCCS: CONTRIBUTIONS TO DATE AND COMING SOON

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Exposures and Toxic Mechanisms Coming Soon-Evaluation of:

Causing Cancer in Fire Fighters

Prevention & Intervention Coming Soon-Evaluation of:

Everyone on the fireground is 

exposed, including firefighters, 

captains, engineers and 

paramedics1

Firefighter exposures cause 

epigenetic changes associated with 

increased cancer risk2-5

Serum PFAS are elevated in 

volunteer and career firefighters 

and are associated with epigenetic 

changes6-8

Engineers on air (SCBA) and entry 

team wash-down both significantly 

reduce exposure9

Skin wipes reduce firefighter 

exposures and toxic effects10

FFCCS RESEARCH CONCEPTS

Engineers on air (SCBA) and entry 

team wash-down both significantly 

reduce exposure9

Skin wipes reduce firefighter 

exposures and toxic effects10

Prevention & Intervention Coming Soon-Evaluation of:

Firefighter exposures cause 

epigenetic changes associated with 

increased cancer risk2-5

Exposures and Toxic Mechanisms 

Causing Cancer in Fire Fighters

PFAS exposure (from AFFF, fires, 

turnout gear) and toxicity

Cancer risk, stress and reproductive 

toxicity in women firefighters11

Serum PFAS are elevated in 

volunteer and career firefighters 

and are associated with epigenetic 

changes6-8

Everyone on the fireground is 

exposed, including firefighters, 

captains, engineers and 

paramedics1

Exposures and toxicity in WUI & 

wildland firefighters

Toxicity reduction intervention studies

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Jeff Burgess, MD, MS, MPH 

jburgess@arizona.edu

Alberto Caban Martinez, PhD, DO, MPH 

Acaban@med.miami.edu

Miriam Calkins, PhD, MS

oii2@cdc.gov

Judith Graber, PhD, MS 

judith.graber@rutgers.edu

Casey Grant, PE, FSFPE 

cgrant@dsrae.net

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

CONTACT INFORMATION

NEXT STEPS

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

 Seek funding to expand participation to 10,000 firefighters and provide for 

long-term follow-up

 Evaluate additional outcomes as requested by fire service

 Further define toxic exposures and mechanisms

 Establish linkages to the NFR

 Expand cancer prevention activities

 Exposure reduction

 Toxicity mitigation

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control
State of Science Presentations 75

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire 

Prevention and Control

National Emergency Training Center

October 11, 2022

Women Firefighters & Cancer

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Dr. Sara A. Jahnke

In the United States, women 

account for:

 13% of Police

 14% of Military

 6% of Marine Corps

 3.5 % – 5% of Fire & 

Emergency Services

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

197019711972197419761977197819791980198119821983198419851986198719881989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022

"Firefighter" in PubMed

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Findings: While there was little evidence of excess overall cancer 

mortality among women (SMR=0.74, 95% CI 0.27 to 1.61, n=6), 

most cancer deaths were from breast cancer (SMR=1.46, 95% CI 

0.30 to 4.26, n<5). Bladder cancer mortality was statistically 

significant (SMR=33.51, 95% CI 4.06 to 121.05, n<5) based on 

few cases.

CANCERS IN WOMEN 

FIREFIGHTERS
76 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

 Brain Cancer: aOR=2.54 

(95% CI=1.19-5.42)

 Thyroid: aOR=2.42 (95% 

CI=1.56-3.74)

 Melanoma: aOR=1.68 

(95% CI=0.97-2.90)

CANCERS IN WOMEN 

FIREFIGHTERS BREAST CANCER RISKS 

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

RESEARCH TEAM

Firefighter Organizations: 

 United Fire Service Women

 San Francisco Firefighters Cancer Prevention 

Foundation 

Science Team: 

 UC Berkeley 

 UC San Francisco 

 Silent Spring Institute

Environmental Health Advocates: 

 Breast Cancer Prevention Partners

 Commonwealth

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

 Concerns:

 Chemical, biological, radiologic exposures

 Shift schedule

 Extreme physiological strain of emergency 

response

 High ambient temperature and noise 

 Under-studied

 Little known about: 

 Child health impact

 Occupational exposures for mothers

FUTURE OF RESEARCH: 

WOMEN FIREFIGHTERS AND CANCER

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

 Recent research: Miscarriage rates 

among female firefighters were at least 

2.3 times higher compared to the U.S. 

National average of 10% (Jung, 2021)

 Volunteer firefighters had a 42% higher 

rate of miscarriage than career

Dr. Sara A. Jahnke

Center for Fire, Rescue, & EMS Health Research

National Development & Research Institutes – USA, Inc.

jahnke@ndri-usa.org

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

CONTACT INFORMATION
State of Science Presentations 77

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire 

Prevention and Control

National Emergency Training Center

October 11, 2022

Firefighter Cardiovascular Health

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Denise L. Smith, Ph.D.

CURRENT USFA DATA 2020

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Source: USFA-Firefighter Fatalities in the United States 2020

 SCE are the leading cause of acute 

duty-related death

 800-1,000 non-fatal events per 

year

 SCE are not random throughout day

 32% of their fatalities occur during 

firefighting but only 1% of time 

spent

 Statistically, 86 times more likely to 

have SCE after FF

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Time Spent Fatalities

Fire Suppression 1% 32%

Response to Alarm 4% 11%

Return from Alarm 7% 4%

Physical Training 8% 20%

Nonfire emergencies 15% 9%

Nonemergency duties 65% 25%

SUDDEN CARDIAC 

EVENTS (SCE)

CURRENT USFA DATA 2020

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Source: USFA-Firefighter Fatalities in the United States 2020
78 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF 

THE JOB PHYSIOLOGICAL STRAIN

→ Cardiovascular

→ Hematological 

→ Thermoregulatory

→ Respiratory 

→ Metabolic

→ Immune/Endocrine

→ Nervous 

→ Muscular 

Strenuous 

work

Hot and 

Dangerous 

Environment

Heavy PPE

RESEARCH FRAMEWORK

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Coronary HD

Plaque Rupture and 

Thrombus Formation

Vascular 

Changes Cardiac Stress Blood Thickens

Arrhythmia

Sudden Cardiac Event

Hypertensive HD 

Cardiovascular Strain of Firefighting

Normal Cardiomegaly Normal LVH

Smith et al., 2013 

Recovery

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

RESEARCH FINDINGS

Autopsy Findings of Cardiac Death 

Cases and Controls:

Underlying disease

Cardiac

Case

Non-Cardiac 

Control

Coronary artery 

≥50% stenosis 73.2% 18.5%

Heart weight 

>450g 77.2% 32.5%

CVD Risk Factor Prevalence 

Among Firefighters: (%)

Hypertension (n=5063) 69%*

High Cholesterol (n=4513) 20%#

Low HDL (n=4513) 25%#

High Blood Glucose 

(n=4513) 4%#

Obesity (n=4513) 36%#

KEY FINDING – 80% of cardiac deaths 

had both CHD and HHD

KEY FINDINGS – greater hypertension than 

general population, others similar. FF is NOT 

similar to other jobs

Dr. Denise Smith

Tisch Distinguished Professor

Director First Responder Health and Safety Laboratory

Skidmore College, and

Senior Research Scientist 

Illinois Fire Service Institute

dsmith@skidmore.edu

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

CONTACT INFORMATION

FIREFIGHTER CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH 

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

 Firefighting causes significant CV strain and physiological disruption

 Firefighting can Trigger a cardiac event in people with 

underlying disease - especially if FF has CHD and 

hypertensive heart disease

 Firefighters should be screened for underlying CVD

 Firefighters NEED robust fitness and wellness programs 

 Address cardiovascular disease risk factors 

 Prevent cardiovascular disease

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control
State of Science Presentations 79

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire 

Prevention and Control

National Emergency Training Center

October 11, 2022

Firefighter Behavioral Health

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Pat Morrison

WHERE WE STARTED

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

WHAT WE DON’T KNOW

 The rate (or cause) of fire fighters that die by suicide

 How to tackle the eroding physiological and cognitive impacts of sleep 

deprivation/shiftwork

 How to translate education/awareness into concrete behavioral change that 

saves lives 

 How to expedite critical behavioral change in a legacy of tradition

 How to attract and retain millennials and Gen Z to the fire service

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

WHAT WE KNOW

 Fire service members experience higher rates of behavioral health disorders, 

when compared to the general population

 Suicide, burnout, and recruitment are major challenges of today

 The connection between behavioral health, sleep, and all other health 

outcomes is indisputable 

 Many barriers still exist that prevent fire fighters from seeking help

 Peer support can effectively bridge the gap to help 

 Fire fighters need culturally informed, evidenced based treatment

 Fire fighters remain highly resilient due to protective factors inherit to the 

occupation 

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Behavioral Health Education

Department-wide Resiliency Training

Peer Support Programming 

Behavioral Health Screening

Comprehensive Health Insurance Coverage

Post- PTE Response

Chaplaincy Program

Vetted Mental Health Providers

Physical Fitness Program

Retiree Inclusion 

Family Inclusion 

ORGANIZATIONAL RESILIENCE

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control
80 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

CREATING A RESILIENT WORKFORCE FOR TOMORROW

Emerging Trends 

 Comprehensive fire department behavioral health programming

 Mandatory behavioral health education for all levels of rank

 Targeted outreach/inclusion of department leaders and recruits 

 Annual behavioral health screening and evaluation 

 Increased treatment access through telehealth 

 Improved treatment outcomes through culturally informed care

 The role of science in cutting edge behavioral health treatments

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Pat Morrison

Chief of Field Services

International Association of Fire Fighters

pmorrison@iaff.org

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

CONTACT INFORMATION

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control
National Roundtable Facilitated Discussion 81

National Roundtable Facilitated 

Discussion

Commissioner Adam Thiel led a discussion following the National Roundtable to 

allow attendees to provide feedback on the testimony delivered. Below are some 

discussion points from attendees.

Climate change impact on the fire service

ĵ Attendees discussed that although wildland and structural firefighters may 

respond to the same incidents in the WUI, their personal protective equipment 

(PPE) and respiratory protection vary greatly. 

ĵ One attendee noted that private entities are addressing the climate change 

issue that the fire service may be able to partner with. For example, the 

Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge supports mayors engaged in the 

climate change issue.

ĵ Because of the increase in WUI fires, firefighters may need to take an awareness 

course based on the risk levels in their jurisdiction. 

National Firefighter Apprenticeship Program

ĵ Because of the shift to people working from home, there may be an opportunity 

for a marketing campaign to attract new people to the volunteer fire service. 

ĵ Investment in summer camp programs for girls may serve to increase the 

number of women in the fire service.

ĵ If there is a National Firefighter Apprenticeship Program, it will be essential to 

provide company officers with training related to management and leadership 

techniques. The leadership program would specifically include scenario-based 

role-playing drills. 

ĵ An attendee recommended exploring dual enrollment academies to allow high 

school students to participate in an apprenticeship program while completing 

their education. 

ĵ Health care insurance could be an incentive for an apprenticeship program or 

volunteering in general.

Comprehensive firefighter cancer strategy

ĵ Incorporating cancer mitigation strategies into training on operational strategies 

and tactics may be a way to enforce best practices. 

ĵ A national strategy should include an awareness campaign, policy examples, 

chief officer support and company officer training.

ĵ It is imperative that the primary care community understand the risk factor for 

cancer among firefighters. 
82 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

Firefighter behavioral health resources

ĵ Although there is improvement in the stigma of mental health in the fire service, 

much more attention and resources are needed.

ĵ There is a need for an assessment and evaluation of the programs currently 

addressing firefighter behavioral issues.

ĵ Data collection is needed to understand the problem of firefighter behavioral 

health better. 

ĵ Behavioral health is related to physical health, so a national campaign should 

clearly bridge the gap between the 2 topics.

Codes and standards implementation and enforcement

ĵ The single most significant impact on civilian loss of life due to fire is ensuring 

that any building being paid for by the government is built and maintained with 

the minimum national building code.

Elevation of the fire service in federal policy development

ĵ The fire service needs a cohesive effort to demonstrate its response to natural 

and human-made disasters to show the need to support the fire service. 

*Due to time constraints, the last 2 topics were limited in attendee comments. 
2022 Presidential Proclamation on Fire Prevention Week 83

2022 Presidential Proclamation on 

Fire Prevention Week

Presidential Documents

61949 

Federal Register 

Vol. 87, No. 197 

Thursday, October 13, 2022 

Title 3— 

The President 

Proclamation 10469 of October 7, 2022 

Fire Prevention Week, 2022 

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation 

In 1920, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed October 9th the first Fire 

Prevention Day, calling on the public to learn more about the risks of 

deadly fires and commemorating the thousands who had lost their lives 

to these tragedies. More than a century later, our Nation observes Fire 

Prevention Week by renewing our commitment to fire safety and preparedness and taking steps to prevent fires in our homes, schools, workplaces, 

and the great outdoors. We also honor the bravery and heroism of our 

firefighters, who gear up time and again and rush into harm’s way to 

protect our communities. 

In the past year, our Nation has suffered some of its deadliest fires in 

recent history. Americans have lost their homes and their businesses. Thousands have tragically lost their lives. Wildfires are becoming more frequent 

and ferocious, destroying neighborhoods and natural resources and displacing 

families and communities. Super-charged by the climate crisis—which has 

exacerbated drought conditions and increased temperatures—these devastating wildfires have wiped out millions of acres of forest and so many 

homes. 

Whenever the First Lady and I visit with families in the aftermath of a 

fire, we witness their incredible courage and resolve—even though, in many 

cases, they have just lost everything. We see people step up for one another, 

neighbors take each other in, and local businesses donate essential goods 

to those in need. With each visit, we are also reminded of the character 

of our Nation’s firefighters, who put their lives on the line with remarkable 

selflessness and extraordinary bravery that inspire everyone. 

For our firefighters and our communities, we have a responsibility to act 

now and act fast to mitigate the risk of wildfires. My Administration is 

investing billions from our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in forest management, including the management of hazardous fuels in high-risk areas and 

funding the Community Wildfire Defense Grants, which are intended to 

help at-risk local communities and Tribes plan and reduce the risk against 

wildfire, and we are safeguarding mature and old-growth forests on Federal 

lands, a key component of decreasing fire risk. Through our Inflation Reduction Act, we are taking unprecedented steps to protect forest health, prevent 

fires, and confront the climate crisis—ushering in a new era of clean energy 

and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by a billion metric tons. 

We are standing by our brave firefighters by substantially increasing wages 

for Federal wildland firefighters, and have implemented new programs to 

support their mental and physical health, and established a wildland firefighter job series that will help improve recruitment, retention, and opportunities for professional growth. We invested $350 billion from our American 

Rescue Plan to help States and cities keep first responders like firefighters 

on the job during the COVID–19 pandemic. To help States pay for the 

cost of fighting wildfires and help communities increase resilience, the 

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has also approved dozens 

of Fire Management Assistance Grants and is providing over one billion 


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84 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings


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61950 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 197 / Thursday, October 13, 2022 / Presidential Documents 

dollars through its Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) 

program. 

To build on these actions, my Administration is educating the public on 

fire safety. This week’s theme—‘‘Fire won’t wait. Plan your escape’’—emphasizes how we must all prepare fire escape plans, test smoke and carbon 

monoxide alarms every month and replace them every 10 years, implement 

appropriate building codes, and when possible, install residential fire sprinklers. For those who live in areas susceptible to wildfire, regularly clearing 

brush and other vegetation around your homes is another important way 

to stay safe. 

With every home, school, and business destroyed in a fire, precious memories 

are lost, livelihoods are jeopardized, and dreams are crushed. This National 

Fire Prevention Week, let us reflect on the importance of remaining vigilant 

and learning more about fire safety. Let us acknowledge the remarkable 

service of our Nation’s firefighters and honor the memory of those who 

have lost their lives protecting others. And let us all work to make these 

heroes’ jobs more manageable, keep our neighbors safer, and reduce the 

risk of fires across our country. 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States 

of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution 

and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 9 through 

October 15, 2022, as Fire Prevention Week. On Sunday, October 9, 2022, 

in accordance with Public Law 107–51, the flag of the United States will 

be flown at half-staff at all Federal office buildings in honor of the National 

Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service. I call on all Americans to participate 

in this observance with appropriate programs and activities and by renewing 

their efforts to prevent fires and their tragic consequences. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day 

of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-two, and of the 

Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fortyseventh. 

[FR Doc. 2022–22405 

Filed 10–12–22; 8:45 am] 

Billing code 3395–F3–P 
Report: Impact of Climate Change 85

Report: Impact of Climate Change

Issue statement 

Prepare all firefighters for the climate-driven increase in wildfires in the WUI by 

providing them with the proper training and equipment.

A wicked problem 

The U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control looked at how 

changes in our climate are increasing the risk of WUI fires and the resulting impacts 

on the fire service. 

Chief Donna Black, fire chief of the Duck (North Carolina) Fire Department and 

president of the IAFC, discussed how fighting fires in the WUI is a daunting task 

for firefighters trained to fight structural fires. As the number of fires in the WUI 

grows, more and more departments are faced with the challenge of protecting 

entire neighborhoods, often without the necessary training, tactical knowledge, 

equipment, personal protective gear and staffing. 

As our nation continues to grow and develop in the WUI, our communities face 

increased wildfire threats because of a confluence of factors we will explore more 

deeply in the following pages.

The NFPA’s Michelle Steinberg noted during her State of Science presentation that 

America’s WUI fires are a “wicked problem” with no clear, complete or simple solution. 

In her opening remarks, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell spoke to the challenge 

of this problem and to the considerable scope of partnerships and solutions needed 

to reduce the impacts of wildland and WUI fires,

“... the impact of fire is not limited to our cities. Our precious wildlands are 

also being ravaged by unforgiving impacts of wildfire. As we continue to see 

across the western United States, extreme heat, prolonged drought and high 

winds are serving as compounding factors to the year-round wildfire crisis. 

The call to mitigate these threats is growing louder each and every day. That is 

why FEMA, the U.S. Fire Administration, and our federal partners are leaning 

into a national cohesive strategy to develop resilient landscapes, fire-adapted 

communities and effective response capabilities.

“For example, we are helping lead the new Wildland Fire and Management 

Commission that is going to deliver workable and impactful solutions to 

Congress. This commission, comprised from partners across all levels of 

government and the private sector, is focused on creating safer communities 

by implementing and enforcing higher codes and standards, especially in the 

wildland urban interface and in our underserved communities. This is just 

1 step that FEMA is taking to ensure that we are building a safer and more 

fire-resilient nation. The work ahead of us is extensive, but it’s not impossible 

if we have a strong set of partners with us each step of the way. And today is 

the start of that process.”
86 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

Defining the issue 

Wildfire knows no boundaries. Fires can 

burn across federal, tribal, state, local 

and private lands and are often fought 

by a mix of agencies. The fire service 

continues to work with its federal, 

state and local partners on the global 

challenge of wildland fires. There is much 

to be learned from these destructive and 

immense fires and the skilled firefighters 

and command officers responding to 

these disasters. 

One of the summit’s focuses is the 

impacts occurring when wildland fires 

start or move into inhabited zones, 

colloquially known as the wildland urban 

interface or “WUI.” These fires occur 

in the built (structural) environment 

directly adjacent to or intermixed 

with the wildland and pose unique challenges to firefighting forces. While some 

structural firefighters are trained in wildland firefighting, most have little to no 

training to operate in a rapidly spreading fire with multiple structures burning 

simultaneously and acres of vegetation being consumed at an exponential rate. 

These conflagrations surpass the capabilities and experience of many agencies. 

The lack of training, along with limited access to appropriate personal protective 

ensembles and equipment, impedes firefighters’ ability to fight these fires 

effectively and adversely affects firefighter safety. 

The USFA defines the WUI 

as the zone of transition 

between unoccupied land 

and human development. 

It is the line, area or zone 

where structures and 

other human development 

meet or intermingle with 

undeveloped wildland or 

vegetative fuels.

Targeted actions 

In the impact areas raised by the summit, attendees identified targeted actions. 

Following the summit, the designated working groups will meet frequently over the 

next year in support of the USFA’s goal to address these issues. Attendees identified 

the need to:

ĵ Cross-train firefighters on wildland fire operations, resources and equipment.

ĵ Educate firefighters, elected and government leaders, and community members 

on interface nomenclature (in comparison to wildland). 

ĵ Advocate for increased community resilience.

A critical point raised by the summit is the need for an improved understanding of 

the risks of wildland and WUI fires. There is a vocabulary that our nation must learn, 

using this common nomenclature to enable improved conversations about our risk. 

For example, the term “conflagration” has been applied to some of our nation’s 

most well-known and destructive fires. The reality is that conflagrations, and the 

risk of them occurring, are no longer merely historical artifacts.
Impact Areas 87

Impact Areas 

Occurrence of wildfire

According to a June 2022 U.S. Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report, both the 

intensity of wildfires and the number of wildfires impacting the built environment 

have increased over the past 30 years. The CBO report cites increased human 

presence in the WUI, as well as past land management practices resulting in a 

dangerous increase of fuel buildup and climate change as factors contributing to 

this increase in destructive fire activity. 

More information:

ĵ CBO: “Wildfires” (June 2022) www.cbo.gov/publication/57970.

ĵ National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC): www.nifc.gov.

ĵ “National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy”: www.

forestsandrangelands.gov/strategy/index.shtml.

ĵ “Wildfire Risk to Communities”: www.wildfirerisk.org.

ĵ National Academy of Sciences: “Chemistry of Fires at the Wildland-Urban 

Interface” report: nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/26460/the-chemistry-offires-at-the-wildland-urban-interface.

Firefighting resources

Wildland and WUI fires may be fought by a mix of agencies from the local, state 

and federal levels. Responding firefighters could include seasonal federal and state 

wildland firefighters, state and local career firefighters, and volunteer firefighters 

from community-based fire stations. 

Advances in command and coordination, especially at large, long-duration wildland 

and WUI fire events, have improved resource deployment and fire operations. 

However, these resources take time to get into place and are not immediately 

available on-scene. Therefore, the initial response usually comes from state and 

local fire departments. 

Response differences between types of fires 

Not all fires are the same; there are clear distinctions between types of fires and the 

strategy and tactics, equipment, and firefighter training needed to fight them. The 

chart below summarizes some key differences. 
88 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

Fire type Structural Wildland WUI

Involves Built construction Typically trees, grass, 

brush and other 

vegetation

The built (structural) 

environment adjacent 

to or intermixed with 

a wildland area

Strategy 

and tactics

Interior attack, 

exterior attack, 

search and rescue, 

ventilation, salvage, 

and overhaul

Direct (near the fire 

edge) attack and 

indirect (away from 

the fire edge) attack, 

“backfire,” creating 

firebreaks, using 

barriers, mop-up, and 

rehabilitation

Nonstandardized 

because WUI 

necessitates both 

structural and 

wildland tactics to 

sometimes be applied 

simultaneously; for 

the built environment, 

use primary and 

secondary tactics 

conducted by 

structural firefighters. 

Wildland firefighters 

engage with wildland 

tactics/equipment. 

Equipment 

used

Engines, aerials, 

rescues, and other 

apparatus and 

tools configured for 

traditional structural 

fires 

Engines, hand crews, 

heavy equipment, 

aircraft, pumping 

apparatus and tools 

designed to operate 

in the wildlands

A mix of apparatus 

and equipment 

depending on the 

structural and 

wildland involvement/

threat facing the 

community, values at 

risk, and responding 

forces

PPE Ensembles designed 

to protect the 

firefighter from the 

hazards associated 

with fighting structural 

fires (e.g., multilayered 

flashover protection, 

self-contained 

respiratory protection, 

etc.) 

Ensembles specifically 

designed to protect 

the firefighter from 

hazards associated 

with fighting wildland 

fires (e.g., more 

lightweight and 

breathable fireresistant materials, 

no or coarse filtering 

style respiratory 

protection, etc.)

Ensemble appropriate 

for the hazards 

encountered and 

strategy/tactics 

initiated 

Training, equipment and personal protective equipment

As single-family dwellings are the most common fire risk they encounter, structural 

firefighters are trained, and more accustomed, to fighting 1 structure fire at a 

time. With fires occurring more often in suburban and rural areas adjacent to 

or intermixed with the wildland, structural firefighters are regularly involved in 

suppressing these fires. They encounter multiple structures involved, with entire 

neighborhoods and communities under threat, and the potential for a suburban or 

urban conflagration. 
Impact Areas 89

While some of our nation’s firefighters are trained for both structural and wildland 

firefighting, the vast majority have little to no training for operating in an urban or 

suburban conflagration with multiple structures burning simultaneously.

Fire departments adapt their structural tactics, resulting in atypical strategies, in 

the hopes of reducing or eliminating fire spread. The results are less than successful 

in many cases as the multiple structures burning simultaneously overwhelms 

traditional interior attack strategies before commanders can react and request 

resources to meet the need of conflagration control. Quite simply, firefighters 

are operating in dangerous situations without the benefits of proper training, 

particularly the knowledge of fire behavior and growth in the WUI environment. 

Furthermore, structural fire departments encountering fire in the WUI environment 

have not had the resources to invest in wildland firefighting equipment, including 

proper PPE and proper footwear for both women and men. This leaves firefighting 

forces entering the WUI outfitted in PPE designed for entering a hostile fire 

environment confined by walls and ceilings. The structural firefighting ensemble 

many firefighters use on a daily basis is wholly inappropriate for fighting a wildland/

WUI fire. 

Today’s structural firefighters must understand and be trained in interface 

strategies and tactics. To fight these fires effectively and safely, our nation’s 

firefighters need additional training, adequate equipment and the proper PPE. 

Water access

Particularly in the West, water is a limited and often contested resource. Drought 

conditions throughout the country are having a severe impact on firefighting 

efforts. Additionally, fires in watershed areas and the resulting burn scars can 

contaminate water resources due to the soil runoff and erosion created by the loss 

of root systems and ground cover. Debris and other contaminants can affect both 

availability of potable water and water treatment efforts.

State of Science 91

State of Science

The CBO report, its concerns echoed by summit speakers and government 

leadership, bluntly described the reality of WUI fire risk: “Those elevated fuel levels, 

especially when accompanied by climate change-related higher temperatures and 

drought, contribute to fires that burn with greater severity, spread more rapidly and 

unleash more harmful impacts.” 

There is much that remains to be learned about the health impacts on humans 

and the environment due to fires in the WUI. The National Academy of Sciences’ 

“Chemistry of Fires at the Wildland-Urban Interface” looks at the fundamental 

chemistry of these incidents to better understand exposures due to WUI fires and 

their impacts on human and environmental health. The report details a research 

agenda for WUI fires, defining a path toward understanding the true and complete 

impact of these fires. 

Fires in the WUI: Facts and figures 

Data tell us that WUI fires are only growing more severe and destructive in terms of 

size, severity and cost.

In her presentation, Chief Black also spoke about the myths that often surround 

wildland and WUI fires, such as that they only occur in the western states; are only 

in remote, uninhabited lands; and only occur seasonally. Data tells us that these 

points are not true. Wildland and WUI fires are not limited to the western U.S.; in 

fact, research suggests the Southeast may see large fires increase by 300% to 400% 

in the next 30 years. Colorado’s Marshall Fire burned 6,000 acres, destroyed more 

than 1,000 homes and businesses, and caused over $500 million in damages in 

December, well outside the traditional wildland fire season.

Below are key data points sourced from a variety of agencies, organizations and 

metrics that underscore the immense, and expanding, risk of wildland and WUI fires. 

ĵ Size. 

Ý “About 8 million acres, on average, burned each year in wildfires between 

2017 and 2021, more than double the average amount from 1987 to 1991. 

On average, a fire on federal lands is five times the size of one on nonfederal 

lands” (CBO, 2021).

ĵ Severity.

Ý Researchers have connected climate trends with higher burn severity, jeopardizing the ability of our lands to recover in the aftermath of a fire. The western 

states continue to experience increases in fires so severe that they threaten 

forest recovery.

Ý “Estimates of wildfires’ severity from satellite observations show that, on 

average, between 2014 and 2018, about one-third of the burned areas that 

were evaluated experienced high or moderate levels of burn severity, meaning 

that much of the vegetation was consumed and the effects were expected to 

be long-lasting” (CBO, 2021). 
92 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

ĵ Cost.

Ý “Wildfires in the United States inflict an estimated economic loss of between 

$77.4 to $378.7 billion each year. This includes everything from fire suppression 

to evacuations to property loss and recovery efforts” (U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency (EPA), 2021a).

Ý Average annual federal spending on fire suppression totaled $2.5 billion (in 

2020 dollars) between 2016 and 2020. Other federal fire-related spending 

includes disaster assistance (which totaled $5 billion of obligations for disasters 

declared over those five years) and some indirect costs (such as spending on 

health care following smoke exposure and the potential loss of revenues from 

federal timber sales)” (CBO, 2021). 

Ý Environmental, health-related and economic effects of wildfires are felt most 

acutely in the immediate area. Smoke and air pollution from wildfires spread 

widely and can exacerbate many health conditions. Wildfires also tend to have 

negative effects on watersheds (CBO, 2021). 

The role of climate change

USFA’s “Wildland Urban Interface: A Look at Issues and Resolutions” report 

described fire’s natural benefits but also its challenges, especially when it occurs in 

the WUI: 

“Much of America’s landscape is a fire-adapted ecosystem, which means it 

depends on recurring fire to renew the forests, rangelands and habitats that 

support the plant and animal ecosystems. Before there were houses and 

roads, wildfires were primarily ignited by lightning and Indigenous peoples, 

and they naturally stopped at rivers and wetlands. These wildfires reduced 

overgrowth and sustained the natural ecosystems. 

“When wildfire enters WUI areas, where human development meets or 

intermingles with undeveloped wildland or vegetative fuels (NWCG, 2022) that 

are both fire dependent and fire-prone, the effects on communities can be 

catastrophic, causing environmental and socioeconomic devastation.”

While fire is beneficial in many areas, climate change is adversely impacting 

wildfire norms. The CBO report cited research finding that “climate change-induced 

increases in temperatures leave vegetation and other fuels drier, increasing the 

potential for fires to ignite.” There is also an increased risk of ignitions, as research 

suggests that climate change will increase the occurrence of lightning. 

Climate data helps us to understand the changes driving increased fire risk:

ĵ In every year since 1997, average annual temperatures in North America have 

exceeded the 1910-2000 average (CBO, 2021). 

ĵ In 15 of the past 31 years, the portion of the country from the Rocky Mountains 

westward has been categorized as abnormally dry or in drought for all 

12 months of the year (CBO, 2021).

Climate change also drives more extremes such as increased rainfall. More rain 

drives growth in vegetation, resulting in a buildup of fuels when drier conditions 

return. Other factors such as invasive pests and plants, some the result of climate 

change, have also had an impact on the health of our forests and grasslands. 
State of Science 93

Land management impacts

The cascading impacts of years of land management decisions have resulted in 

the presence of immense amounts of vegetative fuel. The CBO report spoke to the 

federal policy focusing on quick suppression and the prevention of wildland fires. 

This policy, in place for much of the 20th century, impacted the natural benefit of 

fire in removing and/or reducing vegetation. The USFA’s report cited the lack of 

maintenance of our nation’s land, including a “lack of workforce capacity, funding, 

restricted prescribed burn opportunities, air quality impact and public perception.” 

The report also cited a 2019 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report: “Fire 

suppression over the last century and past land management decisions, including 

reduced use of mechanical methods and prescribed fire as land management tools, 

have resulted in over 100 million acres of federal land at high or severe risk to 

wildfire, and many more acres of state, tribal and private land are also likely at risk.” 

Demographic and community changes 

A critical factor in the changing risk of WUI fires is the increasing number of 

Americans living within these lands. As technology and our society have changed, 

more and more people are moving into these previously uninhabited areas. Where 

a fire in an uninhabited, undeveloped area would pose little to no risk to humans, 

the population seeding of such areas dramatically changes the risk profile for fire 

departments. Areas where fires would have been monitored and allowed to “let 

nature run its course” now require a commitment of resources to control due to 

lives being at risk (the highest precedence in incident priorities well accepted by the 

fire service and taught by the National Fire Academy’s (NFA’s) incident command 

courses). Data points presented at the summit tell the story of our nation’s move 

into the WUI. 

ĵ About one-third of the U.S. population, 99 million people, live in the WUI.

ĵ It is estimated that 45 to 46 million structures, nearly half of U.S. building stock, 

are in the WUI.

ĵ The WUI continues to grow by approximately 2 million acres per year (USFA, 

2021). 

ĵ Between 2005 and 2020, wildfires have destroyed more than 89,000 structures 

in the United States, including homes and businesses. The most damaging 

wildfires have occurred in the last few years, accounting for 62% of the 

structures lost over the last 15 years (Headwaters Economics, 2020). 

Emerging Issues Identified at the Summit 95

Emerging Issues Identified at the 

Summit

A wicked, but solvable, problem 

As mentioned earlier, NFPA’s Michelle Steinberg spoke of wildland and WUI fires as a 

wicked problem. Her presentation, and those of the State of Science and roundtable 

speakers, discussed some of the many developments currently in place or that 

can be implemented to lessen the impacts of this wicked problem. For example, 

she spoke about building community understanding that homes, as well as their 

“location design, materials, and immediate surroundings,” can serve as fuel in a 

wildfire situation; there are also actions that can be taken to mitigate the likelihood 

of this happening. 

Steinberg’s presentation spoke of the breadth and depth of the challenge. While 

not insurmountable, she acknowledged that we may not always know the resources 

needed to mitigate these fires, but that we must use every tool possible. She also 

spoke to the importance of the concept that while wildfires are a natural occurrence 

that cannot be entirely prevented, wildfire disasters can be mitigated, 

“Ending wildfire disasters will take not only better training and equipment 

for our fire service, but a major paradigm shift. We cannot hope to avoid 

continued massive property loss if suppression and response are our only 

tools. We must work to apply the hard-won knowledge of how homes burn 

in wildfires to upgrade existing homes, prepare communities, and change 

how we build new homes and subdivisions. In our planning and development 

decisions, we must involve the fire service to inform safe design to limit 

conflagrations and provide the best possible infrastructure for safe and 

effective response.”

Modern building codes 

Karl Fippinger of the ICC spoke about the impact of modern building codes in 

protecting our communities. The Insurance Institute of Business and Home Safety’s 

research into wildfire (ibhs.org/risk-research/wildfire/) offers valuable information 

and understanding of the impacts of wildland fire on homes and buildings, but also 

of how certain fire-safe changes can increase the safety of a structure. 

A troubling number of communities in our nation do not adopt or have older and 

weaker building codes. According to FEMA data cited by Fippinger, “only 25% of 

hazard-prone jurisdictions adopt the latest 2 editions of hazard-resistant building 

codes.”

The ICC’s International Wildland-Urban Interface Code is not widely adopted, yet the 

data suggests that adopting modern building codes makes a difference in the safety 

and resiliency of our communities, as seen in the data provided below. Fippinger 

discussed a concept used in the wildland fire code, that of a system of defenses 

beginning with a parcel, rising to the neighborhood, and finally, to a community. 

This type of systemic defense is built on key principles of fire-resistant construction, 

defensible space, emergency vehicle access, water supply and fire sprinklers. 
96 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

In the context of our national housing challenges, Fippinger talked of the importance 

of “protect(ing) the homes we have and those we build.” Throughout the summit, 

roundtable and State of Science speakers framed the protection of our nation’s 

existing and future housing stock in the context of equity: that our nation’s fire 

problem disproportionately impacts on our vulnerable populations, including older 

adults, children, people of color, low-income populations and people with disabilities.

Training

Rick Swan of the IAFF highlighted the IAFF’s work to translate wildland/WUI training 

to a format more applicable to structural firefighters. 

He offered important context on the relatively limited number of firefighters trained 

to fight wildland fires. There are only 25,000 wildland firefighters in the U.S.; in 

contrast, he noted that California alone has 35,000 career firefighters. 

Finding effective ways to train our nation’s traditional structural firefighters for the 

risk of WUI fires is critical to protecting our communities. According to the NFPA’s 

2021 “The Fifth Needs Assessment of the U.S. Fire Service,” 87% of fire departments 

responding to the survey provide WUI firefighting; 78% of these departments 

have unmet training needs. For departments that do provide wildland/WUI fire 

training, 47% do not have access to specialized WUI operations training. Swan also 

referenced the needs assessment survey completed in 2015. Fire departments 

indicated a need for WUI training in 2015, and this need continues to be seen in the 

2021 survey. 

To help address the gap in training needs, the IAFF built a training program 

that adapts available wildland training to meet the delivery needs of structural 

fire departments and their members. They focused on a delivery process that 

accounted for shift schedules and does not require departments to send their 

firefighters away for several days for training. 

The result, “Responding to the Interface,” is built on the National Wildfire 

Coordinating Group Course S-215 but is adapted to fill the training and knowledge 

needs of structural firefighters tasked with fighting WUI fires in addition to their 

standard operations. The training is done with the department’s equipment, and no 

special tools or hoses are needed. 

Departments working with IAFF to deliver this course are reporting positive results, 

with identifiable changes to operations and firefighter safety after training delivery. 

IAFF delivers train-the-trainer courses to help expand the program’s reach. 

Swan also spoke to concerns about the impact on firefighter behavioral health 

due to the long-duration deployments often experienced by firefighters operating 

on wildland and WUI fires. As we have seen, the issues raised by the summit are 

interwoven and linked, with progress on 1 issue having the potential to positively 

impact other ongoing challenges.

Next steps

The deliberations meeting on Oct. 12 assigned a work group to explore further 

these issues.
Report: National Firefighter Apprenticeship Program 97

Report: National Firefighter 

Apprenticeship Program

Summit statement

Invest in a national apprenticeship program to address the shortage of firefighters 

and to make the fire service more diverse and inclusive.

Background

The NFPA’s “U.S. Fire Department Profile” (published in September 2022; based on 

data from 2020) estimates 1,041,200 career and volunteer firefighters in the U.S. 

This is about 62,100 less than in 2010. In 2010, the rate of firefighters per 1,000 

citizens was 3.57. In 2020, the rate of firefighters per 1,000 citizens was 3.14. Since 

2010, there has been a decrease of 91,250 volunteer firefighters. There is a need to 

address the shortage of firefighters comprehensively. 

The data from 2020 only shows part of the story. The other part of the story can 

be found daily in newspapers showing how career and volunteer fire departments 

have been impacted by the firefighter shortage, including response time delays, 

closed stations, firefighter safety (training requirements and minimum staffing), and 

financial impact on municipalities. Here are a few examples:

ĵ Fremont, Nebraska: Normally, they receive 75 to 100 applicants. In September 

2022, they reported they had 4 to 5 applicants (https://www.wowt.

com/2022/09/26/quite-worrisome-fremont-fire-department-deals-withapplicant-shortage/).

ĵ Des Moines, Iowa: In March 2022, they had 30 open positions. They decided 

to shorten the training period from 12 months to 81 days for 12 recent 

hires who were already certified firefighters in other departments (https://

www.kcci.com/article/des-moines-fire-department-graduates-pre-certifiedrecruits/42009300#).

ĵ Lake County Fire and Rescue, Wisconsin: Due to staffing shortages, there have 

been response delays and frequent closing of stations. They are spending $3 

million over the course of the next 4 years to add new firefighter positions. 

The challenge now is to find firefighters (https://www.jsonline.com/story/

communities/lake-country/news/2022/11/11/lake-country-fire-chief-presentsplan-to-address-staffing-shortage/69640552007/).

ĵ Seattle, Washington: The Seattle Fire Department spent $37.7 million in 

overtime in 2021, a 50% increase in overtime from 2019. The overtime expense 

is a direct response to staffing shortages. The department can only meet 

minimum staffing about a third of the time (https://www.king5.com/article/

news/local/seattle/seattle-firefighters-overtime-pay-2021/281-b03f76e6-ff9e410d-a534-7f66f4dea129).

ĵ Prichard, Alabama: The Prichard Fire Department had to close 1 of its 3 fire 

stations due to staffing shortages in October 2022 (https://mynbc15.com/news/

local/highpoint-fire-station-in-prichard-closed-due-to-staffing-and-waging-issues).
98 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

ĵ Prince George’s County, Maryland: The Seat Pleasant Volunteer Fire 

Department, founded in 1915, closed its doors in December 2022 because of a 

lack of volunteers (https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/seat-pleasantvolunteer-fire-company-closing/3224672/).

ĵ Camden County, New Jersey: The Cedar Brook Volunteer Fire Company, founded 

in 1925, closed its doors in April 2022 because of a lack of volunteers (https://

www.nj.com/south/2022/04/after-97-years-nj-fire-station-to-halt-emergencyoperations-due-to-low-staff-numbers.html).

ĵ Minneapolis, Minnesota: Normally, the Minneapolis Fire Department receives 

about 2,000 to 2,500 applicants per application cycle. This year, they received 

only 700 applicants (USFA survey).

ĵ Pasco County, Florida: In the summer of 2022, Pasco County reported a 

shortage of 75 firefighters, the first time they experienced a significant lack of 

firefighters (USFA survey).

ĵ Louisville, Kentucky: The Louisville Division of Fire reported that their applicant 

pool is usually about 1,200 to 1,500; for the last 2 hiring cycles, it has been about 

700 to 900 applicants (USFA survey).

Recruitment and retention challenges

In November 2022, the GAO released a report on federal agencies’ challenges 

in recruiting and retaining wildland firefighters. Although there has not been 

a comprehensive federally funded study on recruiting and retaining structural 

firefighters, there are many similarities in the challenges highlighted in this report. 

The report named the following barriers to recruitment and retention (source: 

https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-23-105517):

ĵ Low pay.

ĵ Career advancement challenges.

ĵ Poor work-life balance.

ĵ Mental health challenges.

ĵ Remote or expensive duty stations.

ĵ Limited workplace diversity.

ĵ Hiring process challenges.

The NVFC reports that the significant factors contributing to the decline in volunteer 

firefighters include:

ĵ Increased time demands.

ĵ More rigorous training requirements.

ĵ The proliferation of 2-income families who do not have time to volunteer.

ĵ Longer commuting distances to and from an individual’s paying job.
Report: National Firefighter Apprenticeship Program 99

Retention & Recr

TABLE  . 

uitment for the Volunteer Emergency Services: Challenges & Solutions 7

Retention and Recruitment Root Causes

SourceS of ProblemS contributing factorS

time Demands • the two-income family and working multiple jobs

• increased training time demands

• higher emergency call volume

• additional demands within department (fundraising, 

administrative)

training requirements • higher training standards and new Federal requirements

• more time demands

• greater public expectation of fire department’s response 

capabilities (broader range of services such as EMS, 

Hazmat, technical rescue, etc.)

• additional training demands to provide broader range of 

services

• recertification demands

increasing call Volume • fire department assuming wider response roles (EMS, 

Hazmat, technical rescue.

• increasing emergency medical call volume

• increase in number of automatic fire alarms

changes in the “nature of the business” • abuse of emergency services by the public

• less of an emphasis on social aspects of volunteering

changes in Sociological conditions • transience

(in urban and Suburban areas) • loss of community feeling

• less community pride

• less of an interest or time for volunteering

• two-income family and time demands

• “me” generation

changes in Sociological conditions • employers less willing to let employees off to run calls

(in rural areas) • time demand

• “me” generation

leadership Problems • poor leadership and lack of coordination

• authoritative management style

• failure to manage change

federal legislation and regulations • Fair Labor Standards Act interpretation

• “2 in, 2 out” ruling requiring four firefighters on scene 

befor entering hazardous environment

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) live-fire burn 

limitations

increasing use of combination • disagreements among chiefs or other department 

Departments leaders

• friction between volunteer and career members

Higher Cost Of Housing (In Affluent • volunteers cannot afford to live in the community they 

communities) serve

aging communities • greater number of older people today

• lack of economic growth and jobs in some towns

Internal Conflict • disagreements among departmental leaders

• friction between volunteer and career members
100 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

Diversity, equity and inclusion in the fire service

The fire service struggles to recruit and retain women and people of color. The 

most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2019 reported that 11.6% of 

career firefighters were Hispanic or Latino, 8.5% were African American, and 1.3% 

were Asian-Pacific Islanders. Women represent 11% of volunteer firefighters and 5% 

of career firefighters, according to the NFPA’s 2022 “U.S. Fire Department Profile” 

report based on 2020 data.

The International Association of Women in Fire & Emergency Service (Women 

in Fire) reports that data on the number of women firefighters and fire chiefs is 

difficult to quantify at this time. However, they are working on establishing better 

statistics. They estimate that there are about 6,200 women currently working as 

full-time career firefighters and officers, and they also estimate that there are about 

35,000 to 40,000 women volunteer firefighters. 

To learn more about diversity, equity and inclusion in the fire service, listen to the 

USFA Podcast “Achieving Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Within the Fire Service” for 

a conversation with Dr. Jennifer Taylor, director of the Center of Firefighter Injury 

Research and Safety Trends from the Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel 

University: https://www.usfa.fema.gov/podcasts/2022-episode-10.html.

State of Science

The 2022 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control featured 

3 presentations about the fire service’s recruitment and retention challenges.

The first presentation was from Chief John Oates, CEO of the International Public 

Safety Data Institute. Chief Oates discussed the data-informed insights on 

recruitment and retention. The data, he reported, indicates that historically, the 

fire service hasn’t had to recruit and retain members actively. There were usually 

too many applicants for career positions, and communities fully supported their 

local volunteer department generation after generation. But that has changed, and 

dramatically so after the past few years, due to retirements and the effects of the 

pandemic. Career fire departments now commonly report lower applications and 

challenges to having a diverse workforce. Volunteer fire departments indicate similar 

low applicants with an increased demand for service, especially related to EMS.

The second presentation was from Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department 

(Virginia) Chief John Butler about recruitment challenges for career departments 

focused on diversity, equity and inclusion. He outlined his department’s strategies 

to attract a more diverse workforce. The department updated its recruitment 

strategies to have a diverse team of recruiters, show diversity in its advertising, 

and increase data analysis of applicant demographics to determine where they can 

continue to grow.

The final presentation was from Chief Brita Horn of the Rock Creek Volunteer Fire 

Department (Colorado), who presented on the recruitment challenges for volunteer 

fire departments. She discussed that the fire service’s challenges in recruiting 

and retaining volunteers are not unique. In America, volunteerism is generally 

declining due to societal changes and demands on time. Also, she noted that 

potential volunteer firefighters might see it as a risky volunteer opportunity. She 

also introduced the concept of a national firefighter apprenticeship program, which 

could benefit both career and volunteer departments.
Report: National Firefighter Apprenticeship Program 101

Next steps

The deliberations meeting on Oct. 12 assigned a work group to explore further the 

concept of a national firefighter apprenticeship program to support recruitment 

efforts for career and volunteer fire departments.

The DOL launched the American Apprenticeship Initiative (AAI) in 2015 as a 

workforce-training model for specific occupations. In 2015, approximately 

$100 million funded 25 apprenticeship programs managed by states, nonprofit 

organizations, academic institutions and learning centers. In 2019, AAI awarded 

$1.5 million to 3 community-based organizations to increase women’s employment 

in nontraditional occupations. Additional grants since 2015 have helped support 

apprenticeship programs in many industries.

The AAI has a robust website (apprenticeship.gov) that allows potential apprentices to 

search by industry or occupation. Currently, the industry types include 20 industries, 

including construction, health care, manufacturing, real estate, mining, retail trade, 

transportation and utilities. There is not a category in “industry types” for the fire 

service or public service in general. If a potential apprentice searches specifically 

for firefighter under occupation, they will see firefighter-related apprenticeship 

programs. As of Dec. 2, there were 50 firefighter-related apprenticeship programs 

on the website. A potential apprentice would need to email each individual 

apprenticeship program to receive information about the apprenticeship. Basic 

information, such as if the apprenticeship program is a paid position, how long the 

apprenticeship program is, and the structure of the apprenticeship, is not provided.

A national firefighter apprenticeship program could have several models for agencies 

to build their programs to fit their needs and resources. What may be helpful for 

a large metropolitan department may not apply to a rural volunteer department. 

However, providing sample programs will make it easy for a fire department to engage 

in the national firefighter apprenticeship program and allow potential apprentices to 

explore working with a fire department either as a volunteer or as a career.

The DOL released a teacher apprenticeship program in November 2022, which 

broke down the apprenticeship lifecycle into 5 developmental processes which can 

be replicated with the fire service.

ĵ Explore: Determine how the fire service can benefit from apprenticeship 

programs applied to volunteer, career, combination and federal fire 

departments. Analyze how other industry apprenticeship programs are similar 

and different from the needs of the fire service.

ĵ Build: Use the tools developed by DOL to create the infrastructure of a national 

fire service apprenticeship program.

ĵ Partner: Collaborate with private and public partners that can help structurally 

and financially with a national fire service apprenticeship program.

ĵ Register: Conduct outreach to the fire service to register fire departments for 

the national fire service apprenticeship program.

ĵ Launch: Recruit apprentices and measure the effectiveness of the 

apprenticeship program.

The work group will continue to work on the feasibility and necessary steps toward 

the creation and implementation of a national firefighter apprenticeship program.

Report: Comprehensive Firefighter Cancer Strategy 103

Report: Comprehensive Firefighter 

Cancer Strategy

Issue statement 

Establish a comprehensive firefighter cancer strategy that invests in research, 

provides access to cancer screening for firefighters, and reduces and eliminates 

PFAS exposure.

A shared and growing concern

It is clear from the summit proceedings that cancer remains a critical issue for the 

fire service. The concern is shared by the highest levels of the federal government, 

from President Biden and the other federal representatives. President Biden said: 

“Cancer is a leading killer of firefighters. Toxic substances you’ve been exposed 

to as part of your job are almost certainly — certainly connected to those cancer 

diagnoses. And we’re doing — we’re going to do something about it. The Cancer 

Moonshot is bringing together every part of our government to cut cancer 

death rates in half and to end cancer as we know it, including by addressing 

environmental and toxic exposures to prevent cancer.”

DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas also spoke about his growing knowledge of 

cancer rates in firefighters. Since learning of widespread cancer within the fire 

service, more data he’s looked at “only increased and elevated (his) concern. Our 

new Office of Health Security can and will play an active role in really supporting 

prevention programs and responsive care.”

DHS Assistant Secretary John Tien asked if fire service culture accepted the need 

for proactive care such as screenings. Edward Kelly, general president of the IAFF, 

spoke to the growing acceptance of the need for proactive care but cautioned that 

changing culture requires ongoing education and awareness. Chief Donna Black, 

president of the IAFC, provided additional context on volunteer departments’ 

challenges with providing their members’ physicals and other screenings. 

Assistant Secretary Tien, referencing parallels between firefighter exposures and 

that of military members exposed to burn pits, spoke to the value of partnerships. 

General President Kelly confirmed that the fire service is open to partnering with 

organizations such as the Department of Veterans Affairs, citing his organization’s 

ongoing collaboration with the American Cancer Society to educate physicians 

about the risks faced by firefighters. President Biden also spoke to the need to 

address PFAS exposures, “so-called ‘forever chemicals’ that for years have been in 

your gear, your equipment, and the suppression agents that you depend on to do 

your job. I’m determined — I’m absolutely determined to make sure you have the 

gear that protects you without making you or your family sick.”

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell asked about cancer diagnoses growing among 

younger firefighters in the context of the need for better, safer turnout gear. Citing 

studies finding PFAS in firefighter turnout gear, General President Kelly said: “One 

of the factors that we can’t avoid, (is) the obvious exposures we’re getting from 

our bunker gear every time we go out the door. It’s mind-boggling that we’re in this 

situation. Defies logic.”
104 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

General President Kelly noted correctly that PFAS is a danger not only to firefighters 

but to our communities and the environment’s long-term health. The replacement 

of firefighter gear will also need to account for the removal and safe disposal of 

existing gear to prevent further PFAS contamination in our communities. 

Targeted actions 

Throughout the summit, presenters spoke to the importance of the recent 

declaration by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) that a 

firefighter’s occupational exposure is “carcinogenic to humans.” The IARC Working 

Group found “sufficient evidence” to connect occupational exposure as a firefighter 

with mesothelioma and bladder cancer. They also found “limited evidence” of a 

link between firefighting and colon, prostate and testicular cancer. This finding, the 

result of years of research, is a game-changing opportunity to further consolidate 

hard-won gains in research and knowledge into profound impacts. 

Research 

Greater investment in research will expand our understanding of the mechanisms 

between occupational exposures and cancer, why firefighters are at heightened risk 

from some cancers, and to better understand the cancer risks of our understudied 

populations, including women and minorities. 

More information:

ĵ “Firefighter Resources, Cancer and Other Illnesses”: www.cdc.gov/niosh/

firefighters/health.html.

ĵ IARC: “Occupational Exposure as a Firefighter”: https://monographs.iarc.who.

int/iarc-monographs-volume-132m.

ĵ Safety+Health Magazine: “Firefighting officially a cancer-causing profession, 

World Health Organization says”: www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/

articles/22930-firefighting-officially-a-cancer-causing-profession-world-healthorganization-says.

ĵ PBS Newshour: “How firefighters’ life-saving work puts them at a higher risk of 

cancer”: www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-firefighters-life-saving-work-putsthem-at-a-higher-risk-of-cancer.

Access to cancer screenings

Preventive screenings can identify cancer in its earliest stages when positive 

treatment outcomes are more likely. However, it remains difficult for individual 

firefighters to receive early screenings as current screening guidance does not 

account for their occupational exposures. Revised screening guidance can help 

medical professionals and insurance companies understand the need to screen 

firefighters based on their higher cancer risk.

More information:

ĵ IAFF/Firefighter Cancer Support Network: Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month: 

www.iaff.org/cancer-awareness-month.

ĵ Annual Evaluations and Primary Care Provider Information: 

firefightercancersupport.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Primary-carecancer-evaluations-for-firefighters_HamrockMD_2016_FCSN.pdf.
Report: Comprehensive Firefighter Cancer Strategy 105

Reduce and eliminate PFAS exposures 

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, often referred to as “PFAS,” are likely 

carcinogenic chemicals that degrade very slowly, earning the label “forever 

chemicals.” PFAS have been found in the blood of firefighters, firehouses, some 

firefighting foams, and perhaps most concerning, bunker gear. These chemicals are 

intensifying exposures and raising cancer risk. Next-generation PPE can remove a 

significant component of this risk. 

More information:

ĵ IAFF/Metro Chiefs: “Firefighters told to wear protective gear less to limit 

exposure to ‘forever chemicals’ linked to cancer”: www.nbcnews.com/health/

health-news/firefighter-gear-may-contain-chemicals-linked-cancer-rcna44511.

ĵ NC Health News: “Firefighters and supporters are pushing hard for PFAS-free 

turnout gear”: www.northcarolinahealthnews.org/2022/09/13/firefighters-arepushing-for-pfas-free-turnout-gear.

ĵ EPA: “PFAS Explained”: www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas-explained.

ĵ IAFF: “PFAS and Fire Fighter Turnout Gear”: www.iaff.org/pfas/.

State of Science

In 2010, NIOSH found firefighters have excess cancer risk compared to the general 

population for multiple cancers, including testicular, brain, prostate and colon 

cancers, as well as mesothelioma, multiple myeloma and leukemia. Research 

completed and in progress continues to build our knowledge of firefighter 

occupational cancer. 

Exposure pathways and risk factors 

Research has also taught us more about the mechanisms of exposure. We now 

know that inhalation, absorption and ingestion of contaminants are exposure 

pathways. Not only are these pathways a critical educational point to help 

firefighters in their individual effort to mitigate their exposures, but these pathways 

have also shed light and led to more research questions on how and why certain 

cancers may develop. They also lead to the same impacts and improvements in 

protective gear to better combat these exposures. 

Several factors contribute to a firefighter’s higher risk of developing cancer, 

including the products of combustion found on the fireground and in diesel 

exhaust, among others. Shift work is also considered a contributing factor.

A game-changing reassessment

Over the last decade, the collaboration of researchers, firefighters and fire service 

organizations, often with federal funding, has built a greater understanding of 

how occupational exposures can impact a firefighter’s health. The result is a game 

changer in the fight to protect firefighters from occupational exposure leading to a 

higher risk of developing cancer. 

The IARC declared a firefighter’s occupational exposure as “carcinogenic to 

humans.” The Working Group found “sufficient evidence” to connect occupational 

exposure as a firefighter with mesothelioma and bladder cancer. They also found 
106 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

“limited evidence” of a link between firefighting and colon, prostate and testicular 

cancers; melanoma; and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. 

The announcement noted “strong mechanistic evidence in exposure firefighters,” 

including “genotoxicity, epigenetic alterations, oxidative stress, chronic 

inflammation, and modulation of receptor-mediated effects.” With the complete 

deliberations set to be published in 2023, this designation will help firefighters as 

they seek funding, policy changes and health care. 

Emerging issues identified at the summit

Research

Presenter Kenny Fent, Ph.D., CIH, lead for NIOSH’s National Firefighter Registry 

(NFR) Program, spoke to many unanswered research questions. The fire service and 

its research partners have built a robust research agenda that can answer many of 

these questions with effort, time and funding. 

Puzzle piece 

NIOSH’s NFR will help address some of the research questions. Using an analogy 

of a missing puzzle piece, Dr. Fent explained the critical importance of the NFR 

in connecting the occupation of firefighting with a cancer diagnosis. Cancer 

is a reportable illness, but most states do not capture detailed info about the 

individual’s occupation. With the NFR, researchers can connect a firefighter’s cancer 

diagnosis with their occupational history. 

The NFR is a voluntary registry designed to build detailed knowledge about cancer 

in the fire service through a population of diverse firefighters. Intending to register 

200,000 firefighters via a web portal, the NFR’s research over the next 10 years 

seeks to better understand the nexus between firefighting and cancer. Firefighters 

will self-report workplace and personal information, while the NFR works with fire 

agencies to track trends and exposure patterns. Finally, the NFR will link to other 

databases, such as population-based cancer registries and the National Death 

Index, to detect cancer diagnoses and deaths. 

Prevention and PFAS

Summit attendees heard from Jeffery Burgess, MD, MS, MPH, of the Mel and Enid 

Zuckerman College of Public Health at the University of Arizona regarding the Fire 

Fighter Cancer Cohort Study (FFCCS). The study is working toward preventing cancer 

by understanding all aspects of exposure and the resulting impact on an individual. A 

collaborative funding effort with a 10-year plan for study, FFCCS is enrolling firefighters 

from across the country. Their research confirmed that all firefighters operating on 

the fireground are experiencing exposures that “lead to epigenetic changes associated 

with increased cancer risk.” Further research into their data has determined that, 

in both career and volunteer firefighters, PFAS levels in their blood are elevated 

compared with the general public. Their research has gone a step further, with an 

additional project studying career firefighters determining that the elevated PFAS 

levels were associated with epigenetic changes related to higher cancer risk. 

The FFCCS’s focus on prevention has helped the fire service to understand the 

need for decontamination processes, including a finding that skin wipes reduce 

exposures and, therefore, their toxic impact. It has also helped us understand that 

firefighters have a greater need for early and thorough cancer screenings.
Report: Comprehensive Firefighter Cancer Strategy 107

Research in progress or under evaluation will continue this powerful impact on the 

fire service’s understanding of the connections between exposures and cancer risk. 

Funded by a series of federal agencies and local fire departments, the FFCCS has 

no designated long-term funding source. Securing long-term research funding is a 

barrier to fully implementing the fire service’s research goals. 

FFCCS’s research supported the change in the IARC’s designation. This research, like 

the NFR, requires significant time, effort and funding. It also needs firefighters to 

volunteer to be studied and for the fire service to continue supporting researchers 

as they work through these research questions. 

Health impacts on women firefighters

Dr. Sara Jahnke of the Center for Fire, Rescue & EMS Health Research spoke to the 

difficulties in understanding the impact of firefighting on a woman’s health. The 

issues raised by the summit are global and connected, as the concerns about health 

impacts and this lack of research have a bearing on the recruitment and retention 

of women. Data shows that women firefighters perceive “these issues as severely 

understudied and a significant concern.”

Dr. Jahnke compared the number of women operating in other, similar fields, 

including law enforcement and the military. Both have more women in their ranks, 

accounting for 13% of police officers and 14% of the military. In comparison, women 

comprise an estimated 3.5% to 5% of fire and EMS. The relatively low number 

of women in the fire service presents a challenge for researchers as they can be 

harder to find and collect data on. 

Dr. Jahnke noted that the IARC Working Group applied its recent finding to men and 

women. Seminal research, including the Daniels study used by the IARC Working 

Group in its considerations, has varying outcomes for women. However, they have a 

factor in common: The number of women enrolled in each study was limited. 

Reproductive health is an area of particular concern; a recent study found 

“miscarriage rates among female firefighters were at least 2.3 times higher 

compared to the U.S. national average of 10%” while “volunteer firefighters had a 

42% higher rate of miscarriage than career” firefighters (Jung, 2021). 

The combined efforts of the FFCCS and the National Fire Registry Subcommittee, 

along with the communication and organization of the representative group, 

Women in Fire, are working to address the gaps in understanding the impacts of 

occupational exposure on women firefighters. Both projects have set research goals 

that will further tackle these questions. 

The results have also pushed researchers to ask other questions, such as how 

firefighting impacts men’s reproductive health. What are the effects on the health 

of the children of both women and men firefighters?

Next steps

The deliberations meeting on Oct. 12 assigned a work group to explore further a 

comprehensive firefighter cancer strategy.

Report: Firefighter Behavioral Health Resources 109

Report: Firefighter Behavioral Health 

Resources

Summit statement

Provide behavioral health resources and suicide prevention initiatives for all 

firefighters.

Background

Firefighters and other rescue personnel develop post-traumatic stress disorder 

(PTSD) at a similar rate to military service members returning from combat, 

according to an August 2016 study from the Journal of Occupational Health 

Psychology. The report reveals that approximately 20% of firefighters and 

paramedics meet the criteria for PTSD at some point during their careers. This 

compares to a 6.8% lifetime risk for the general population. The connection 

between PTSD and traumatizing rescue work is evident.

In June 2022, the Ruderman Foundation released an update on their 2018 white 

paper on “Mental Health and Suicide of First Responders.” Their key findings related 

to firefighters are: The leading known reason for firefighter and EMS suicides stems 

from marital/relationship issues, and firearms were the most prevalent method of 

suicide by firefighters and EMS personnel.

The Ruderman report also noted an urgent need to improve the registration 

and research of all first responder suicides. The Law Enforcement Suicide Data 

Collection offers the law enforcement officers’ community a better understanding 

of the issues related to law enforcement suicide. This database is managed by the 

Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI’s) Uniform Crime Reporting Program. There is 

no comparable data collection for the fire service. The Ruderman Foundation report 

can be found here: https://rudermanfoundation.org/white_papers/the-rudermanwhite-paper-update-on-mental-health-and-suicide-of-first-responders/.

The U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ’s) Law Enforcement Officer Safety and 

Wellness Program offers programs and resources to the law enforcement 

community, including programs related to mitigating stress factors for family 

members, suicide prevention, videos, guides and training. There is no comparable 

program for the fire service. 

The NFPA’s August 2022 report, “Firefighter Fatalities in the U.S. in 2021,” focuses 

on line-of-duty deaths while on duty. However, the NFPA is also monitoring issues 

related to firefighters who die by suicide. The report notes that the Firefighter 

Behavioral Health Alliance validated 89 firefighters and 16 emergency medical 

technicians (EMTs) and paramedics who died by suicide in 2021. 

The complexities and contributing factors related to data on firefighters who died 

by suicide are difficult to quantify. However, an academic study has examined 

the relationship between post-traumatic symptoms and suicidal ideation among 

firefighters. In 2015, Florida State University conducted a national survey of more 

than 1,000 firefighters. The report found:

ĵ 46.8% of respondents reported suicide ideation (thoughts of death by suicide).

ĵ 19.2% of respondents reported having had plans of death by suicide.
110 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

ĵ 15.5% of respondents reported having attempted death by suicide.

ĵ 16.4% of respondents reported having inflicted nonsuicidal self-injury.

National behavioral health resources

National fire service organizations are addressing the behavioral health needs of 

the fire service with limited resources. Some samples of programs include:

ĵ The NVFC’s Share the Load program offers the NVFC First Responder Helpline, 

a 24/7 confidential crisis hotline to assist firefighters or their family members. 

Share the Load also has a directory of behavioral health professionals 

familiar with the fire service culture. They also offer video and in-person 

training, downloadable toolkits and guides, and other resources to help a 

fire department raise awareness of behavioral health concerns and to help 

firefighters one-on-one. More information: https://www.nvfc.org/programs/

share-the-load-program/.

ĵ The IAFF has been an advocate and a leader in behavioral health resources 

for decades. In 2017, they opened the IAFF Center of Excellence for Behavioral 

Health Treatment and Recovery in Maryland. They will be opening a second 

Center of Excellence in 2023. They also offer an online behavioral health 

awareness course to anyone, regardless of whether they are an IAFF member. 

They have a robust and well-trained peer-support training program and have 

trained thousands of firefighters to be peer-support members. IAFF also has a 

resiliency training program offered to its members. More information: https://

www.iaff.org/behavioral-health/#online-behavioral-health-awareness-course.

ĵ The First Responder Center for Excellence (FRCE), an affiliate organization of the 

NFFF, has reports, research and downloadable resources on behavioral health 

in the fire service. More information: https://www.firstrespondercenter.org/

resources/behavioral#sort=position&sortdir=desc.

ĵ The Medical University of South Carolina’s Center for Firefighter Behavioral 

Health, in partnership with the FRCE and NFFF, developed technology-based 

resources for clinicians, firefighters, and friends and family of firefighters. More 

information: https://cffbh.org/#About.

Federal support of firefighter behavioral health

H.R. 6943, the Public Safety Officer Support Act, was signed into law in August 2022. 

The law allows public safety officers, including firefighters, to seek disability benefits 

related to PTSD linked to severe trauma due to work-related PTSD and acute stress 

disorders or attempted suicide. The law also allows families of firefighters who die 

by trauma-linked suicide to apply for public safety officers’ death benefits. The text 

of the Public Safety Officer Support Act can be found here: https://www.congress.

gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/6943/text.

H.R. 7666, the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022, was 

passed by the House in June 2022 and is currently in the Committee on Health, 

Education, Labor and Pensions. This act addresses comprehensive mental health 

programs and specifically mentions the “prevention and treatment of mental and 

behavioral health issues for veterans, members of the Armed Forces, first responders, 

tribal populations, and other specified groups.” Updated information on this act can 

be found here: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/7666.
Report: Firefighter Behavioral Health Resources 111

Next steps

The deliberations meeting on Oct. 12 assigned a work group to explore the needs of 

the fire service to combat the behavioral health crisis. They will be assessing what 

resources are already available, the most effective dissemination methods of the 

resources, what data is needed to address behavioral health issues further, and 

strategies with other government agencies to address the behavioral health crisis in 

the fire service.

Report: Codes and Standards Implementation and Enforcement 113

Report: Codes and Standards 

Implementation and Enforcement

Summit statement

Create safer communities by implementing and enforcing codes and standards, 

especially in the WUI and underserved and vulnerable populations providing 

affordable and fire-safe housing.

Background

More than 300 codes and standards influence fire and life safety in the built 

environment. These codes operate holistically, affecting fire and life safety 

throughout the entire structure. The codes are developed in a consensus process, 

utilizing the expertise of builders, contractors, manufacturers, academia, designers, 

researchers, public safety and many others. A 2019 National Institute for Building 

Sciences report found that model building codes improve building resilience 

to natural disasters and save $11 for every $1 invested. We can create safer 

communities by assisting local jurisdictions in implementing and enforcing these 

codes and standards. 

It is essential that building, fire and life safety codes be adopted in their entirety and 

that state and local governments adopt the most up-to-date versions of the codes. 

Additionally, state and local governments must take responsibility not only for 

promoting the use of the current codes but also enforcing the use of those codes 

and standards. The federal government can help by incentivizing compliance and 

providing funding to local jurisdictions for code implementation, inspection and 

enforcement.

Proper use of life-saving technology, like smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms and 

automatic fire sprinkler systems, is proven to save lives. All modern buildings require 

these systems, and the fire codes must be consistently and aggressively enforced. 

Fire disproportionately impacts our vulnerable populations: older adults, children, 

people of color, low-income populations and people with disabilities. This is an equity 

issue. Safe housing and affordable housing should not be mutually exclusive concepts. 

A Jan. 5 fire in the Fairmount neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, resulted 

in 12 fire fatalities, including 9 children, with only 1 survivor. Despite the first engine 

company arriving in 2 minutes and a heroic effort by the Philadelphia Fire Department 

members, they could not save all the residents. The public often views this type of fire, 

while tragic, as an outlier or an anomaly. Unfortunately, it is not. Severe fires are too 

common in the U.S. and lead to deaths, injuries, and displaced individuals and families. 

In 2021 alone, Philadelphia experienced 47,864 fire incidents, 3,884 structure 

fires, 266,090 EMS incidents, 362,101 emergency calls and 39 fire-related fatalities. 

Between 2000 and 2019, the city experienced 692 fire-related fatalities. This is 

taxing for even the most well-equipped and trained fire department, and it is not a 

situation unique to Philadelphia. 

Only 4 days after the tragic fire in Philadelphia, the Twin Peaks fire in the Bronx 

resulted in 17 civilian fatalities. While a historic number of residents were saved, the 

FDNY conducted 60 EMS transports, including 30 cardiac incidents. 
114 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

There were 29 fire-related fatalities between these 2 fires in the opening days 

of 2022. While this is historic, it is not unprecedented. Civilians and firefighters 

continue to lose their lives in buildings with inadequate fire safety features. We 

must protect all residential housing. This includes advocating for automatic fire 

sprinklers, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, residential education programs in 

multifamily housing, and requiring automatic fire sprinklers in all newly constructed 

single-family housing. Residential buildings without these basic fire and life safety 

technologies are nothing less than substandard housing. 

Not only are our neighbors dying in fires, but fire can destroy entire communities. 

Most local businesses that are destroyed by fire never reopen. This expands food 

deserts, exacerbating inequality in neighborhoods already suffering. Increased 

homelessness due to individuals and families being displaced by fire exacerbates 

inequality. The disproportionate impact of fire on black and indigenous people of 

color is more than a matter of inequity; it is a matter of justice. 

Nearly a million households live in public housing units in the U.S., and fire 

safety improvements in public housing must receive heightened attention. In 

1992, Congress passed the Federal Fire Safety Act, requiring newly constructed 

multifamily housing units to have fire sprinklers. The U.S. Department of Housing 

and Urban Development (HUD) estimates that approximately 570,000 multifamily 

public housing units are still in the inventory constructed before the sprinkler 

requirement. A significant portion still lacks fire sprinklers. 

Since 2010, 35,140 people have died in fires, and only 65 of those individuals died in 

buildings where fire sprinklers were present. A study by the NFPA found that civilian 

fire death and injury rates in buildings with sprinkler systems were 89% and 27% 

lower. Automatic fire sprinklers are a proven technology that saves lives, and we 

must invest in retrofitting public housing with fire sprinkler systems.

Additionally, HUD must ensure all public housing units are equipped with working 

smoke alarms that are installed and maintained under the relevant codes and 

standards. Nearly 3 out of 5 home fire deaths are caused by fires in properties 

without smoke alarms or smoke alarms that failed to operate. HUD must provide 

resources to public housing authorities to either retrofit housing units with 

hardwired smoke alarms or require the installation of tamper-resistant, long-life, 

battery-powered smoke alarms. 

Through linking data with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) 

Social Vulnerability Index, we can see that socioeconomic status, household 

composition, racial and ethnic makeup, and housing status all play a role in a 

community’s vulnerability to fire and the risks faced by firefighters. The fire service 

must continue to invest in data collection and analysis to promote the use of strong 

fire and life safety codes and standards. This includes continuing to build out robust 

federal resources that support data collection at the state and local levels. 

Residential fires burn hotter and faster than they did in the past. In a fire today, 

you have the least time to safely exit your home than at any point in history. The 

severity of these fires has grown incredibly. Fire-related fatalities in 1- and 2-family 

homes have increased by 20% since 1980. In the period between 2012 and 2019, this 

increase is 30%. 

There are several factors leading to the increased severity of residential fires. 

Homes constructed today tend to be larger than in the past, leading to more 
Report: Codes and Standards Implementation and Enforcement 115

complex escape routes and increased evacuation times. New homes tend to have 

open spaces, making it easier for smoke and fire to spread. Modern furnishings are 

made from synthetics and plastics that burn hotter and release more toxins than 

traditional materials. Positive evolutions in construction have led to lighter building 

materials and more energy-efficient homes, but they have also led to heat capture. 

And new technologies, such as lithium-ion batteries, can be new ignition sources in 

the home. All of this leads to faster fire propagation, shorter time to flashover, rapid 

changes in fire dynamics, shorter escape times, shorter time to collapse, and other 

new and unknown hazards. 

Depending on where you live in the nation, local fire department response time from 

the initial notification could be 6 or more minutes. In modern homes, flashover can 

occur in 3 to 5 minutes, and homes must meet the current model building codes. 

Technologies like smoke alarms notify residents of an emergency and allow them 

time to escape. Automatic fire sprinklers provide active suppression, containing a 

fire to the point of origin and providing local fire departments time to respond. 

Evolutions in the built environment include the expansion of large warehouses to 

support faster shipping for on-demand e-commerce. We are seeing the expanded 

use of lithium-ion batteries in vehicles, charging stations, mobility devices, energy 

storage systems and many more technologies. Construction practices are changing 

and now involve using plastic blocks and tall wood buildings. These innovations 

are exciting and help support our changing lifestyle. However, they also come 

with risks if not properly managed. As new building technologies are developed 

and implemented, it is imperative that fire and life safety is incorporated into 

these systems as they are incorporated into our society. Evolutions in the built 

environment will continue. However, we cannot let them outpace fire and life safety. 

A fire-safe America is possible. We have the ability to ensure all buildings are 

safe and functional for those who live there, those who work there and the first 

responders that may need to respond to an emergency there. The solutions exist 

today with smoke alarms, automatic fire sprinklers, and properly trained and 

equipped firefighters. The combination of early warning, early suppression and 

emergency response will save lives. 

However, the fire problem in America is getting worse, partly because local and 

state governments are not adopting the latest codes and standards in their 

entirety. Far too often, policymakers at the state and local level of government, 

under pressure from special interest groups, are amending essential fire and life 

safety provisions out of the codes to maximize profits at the cost of human lives. 

Only California, Maryland and the District of Columbia have adopted building and 

fire codes with the residential fire sprinkler requirements intact. Efforts to weaken 

building and fire codes through the adoption process have and will cost lives. 

State and local governments must not bow to pressure from special interest 

groups and instead must adopt fire, building and life safety codes in their entirety. 

Additionally, the federal government must leverage its ability to drive code adoption 

by requiring compliance to access federal housing programs and funding. 

Climate change is having a significant impact on our nation’s wildfire problem. 

Globally, we are experiencing extreme weather events and significant shifts in 

temperature. Wildfires encountered by today’s fire service are unlike those of a 

generation ago. Severe droughts and longer periods of hot weather alternating with 
116 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

bouts of heavy precipitation contribute to vegetation growth. Fluctuations between 

an overabundance of rain and severe droughts with extreme high temperatures 

result in that vegetation becoming dead and dry, contributing to fire intensity and 

spread. To further exacerbate this situation, many communities in the WUI are 

facing water shortages, impacting their ability to conduct fire suppression. These 

impacts, along with the decisions our society has made about using and managing 

landscapes, have created today’s wildfire disaster potential.

The USFA defines the WUI as “the zone of transition between unoccupied land and 

human development. It is the line, area or zone where structures or other human 

development meet or intermingle with undeveloped wildland or vegetative fuels.” 

Between 1990 and 2010, the WUI grew 33% to encompass 190 million acres. During 

this same time, the number of homes in the WUI grew by more than 41%. Today, the 

WUI is estimated to encompass over 210 million acres and is populated by 99 million 

people, nearly one-third of the U.S. population. More than 46 million residents and 

70,000 communities are currently at risk from wildland fires. 

Among the fuels impacting the wildland fire problem is the built environment, 

including our homes and businesses. A recent analysis of HUD and census data 

shows that 94% of the existing building stock in the U.S. are residential structures. 

90% of that stock, approximately 100 million structures, are single-family homes. 

Nearly half of these homes are local in areas at risk of wildland fires, and only a 

small fraction of them have been sited, designed and built using some kind of 

standard or code addressing the wildfire risk. 

A recent housing survey indicates that most homes in wildfire-risk areas have 

vegetation surrounding them, many with vegetation up close to the home — within 

5 feet of the exterior walls. Building materials science and fire science research 

on how homes ignite are key to our understanding of preventing the urban 

conflagrations we frequently see when wildfires occur.

According to the NIFC, in 2021, there were 59,000 wildfires in the U.S., which burned 

7.13 million acres and destroyed 5,972 structures, of which 3,577 were residences. 

Despite this, FEMA reports only 25% of hazard-prone jurisdictions in the U.S. have 

adopted the latest 2 editions of hazard-resistant building codes. 

Extensive post-fire analyses, experiments and scientific models provide clear 

direction on addressing the risk of home ignition and wildfire disaster. These 

concepts are not limited to new construction. Fire-resistant building materials, 

design and construction can address exterior fire exposure and thwart the entry 

of embers into buildings’ interiors. These actions can also be taken to upgrade 

or retrofit existing homes. Modern building and fire codes incorporate several 

key concepts for regulating the built environment. These include the use of 

ignition-resistant construction, the application of defensible space, the creation 

of emergency vehicle access, the utilization of sufficient water supply, and the 

installation of automatic fire suppression technologies such as fire sprinklers. 

A McClatchy analysis of the 2018 Camp Fire in California found that a 2008 building 

code designed for California’s fire-prone regions requiring fire-resistant roofs, 

siding and other safeguards appears to have protected more than 100 homes in the 

path of that fire. Of the 350 single-family homes in the path of the Camp Fire that 

were built after 2008, 51% were left undamaged by the fire. By contrast, only 18% of 

the 12,100 homes built before 2008 escaped damage. We need to do better when it 

comes to protecting the homes we have and the homes we are building. 
Report: Codes and Standards Implementation and Enforcement 117

Climate change is not the sole cause of wildland fire disasters; how we manage our 

forested landscapes has a major impact. There is significant overgrowth due to a 

history of suppressing wildfires that would otherwise serve a natural and beneficial 

function of clearing out certain species and enhancing habitats for others. When 

we build without fire in mind, it can result not only in environmental degradation 

and the disturbance of ecological patterns but also in whole neighborhoods where 

every structure is highly vulnerable to ignition. This is another element we can and 

must control.

By embracing current fire and life safety codes and standards at all levels of 

government, we can make great strides in addressing the fire problem in our nation. 

Together we can create safer communities by implementing and enforcing codes 

and standards, especially in the WUI and underserved and vulnerable populations 

providing affordable and fire-safe housing.

Report: Elevation of the Fire Service in Federal Policy Development 119

Report: Elevation of the Fire Service 

in Federal Policy Development

When federal programs and initiatives are developed to meet the needs of first 

responders, engagement by the relevant federal agencies representing these 

disciplines is imperative, as is involvement by representatives from these fields 

as appropriate. To this end, it is essential to elevate the nation’s fire service in the 

development and prioritization of federal policies programs related to public safety, 

such as first responder behavioral health, building and fire codes, and the 5 mission 

areas of the National Preparedness Goal (prevention, protection, mitigation, 

response and recovery).

Nearly every Cabinet-level department in the federal government plays a role in 

addressing the fire problem in America. They are home to numerous agencies 

and programs impacting the nation’s fire and emergency services. While the USFA 

and the programs within the DHS’s FEMA are the most prominent, nearly every 

department in the federal government touches upon the fire and emergency 

services. In addition to the DHS, the Departments of Agriculture, Interior, Defense, 

Justice, Commerce, Transportation, Labor, Education, Health and Human Services, 

and Housing and Urban Development have agencies and programs addressing 

issues directly related to the fire service. 

While some of these programs are specific to the discipline of firefighting, others 

impact the greater public safety community. Where these programs touch law 

enforcement, EMS and the fire service, the federal government must give equitable 

consideration to each discipline. Agencies addressing interoperable public safety 

communications need to work closely with subject matter experts from the fire 

service to ensure they are meeting the needs of those communities. Federal 

programs to address first responder behavioral health and post-traumatic stress 

must consider the unique needs of firefighters. 

Additionally, the lead federal fire, EMS and law enforcement agencies must 

collaborate with each other when addressing issues impacting public safety as 

a whole. Initiatives to address sustainable infrastructure, resiliency in the built 

environment or public health initiatives cannot operate in silos. Public safety must 

be approached holistically, which requires providing equal support to all first 

responders: the fire service, EMS providers and law enforcement. 

As the lead federal agency representing the fire and emergency services, the 

USFA must play a prominent role in all these discussions. The USFA’s staff is highly 

professional and well-informed about the needs and capabilities of our nation’s fire 

and emergency services. To not involve the USFA in initiatives focused on fire and 

life safety is counterintuitive and detrimental to the objective of those initiatives. 

The USFA must be fully funded to execute its Congressional-mandated authorities. 

Similarly, the nation’s fire service must be involved in developing federal policies 

impacting fire and life safety to the same degree law enforcement stakeholders 

are involved in developing federal criminal justice policies. The White House Fiscal 

Year 2023 budget proposal includes $1.97 billion in discretionary funding to support 

state and local law enforcement, an increase of 12% over the previous fiscal year. 

This represents a significant investment in local law enforcement and is much 
120 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

needed. However, despite our nation’s significant fire problem, the administration 

only requested $740 million for grants to local fire departments. While the fire 

service and law enforcement face different challenges, we have demonstrated in 

this report that America faces a significant fire problem. It is time for the federal 

government to make the same commitment to addressing our nation’s fire problem 

as it has to supporting local law enforcement. 

In addition to supporting local law enforcement, federal law enforcement agencies 

have a significant presence in the government. These agencies are diverse and 

present in several departments of the federal government. However, nearly every 

department in the federal government touches upon fire and emergency services. 

These departments are responsible for engaging with fire service stakeholders — 

inside and outside of the federal government — when developing policies and 

procedures impacting fire and life safety. However, despite the significant footprint 

of fire within these departments, there is a lack of coordination and cohesive policy 

development among these agencies. 

The USFA needs a more prominent role in federal policy discussions and 

implementation. Currently, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) is the lead agency for 

federal support for firefighting activities. Emergency Support Function #4 charges 

the USFS with managing and coordinating firefighting activities, including the 

detection and suppression of fires on federal lands and providing personnel, 

equipment and supplies in support of state, tribal and local agencies involved in 

wildland, rural and urban firefighting operations. This role is more appropriate for 

the USFA to carry out under the National Response Framework. 

When agencies and programs outside the USFA engage with fire service 

stakeholders, the USFA must be involved. For example, when the DOJ’s Public 

Safety Medal of Valor recognizes a fire service member, the USFA should be in the 

determination and presentation of the award. Currently, the representatives of the 

USFA are not even invited to the ceremony. It is a disservice to the first responders 

being recognized if the lead federal agency for their profession is not even present 

when they receive this prestigious award. 

To prioritize addressing the fire problem in America today, we must commit to 

elevating the fire service in federal policy development and prioritization. Similarly, 

the USFA must be elevated within FEMA and transformed into a multidisciplinary 

response, preparedness and mitigation agency. As many response agencies 

already have, each FEMA region should have a dedicated USFA specialist to assist 

in the planning and response to disasters. The USFA must be fully funded and 

appropriately staffed to execute its mission and adequately represent the more 

than 1.1 million firefighters serving in this country.
Appendix A: Organizations Represented at the Summit 121

Appendix A: Organizations 

Represented at the Summit

Anne Arundel County Fire Department (Maryland)

Arlington County Fire Department (Virginia)

Baltimore City Fire Department (Maryland)

Baltimore County Fire Department (Maryland)

Center for Fire, Rescue & EMS Health Research

Center for Public Safety Excellence

City of Cedar Rapids (Iowa)

City of Philadelphia Fire Department

Clarion/Fire Rescue

Colorado Springs Fire Department (Colorado)

Congressional Fire Services Institute

District of Columbia Fire and EMS

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (Virginia)

FDIC/Fire Engineering

FDNY

FDNY Consulting LLC

FEMA

Fire Department Safety Officer Association

Fire Safety Research Institute

Firehouse

Focal Point Productions

FRCE

Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Services (Maryland)

IAFC

IAFF

ICC

Illinois Fire Service Institute

International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI)

International Association of Black Professional Firefighters
122 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA)

International Public Safety Data Institute

International Society of Fire Service Instructors

Lexipol

Loudoun County Fire and Rescue (Virginia)

Loveland-Symmes Fire Department (Ohio)

Milliken & Company

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (Maryland)

Mount Weather Fire Department (Virginia)

NASFM

National Association of Hispanic Firefighters

NFFF

NFPA

NFSA

NIOSH

North American Fire Training Directors

NVFC

Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal

Pflugerville Fire Department ESD2 (Texas)

Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department (Maryland)

Rock Creek Volunteer Fire Department (Colorado)

Safety Harbor Fire Department (Florida)

Scottsdale Fire Department (Arizona)

Scout Productions

Skidmore College

UL Research Institutes

University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health

USFA

Westfield Fire Department (Illinois)

Wisconsin Technical College System

Women in Fire
Appendix B: Summit Attendees 123

Appendix B: Summit Attendees

*Indicates participation in the summit planning team

Matthew Adams

Focal Point Productions 

Jeremy Ayers

NFFF

Pflugerville Fire Department ESD2 

(Texas)

Seth Barker

International Society of Fire Service 

Instructors 

Preet Bassi

Center for Public Safety Excellence 

Valerie Benson *

FEMA

Donna Black

IAFC

Rob Brown

IAFC

David Brummett

USFA

Jefferey Burgess

University of Arizona 

Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of 

Public Health 

John Butler

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue 

Department (Virginia)

Mary Cameli

IFSTA

Michaela Campbell

Congressional Fire Services Institute 

Lorraine Carli *

NFPA 

Sean Carroll *

NFFF

Kelly Casillo

NFFF

Timmy Clark

NFFF

Christopher Cramer

UL Research Institutes 

Angela Cunningham

USFA

Michael Desrochers

NASFM

David Eskew

Milliken & Company 

Kenneth Fent

NIOSH

Karl Fippinger

ICC

Manuel Fonseca

National Association of Hispanic 

Firefighters 

Eriks Gabliks *

NFA

USFA

Brian Geraci

NASFM

Office of the Maryland State Fire 

Marshal

William (Billy) Goldfeder

Loveland-Symmes Fire Department 

Lexipol

John Granby

NFFF

FRCE

Emily Haas

NIOSH

Jason Hahn

FEMA

Bobby Halton

Clarion Fire Rescue 

FDIC/Fire Engineering
124 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

Vince Hodge *

FEMA

Tonya Hoover *

USFA

Brita Horn

Rock Creek Volunteer Fire Department 

(Colorado)

Elisabeth Hubbard

International Society of Fire Service 

Instructors 

Hunter Hughes

Scout Productions 

Sara Jahnke

Center for Fire, Rescue & EMS Health 

Research 

Martin Jenoff

Focal Point Productions 

Michael Johnson

Fire Department Safety Officer 

Association 

Loudoun County Fire and Rescue 

(Virginia)

James Keiken

North American Fire Training Directors 

Illinois Fire Service Institute

Edward Kelly

IAFF

Steve Kerber

Fire Safety Research Institute 

UL Research Institutes

Bob Keys

Milliken and Co. 

FDNY Consulting LLC

Melissa Knight *

NFFF

Justin Knighten

FEMA

Benjamin J. Krakauer

FEMA

Roger Krupp

IAAI

Nicole LaRosa

USFA

Kenneth LaSala, Jr.

IAFC

Sarah Lee

NVFC

Frank Leeb

FDNY

Daryl R. Levine

District of Columbia Fire and EMS

Andrew Lindley

Scout Productions 

Kelly Lynch *

NFFF

Robert Maloney

NFFF

David Millstein

USFA

Ernie Mitchell

NFFF

Susan Moore

NIOSH

Lori Moore-Merrell *

USFA

Patrick Morrison

IAFF

Ross Mulkerrin

NFFF

Teresa Neal *

USFA

Susie Nicol

Firehouse 

Kevin O’Connor

IAFF

John Oates

International Public Safety Data Institute 

David Parks

Focal Point Productions 
Appendix B: Summit Attendees 125

Richard Patrick *

USFA

Catherine Patterson

FEMA

James Pauley

NFPA

Pete Piringer

Montgomery County Fire & Rescue 

Service (Maryland)

Jeffrey Pomeranz

Center for Public Safety Excellence 

City of Cedar Rapids (Iowa)

Michael Pritchard*

USFA

Vickie Pritchett *

NFSA

Kevin Quinn

NVFC

Shane Ray *

NFSA

Terri L. Reid

International Association of Black 

Professional Firefighters 

Baltimore County Fire Department 

(Maryland)

Kevin Roche *

NFFF

FACETS Consulting

Pablo Sainz

Focal Point Productions 

Margaret Scallety

Chief Operating Officer

WHP Trainingtowers

Ron Siarnicki *

NFFF

Denise Smith

Skidmore College 

Illinois Fire Service Institute

Joshua Southerland

NFFF

Westfield Fire Department (Illinois)

Rachael Staebell

Women in Fire 

Colorado Springs Fire Department 

(Colorado)

Victor Stagnaro *

NFFF

Seth Statler

NFPA

Josh Stefancic

IFSTA 

Safety Harbor Fire Department (Florida)

Michele Steinberg

NFPA

Debra Stottlemyer *

FEMA

Rick Swan

IAFF

Adam K. Thiel

City of Philadelphia Fire Department 

Robert Timko

NVFC

Amy Noel Tippett *

NFFF

John Tippett *

NFFF

Stuart Tom

ICC

Derek Urwin

IAFF

Eric Valliere

Fire Department Safety Officer 

Association 

Scottsdale Fire Department (Arizona)

Bill Webb

Congressional Fire Services Institute 

Tiffanye S. Wesley

Women in Fire 

Arlington County Fire Department 

(Virginia)
126 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

Angela White

North American Fire Training Directors 

Wisconsin Technical College System

Danny Whu

IAFF

Ryan Woodward

NVFC

Khalilah Yancey

Women in Fire

Baltimore City Fire Department 

(Maryland)

Recruits from the following departments attended the State of Science portion of 

the summit:

ĵ Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department (Maryland).

ĵ Loudon County Fire and Rescue Department (Virginia).

ĵ District of Columbia Fire and EMS.

The following fellows and interns from the UL First Responder Fire Safety Research 

Institute also attended the State of Science portion of the summit: Grayson Bellamy, 

Thomas DePietro, Neil Fung, Madi Michael, Malhar Patel and Rebekah Schrader.

Thank you to the following departments for providing apparatus for the apparatus 

display for the summit:

ĵ Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (Maryland).

ĵ Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department (Maryland).

ĵ Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Services (Maryland).

ĵ Mount Weather Fire Department (Virginia).

ĵ Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (Virginia).

ĵ Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal.

ĵ Anne Arundel County Fire Department (Maryland).

ĵ District of Columbia Fire and EMS.

Note: The list above is of registered attendees of the summit as of Oct. 9.
Appendix C: Summit Speakers Biographies 127

Appendix C: Summit Speakers 

Biographies

National Roundtable

*Participants in alphabetical order

President Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. (virtual remarks)

President of the United States

President Joseph Biden is the 46th President of the United States. He previously 

served as vice president from 2009 to 2017. President Biden was a former chairman 

of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus while serving as a U.S. senator.

Chief Donna Black

President and Board Chair, IAFC

Fire Chief, Duck Fire Department (North Carolina)

Chief Donna Black has been active in the fire service for over 20 years. She began 

her career in 1997 as a volunteer, earning her way through the ranks (as both a paid 

and volunteer firefighter), culminating in 2006 when she was selected as the fire 

chief for the Town of Duck.

Chief Black received her Bachelor of Science degree from Ithaca College and went 

on to obtain her Master of Arts from the University of Georgia.

She graduated from the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer (EFO) 

Program in 2011. While attending the EFO Program, her study focused on evaluating 

and improving the operations of the Duck Fire Department. After collaborating 

with the town manager, and educating both the town council and community about 

fire operations, Chief Black justified the necessity of procuring career firefighter 

positions. These proactive changes increased the level of service for the town and 

shaped the Duck Fire Department into a thriving combination department.

Chief Black holds a post-graduate Certificate in Community Preparedness & 

Disaster Management from the Gillings School of Public Health at University 

of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and authored the Town of Duck’s Emergency 

Operations Plan. She currently holds the Chief Fire Officer (CFO) designation.

Chief Black has served on several boards including the Volunteer Combination 

Officers Section, Council for Future Volunteer Firefighters (vice chairperson) and 

FRI Program Planning Committee. Most recently, Chief Black was chosen to co-chair 

the Women Fire Chiefs Council. She continues to advocate for highly effective and 

inclusive volunteer and combination fire departments.

Source: https://www.iafc.org/about-iafc/board-of-directors/president-and-chair-ofthe-board
128 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

Deanne Criswell

Administrator

FEMA

Ms. Deanne Criswell was unanimously confirmed by the Senate on April 22, 2021, as 

the 12th Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Ms. 

Criswell is the first woman confirmed to serve as the Administrator, where she leads 

the nation’s efforts in helping people before, during and after disasters. She brings 

with her an extensive career in public service with serving 30 years at all levels of 

government.

Prior to her appointment, Ms. Criswell served as the Commissioner of the New 

York City Emergency Management Department from 2019 to 2021, where she 

was responsible for coordinating citywide emergency planning and response for 

all emergencies. One of her most significant accomplishments was leading the 

coordination of the City’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic to include preventing 

the collapse of the healthcare system, making sure no New Yorker went hungry, 

establishing a first of its kind non-congregate sheltering program, and supporting 

the country’s largest mass fatality program.

Ms. Criswell began her career in emergency management in Aurora, Colorado, 

where she led strategic change in the city’s emergency and disaster planning. 

During her tenure, Ms. Criswell coordinated transitional housing and family 

reunification efforts in response to receiving evacuees during the response 

to Hurricane Katrina. She previously served at FEMA as the leader of one of 

the Agency’s National Incident Management Assistance Teams (IMAT) and as a 

Federal Coordinating Officer. In this role, Ms. Criswell was the primary Federal 

representative responsible for leading the agency’s response to and recovery 

from emergencies and major disasters, from severe flooding in North Dakota to 

hurricanes in South Carolina to fires in Colorado. She also spent two years as an 

executive in the private sector, providing exceptional technical expertise and the 

experience necessary to help her clients achieve their critical missions.

Ms. Criswell also proudly served 21 years in the Colorado Air National Guard. She 

is a veteran of two overseas tours to include as a fire officer in Kuwait immediately 

following the attacks of September 11, 2001, and to Qatar in support of Operation 

Enduring Freedom in 2010, where she advised senior leadership on fire protection 

requirements for new and existing military bases in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Ms. Criswell holds a Bachelor of Science from Colorado State University, a Master 

of Public Administration from the University of Colorado — Denver, and a Master of 

Arts in Security Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School, Center for Homeland 

Defense and Security.

Source: https://www.fema.gov/profile/deanne-criswell
Appendix C: Summit Speakers Biographies 129

Caitlin Durkovich

Special Assistant to the President

Senior Director for Resilience and Response NSC

Caitlin Durkovich currently serves as the senior director for resilience and response 

at the National Security Council. She was a nonresident senior fellow in the 

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security until November 2020. While a fellow with 

the Atlantic Council, she co-directed the Future of DHS Project. After the election of 

President Joseph Biden, she served on the agency review team for the Department 

of Homeland Security.

She has more than twenty years of expertise in national and homeland security. 

A recognized expert in critical infrastructure security and resilience, including 

cybersecurity, Ms. Durkovich has successfully advanced risk management programs 

that drive thought leadership, advance leading security practices, influence policy, 

and evolve industry practices to manage operational and security risks. She has 

advanced strategy and policy at the highest levels of government, including the 

development of Presidential Policy Directive 21: Critical Infrastructure Security and 

Resilience (2013) and co-chairing the Joint United States-Canada Electric Grid Security 

and Resilience Strategy (2016) and the National Space Weather Strategy (2015). 

Ms. Durkovich was a director at Toffler Associates, a foresight advisory firm. She 

served eight years at the Department of Homeland Security, managing the mission 

to protect the nation’s cyber and physical infrastructure. As assistant secretary 

for infrastructure protection, she led both the voluntary partnership to enhance 

security and resilience across the sixteen critical infrastructure sectors, as well 

as the regulatory program to secure high-risk chemical facilities, or the Chemical 

Facility Antiterrorism Standards (CFATS).

Her experience also includes leading homeland security projects with several 

government agencies while at Booz Allen Hamilton, setting industry cybersecurity 

standards at the ISAlliance, and pioneering early warning cyber intelligence at 

iDefense (acquired by Verisign).

Ms. Durkovich served as a member of the Board of Directors of the InfraGard 

National Members Alliance and the Protect Our Power Advisory panel. She earned a 

B.A. in public policy studies from the Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy at Duke 

University and a certificate in business strategy from The Aspen Institute. She lives 

in Washington, D.C. with her husband, three children, and bulldog.

Source: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/expert/caitlin-durkovich/

Edward A. Kelly

General President

IAFF

Elected the IAFF’s 10th General President at the IAFF 55th Convention in March 

2021, Edward A. Kelly is the son, grandson, brother, nephew and cousin of fire 

fighters. Kelly previously served as the IAFF’s 11th General Secretary-Treasurer from 

2016-2021.

Kelly joined the Boston Fire Department as a fire fighter/EMT in 1997, where he was 

assigned to Ladder Company 17 in Boston’s South End. In 1999, he was assigned to 

the Technical Rescue team that assisted Worcester Local 1009 at the Cold Storage 
130 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

Warehouse fire, which claimed the lives of six IAFF Local 1009 members. Kelly was 

also among the thousands of fire fighters at Ground Zero after the September 

11, 2001, terror attacks on the World Trade Center and responded to the Boston 

Marathon bombing in 2013.

Kelly rapidly climbed the ranks of organized labor and is known and respected for 

his strong dedication to the rank-and-file members of the IAFF and his visionary 

leadership across the labor movement. He served as president of Boston, MA Local 

718 in one of the most contentious times in the local’s history, engaging in a bitter 

duel with the city’s administration over the local’s collective bargaining rights. He 

went on to become president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts in 

2011, a post he held until his election as IAFF General Secretary-Treasurer.

During his tenure as General Secretary-Treasurer, Kelly implemented multiple 

programs to support IAFF local leaders, including overseeing the development 

and implementation of IAFF System Management Active Response Technology 

(SMART), which provides communication and database tools to the IAFF affiliates in 

the United States and Canada. Kelly also implemented innovative new processes to 

streamline dues collection from affiliates. As treasurer, Kelly made organizational 

changes in healthcare and other expense reductions, which saved approximately $2 

million. Kelly also made changes to ensure compliance with various oversight and 

regulatory obligations to protect the union from scrutiny.

As the recordkeeper for the International, Kelly modernized the operations of the 

General Secretary-Treasurer’s office while preserving the long history of the IAFF by 

making every historical record within his office available to members. He instituted 

policies and procedures that resulted in greater transparency and trust across the 

membership of the IAFF.

A graduate of the Harvard Trade Union Program class of 2015, he was named Labor 

Leader of the Year by the Greater Boston Labor Council. Kelly was appointed by 

the governor of Massachusetts to serve as a commissioner at the Department of 

Fire Services, as well as the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Group Insurance 

Commission, one of the largest healthcare purchasers in the Northeast. Kelly also 

served as the elected Executive Vice President of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO.

As part of Kelly’s charitable efforts, he is a co-founder and member of the Board 

of Directors for Massachusetts Iraq and Afghanistan Fallen Heroes and a trustee 

for the Boston Fire Department Charitable Association, first established in 1828 to 

ensure proper burial for indigent fire fighters and which now assists widows and 

widowers of fire fighters of modest means.

A proud military veteran, Kelly served as a fire fighter in the U.S. Air Force.

As an active fire fighter, Kelly brings a direct connection from the rank-and-file IAFF 

members in firehouses and fire halls across both countries to the very top of their 

union.

Source: https://www.iaff.org/general-president/
Appendix C: Summit Speakers Biographies 131

Alejandro Mayorkas

Secretary

DHS

Alejandro Mayorkas was sworn in as Secretary of the Department of Homeland 

Security by President Biden on February 2, 2021. 

Mayorkas is the first Latino and immigrant confirmed to serve as Secretary of 

Homeland Security. He has led a distinguished 30-year career as a law enforcement 

official and a nationally recognized lawyer in the private sector. Mayorkas served 

as the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from 2013 

to 2016, and as the Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services from 2009 

to 2013. During his tenure at DHS, he led the development and implementation of 

DACA, negotiated cybersecurity and homeland security agreements with foreign 

governments, led the Department’s response to Ebola and Zika, helped build and 

administer the Blue Campaign to combat human trafficking, and developed an 

emergency relief program for orphaned youth following the tragic January 2010 

earthquake in Haiti. Mayorkas also created the Fraud Detection and National 

Security Directorate to better ensure the integrity of the legal immigration system.

Mayorkas began his government service in the Department of Justice, where he 

served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Central District of California, 

specializing in the prosecution of white-collar crime. After nearly nine years as a 

federal prosecutor, he became the youngest United States Attorney in the nation, 

overseeing prosecutions of national significance, including the investigation and 

prosecution of financial fraud, violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, public 

corruption, violent crime, cybercrime, environmental crime, international money 

laundering, and securities fraud.

Mayorkas received his bachelor’s degree with distinction from the University of 

California at Berkeley and a law degree from Loyola Law School.

Source: https://www.dhs.gov/person/alejandro-mayorkas

Chief Ernest (Ernie) Mitchell, Jr.

Board of Directors Member

NFFF

Ernest Mitchell, Jr. was the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s United States 

Fire Administrator for the United States Fire Administration. He began his tenure 

on December 5, 2011, and was responsible for managing the United States Fire 

Administration, the programs and training activities at the National Emergency 

Training Center.

Chief Mitchell retired as the Fire Chief and Assistant Director of Disaster Emergency 

Services for the City of Pasadena, California, Fire Department after 33 years 

in the fire service. Chief Mitchell is an active member and former officer of the 

IAFC. During his last year in Pasadena, he was also President of the International 

Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), where he continued until the completion of his 

term. He served in Pasadena from 1998 until 2004. Prior to becoming Fire Chief in 

Pasadena, Chief Mitchell served as Fire Chief and Deputy City Manager in the City of 

Monrovia, California, for seven years. He began his career as a fire fighter with the 

City of Compton, California. He served there for twenty years in various ranks until 

leaving to become Fire Chief in the City of Monrovia.
132 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

His most recent professional affiliations include serving as a member of the 

International Fire Service Training Association Executive Board, the International 

Association of Firefighters Hazardous Materials Advisory Board, the IAFC President’s 

Council, the IAFC Foundation Board, and the IAFC/IAFF Labor/Management Initiative 

Facilitator Team.

In previous years he has served as a member of the Department of Homeland 

Security’s Science and Technology Advisory Committee; on numerous committees 

and task forces of the IAFC; and presided over several fire service organizations, 

including: the Los Angeles Area Fire Chiefs Association, the League of California 

Cities Fire Chiefs and the Foothill Fire Chiefs. He has also been an Advocate for the 

National Fallen Firefighters’ Everyone Goes Home® Program, an adjunct instructor 

for the National Fire Academy and a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Fire 

Chief Magazine.

Chief Mitchell has an Associate of Science Degree in Fire Science from Long Beach 

City College; a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of 

San Francisco; and a Master of Public Administration Degree from California State 

University at Northridge.

During his career Chief Mitchell has either chaired or been a member of many 

working committees that contributed to the progress and development of 

communities as well as local, state and national fire and emergency services. He is 

a past recipient of the IAFC President’s Award for Service and has received several 

community awards for service.

He is a past recipient of numerous community and organizational honors, including: 

the IAFC President’s Award for Service, designation as a City of Compton Hometown 

Hero, and selection to the Long Beach City College Alumni Hall of Fame.

Source: https://www.firehero.org/about-us/board-advisory/ernest-mitchell/ 

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell

Administrator

USFA

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell was appointed by President Joseph Biden as the U.S. Fire 

Administrator on Oct. 25, 2021. Prior to her appointment, Lori served nearly 3 years 

as the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the International Public Safety 

Data Institute, which she founded after retiring from a 26-year tenure as a senior 

executive in the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF).

Lori is considered an expert in executive leadership, emergency response system 

evaluation, public safety resource deployment, community risk assessment, 

data science/analytics, strategic planning, costs and benefits analysis, advocacy, 

consensus building, policy development and implementation, and generational 

differences in the workplace.

As a Doctor of Public Health and a data scientist, Dr. Moore-Merrell recently 

served on the Biden-Harris Transition Team to conduct agency review for the U.S. 

Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) 

as part of the COVID-19 response planning. She has also served on the Public Safety 

Committee of the transition teams for both the mayor of New York City (2013) and 

the mayor of the District of Columbia (2015).
Appendix C: Summit Speakers Biographies 133

Lori serves on national and international boards of directors and advises elected 

officials, CEOs and local metropolitan fire chiefs in areas of her expertise while 

providing them scientific data to make fact-based decisions. She was recently 

awarded Honorary Membership in the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association for her 

expertise in areas of fire prevention, fire suppression or other related disciplines. 

Lori is only the fourth individual to be presented this honor in the 54-year history of 

the organization.

Dr. Moore-Merrell is an international speaker, presenter and author. She has also 

been awarded the James O. Page Achievement Award by the Emergency Medical 

Services (EMS) Section of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) (2001), 

twice awarded the IAFC President’s Award for commitment to firefighter safety 

(2009, 2019), the Dr. John Granito Award for Excellence in Fire Leadership and 

Management Research (2010), the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs President’s Award of 

Distinction (2013), the Mason Lankford Award from the Congressional Fire Services 

Institute (2019), and the Homeland Security Today Mission Award (2020).

Lori is a principal member of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 3000 

Technical Committee and is an advisor to the chair of the NFPA 1710 Technical 

Committee. Lori served 9 years as a commissioner to the Commission for Fire 

Service Accreditation and 3 terms as a board member for the Center for Public 

Safety Excellence. Dr. Moore-Merrell is a member of the International Fire Service 

Training Association Executive Board, as well as the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 

Fire Council.

During her 26 years at the IAFF, Lori spent more than 17 years leading a research 

team made up of international fire service organizations and other partners, 

including the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the UL, the Urban 

Institute, the University of Texas, Worcester Polytechnic Institute and the 

Commission on Fire Accreditation International. As principal investigator and senior 

project manager on projects funded by FEMA/Assistance to Firefighters Grants 

totaling more than $23 million, she led the team to produce landmark reports and 

other tools to improve residential and high-rise fireground operations, community 

risk assessment, fire and EMS resource deployment, and “Big Data Analytics” — all 

to help drive executive decision-making. These reports and other resources have 

changed the face of fire and EMS deployment in countries throughout the world. 

Dr. Moore-Merrell has also managed emergency response system evaluation 

project teams, including secure data procurement, geographic information systems 

analysis and workload analysis in hundreds of fire departments throughout North 

America.

Lori began her fire service career in 1987 as a fire department paramedic in the City 

of Memphis Fire Department, Memphis, Tennessee.

Source: https://www.usfa.fema.gov/about/administrator.html
134 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

Jim Pauley

President and CEO

NFPA

Jim Pauley is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Fire 

Protection Association (NFPA). NFPA is a global, non-profit organization devoted 

to eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and 

related hazards. He also serves as Chairman of the Board of the NFPA Research 

Foundation.

Prior to joining NFPA, Mr. Pauley concluded a 30-year career in the electrical and 

energy industry where he most recently served as Senior Vice President, External 

Affairs and Government Relations for Schneider Electric. 

Mr. Pauley has served in a number of past leadership positions including Chairman 

of the Board for the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of 

Kentucky and was a licensed professional engineer in Kentucky.

Source: https://www.nfpa.org/About-NFPA/NFPA-leadership

Chief Kevin Quinn

First Vice Chair, Board of Directors

NVFC

Kevin D. Quinn joined the fire service in 1976. He has served on the NVFC board 

of directors for over 36 years and is past chair of the NVFC. He retired as a deputy 

chief of the Union Fire District in South Kingstown, RI, and has returned to where 

he began in the volunteer fire service — actively responding to fires and alarms 

with his original Station #3 of the Union Fire District. Kevin is a past-president 

of the Rhode Island State Firemen’s League, Rhode Island State Advocate of the 

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation’s Everyone Goes Home-Courage to Be 

Safe Program, member of the Foundation’s Rhode Island Local Assistance State 

Team, board member of the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition, member of the Hope 

Valley HazMat team, and member of numerous federal, state, and local exercise 

design management teams. He holds a master of science degree in counseling and 

educational psychology and a master of science degree in education.

Source: https://www.nvfc.org/board-of-directors/

John K. Tien

Deputy Secretary

DHS

John Tien was sworn in as Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland 

Security by Secretary Mayorkas on June 24, 2021. Tien is the first Asian American to 

be confirmed as the Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security.

Prior to becoming the Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, Tien spent ten years 

serving in senior executive roles in the critical infrastructure financial services 

sector as a managing director at Citigroup. As a chief operating officer, he provided 

customer service support to tens of millions of customers to include safeguarding 

their accounts against fraud, data breaches, and other cyber threats.
Appendix C: Summit Speakers Biographies 135

Tien previously served in the Obama Administration as the National Security 

Council Senior Director for Afghanistan and Pakistan from 2009-2011, the Bush 

Administration as the National Security Council Director for Iraq from 2008-2009, 

and the Clinton Administration as a White House Fellow in the Office of the United 

States Trade Representative from 1998-1999.

Tien began his career of public service at the United States Military Academy at 

West Point where he was the first Asian American to ever serve as the First Captain 

and Brigade Commander, West Point’s top-ranked cadet position. For the next 24 

years, he served as a U.S. Army combat arms officer, retiring in 2011 at the rank of 

Colonel. He is a veteran of three combat tours to include serving as the Task Force 

2-37 Armor Battalion Commander in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He and his unit were 

responsible for securing and stabilizing the Iraqi cities of Tal Afar and Ramadi with 

an emphasis on counterinsurgency operations, community partnership, creating 

rule of law institutions, and the training of thousands of Iraqi police officers. His 

military decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the 

Combat Action Badge, and the Valorous Unit Award.

Tien holds a Bachelor of Science from West Point and a Master of Arts from Oxford 

University where he was a Rhodes Scholar, and was also a National Security Fellow 

at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Source: https://www.dhs.gov/person/john-k-tien
136 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

State of Science

*Presenters in alphabetical order

Dr. Jeff Burgess

Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health 

University of Arizona 

Prior to joining MEZCOPH, Dr. Burgess worked as an emergency physician, 

medical toxicologist, and occupational and environmental medicine physician. His 

occupational research projects have been focused on reducing toxic exposures 

and preventing injuries and illnesses among firefighters, other first responders, 

and miners. His environmental focus has been on the improvement of emergency 

preparedness, evaluation of population-level exposures to arsenic, and working 

with tribal partners to address adverse exposures.

Dr. Burgess participates in several university-wide health collaborations, including 

the Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center, the Lowell Institute for 

Mineral Resources, the University of Arizona Cancer Center, the Institute for the 

Study of Planet Earth, and Bio5. He has an adjunct appointment in the Department 

of Mining and Geological Engineering. He has also served on national committees 

dedicated to fostering research to improve the health and safety of public safety 

personnel and miners.

Source: https://www.publichealth.arizona.edu/directory/jeff-burgess 

John Butler

Fire Chief

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (Virginia)

John S. Butler is the Fire Chief for the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department 

(VA). He is a paramedic and holds postgraduate degrees from the University of 

Baltimore and Johns Hopkins University, and certificates from Harvard University, 

the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program, and the Fire Service 

Executive Development Institute. Chief Butler serves as the International 

Association of Fire Chiefs’ First Vice President, holds three chief-level designations 

from the Commission on Professional Credentialing, and is chairman of the National 

Fire Academy’s Board of Visitors.

Source: Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (Virginia)

Lorraine Carli

Vice President of Outreach and Advocacy

NFPA

Lorraine Carli is Vice President of Outreach and Advocacy for the National Fire 

Protection Association where she oversees media, public affairs and advocacy 

activities; the organization’s magazine NFPA Journal; and NFPA’s Wildfire, Public 

Education and US/Canada Regional Operations Divisions.

In addition to her service on the Board of Directors for the National Fallen 

Firefighters Foundation, Carli is President of the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition and 

President of the Board of Directors for The Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors. 

She also serves on the Executive Committee of the Electric Safety Foundation 

International (ESFI) Board of Directors.
Appendix C: Summit Speakers Biographies 137

Prior to joining NFPA, Carli was a public relations consultant working with health 

care, medical technology, government and nonprofit organizations. Before her 

role as a consultant, Carli was the director of marketing services for Speedline 

Technologies, overseeing global public relations, marketing communication and 

advertising, and was director of communications for CareGroup, a network of 

hospitals in Massachusetts. She began her career in state government, where she 

was most noted for her more than decade tenure as the director of public affairs for 

the Massachusetts Department of Social Services.

Carli holds a Bachelor’s degree in journalism from Northeastern University and a 

Master’s degree in education from the University of Massachusetts. She is also an 

adjunct professor at Suffolk University in Boston, teaching graduate public relations 

courses.

Source: https://www.firehero.org/about-us/board-advisory/lorraine-carli/

Dr. Kenneth Fent

NIOSH

Commander Kenny Fent (PHSCC) is currently the head of the NFR at CDC/NIOSH, 

which is a congressionally mandated program to monitor cancer outcomes and 

occupational risk factors among firefighters in the U.S. He has spent nearly 15 years 

studying firefighters’ exposures and health effects and published over 70 scientific 

articles and reports. His research findings have provided evidence to support a 

variety of control measures to reduce carcinogenic exposures in the fire service.

Source: Dr. Kenneth Fent

Karl Fippinger, CEM, PMP

Vice President, Fire and Disaster Mitigation

ICC

Karl Fippinger, CEM, PMP, is Vice President, Fire and Disaster Mitigation for the 

International Code Council’s Government Relations Department where he leads the 

Code Council’s national fire service and emergency management activities.

Fippinger brings more than 30 years of domain experience, having served as 

an assistant fire chief with the Occoquan-Woodbridge-Lorton Volunteer Fire 

Department in Prince William County, Va., and as an adjunct instructor with the 

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department in Fairfax, Va. He also brings deep 

experience in public and private sector emergency management across federal, 

state and local disaster preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery.

Fippinger holds the Certified Emergency Manager credential with the International 

Association of Emergency Managers and is a certified Project Management 

Professional with the Project Management Institute.

Source: https://www.iccsafe.org/expert/karl-fippinger/
138 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

Tonya Hoover

Deputy Administrator

USFA

Tonya Hoover is the Deputy U.S. Fire Administrator at the U.S. Fire Administration 

(USFA). She was named to this position in January 2020. As the senior career federal 

fire official, she is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the USFA.

This includes the annual training of over 100,000 first responders at and through 

the National Fire Academy (NFA); the National Fire Incident Reporting System, 

which documents and analyzes 27 million fire department emergency responses a 

year; the USFA’s fire prevention, public information and public education programs; 

and the 26 campus buildings and the grounds of the historic National Emergency 

Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

Chief Hoover is an accomplished executive with more than 20 years of management 

experience in both local and state government. She has successfully worked at 

high levels of government in developing and implementing fire protection, fire 

prevention, fire training and community risk reduction programs.

From May 2017 to January 2020, Chief Hoover served as the superintendent of the 

USFA’s NFA, which focuses on enhancing the ability of fire and emergency services 

and allied professionals to deal more effectively with fire and related emergencies.

From July 2009 to July 2016, Chief Hoover served as the California state fire 

marshal, where she was responsible for statewide fire prevention, fire service 

training, pipeline safety, code and regulations development, and analysis and 

implementation. She was the California assistant state fire marshal from September 

2007 to June 2009. Previously, Chief Hoover served as a fire marshal/battalion chief 

for a local fire department and was a deputy campus fire marshal for the University 

of California at Berkeley. Chief Hoover served on the board of directors for the 

National Fire Protection Association and the International Fire Service Training 

Association and continues to engage with the International Code Council.

Chief Hoover received her MBA in Business and Human Resources from the 

University of Phoenix in 2006 and a Bachelor of Science in Technical Education, 

specializing in Fire Protection and Safety, from Oklahoma State University in 1985. 

She holds an associate degree in Fire Protection Engineering Technology (also from 

Oklahoma State University) and possesses a California lifetime teaching credential 

for fire science.

Source: https://www.usfa.fema.gov/about/deputy-administrator.html

Brita Horn

Chief

Rock Creek Volunteer Fire Department (Colorado)

Chief Horn dedicated her life to public service in response to the terrorist attacks 

of Sept. 11, 2001, when she noticed a need in her local community for emergency 

responders. Brita responded to the call by creating a nonprofit fire department with 

her friends and neighbors in McCoy, Colorado, which has served the community for 

the last 21 years. Brita currently serves as the fire chief for the department.

Source: Chief Brita Horn
Appendix C: Summit Speakers Biographies 139

Dr. Sara Jahnke

Chief Operating Officer and Senior Scientist, NDRI-USA

Director, Center for Fire, Rescue & EMS Health Research

Dr. Jahnke has over a decade of research experience on firefighter health; she 

has been the Principal Investigator on ten national studies as well as dozens of 

studies as a co-investigator. Her work has focused on a range of health concerns 

including the health of women firefighters, behavioral health, risk of injury, cancer, 

cardiovascular risk factors, and substance use with funding from the Assistance 

to Firefighters Grant R&D Program, the National Institutes of Health, and other 

foundations. She has more than 100 publications in peer-reviewed medical 

literature.

Source: https://www.ndri-usa.org/team

Dr. Steve Kerber

Vice President and Executive Director

UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute

Steve Kerber is Vice President and Executive Director of UL’s Fire Safety Research 

Institute (FSRI). He leads a fire safety research team dedicated to addressing the 

world’s unresolved fire safety risks and emerging dangers to reduce death, injury 

and loss from fire. Steve has led research in the areas of fire safety engineering, 

firefighter safety, fire forensics and fire science. He received his bachelor’s and 

master’s degrees in fire protection engineering from the University of Maryland 

and completed his doctorate at Lund University in Sweden after defending his 

thesis titled “Utilizing Research to Enhance Fire Service Knowledge.” Steve is also 

a 13-year veteran of the fire service, with most of his service at the College Park 

Fire Department in Prince George’s County, Maryland, where he served at ranks 

up through Deputy Chief. Steve has also been appointed to the rank of Honorary 

Battalion Chief by the Fire Department of New York, was named the 2014 ISFSI and 

Fire Engineering George D. Post Instructor of the Year and was awarded the 2019 

Metropolitan Fire Chiefs President’s Award of Distinction.

Source: https://fsri.org/steve-kerber

Frank Leeb

Deputy Assistant Chief

FDNY

Frank Leeb is a deputy assistant chief for FDNY. He has served in several senior 

staff positions including the chief of training and the chief of the fire academy. Leeb 

has been a member of FDNY since 1992 and a member of the East Farmingdale, 

New York, fire department since 1983. He holds a bachelor’s degree in fire service 

administration from the State University of New York and a master’s degree in 

security studies from the Naval Postgraduate School, Center for Homeland Defense 

and Security.

He is a principal on the NFPA Technical Committees 420, 1585 and 1710. 

Source: Chief Frank Leeb
140 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

Dr. Susan M. Moore

Associate Director for Science

National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL)

NIOSH

CDC

Dr. Susan Moore joined NIOSH NPPTL in 2006 with her B.S. in mechanical 

engineering from the University of Kentucky and her Ph.D. in bioengineering from 

the University of Pittsburgh. She currently serves as the Associate Director for 

Science for NIOSH NPPTL. Dr. Moore also serves as the Co-Chair to the National 

Occupational Research Agenda’s (NORA) Public Safety Sector Council and is the 

Co-Coordinator for NIOSH’s Public Safety Sector Council and NIOSH’s Personal 

Protective Technology Core and Specialty Program. While at NPPTL, Dr. Moore 

has supported conformity assessment, test method development, research, and 

technology development efforts related to respirators, turnout gear, gloves, and 

surgical gowns.

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/Respiratory-Protection-Week-2021.html

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell

Administrator

USFA 

See National Roundtable biography.

Patrick Morrison

Chief of Field Services

IAFF

Patrick Morrison is the Chief of Field Services for the International Association of 

Fire Fighters (IAFF), overseeing the Division of Health, Safety and Medicine, the 

Division of Technical Assistance and Information Resources, and the Division of 

Education, Grants and Human Relations. Mr. Morrison’s expertise is in the design 

and implementation of behavioral health, safety, and wellness programs to improve 

fire fighters’ overall physical and mental health, address their medical needs, and 

increase protections from the hazardous elements of firefighting. Prior to joining 

the IAFF, Mr. Morrison was a career fire fighter for 21 years with the Fairfax County 

Fire and Rescue Department in Fairfax, Virginia.

Source: IAFF

Chief John Oates

CEO

International Public Safety Data Institute

John is the CEO of the International Public Safety Data Institute. Prior to being 

appointed as CEO, he served as Chief of the East Hartford, Connecticut, Fire 

Department. He has a BS from Franklin Pierce University, a MS from Oklahoma 

State University, is a graduate of the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer 

Program, and holds numerous professional certifications. He is a long-time 

contributor to the NFFF’s Everyone Goes Home Program. He serves as member of 

the Behavioral Health Advisory Committee created by the First Responder Center 

for Excellence, a NFFF-affiliated organization. Chief Oates serves as a member of 
Appendix C: Summit Speakers Biographies 141

the NFPA 3000 Active Shooter/Hostile Event Response Technical Committee and the 

Technical Committee for Safety at Motorsports Venues (NFPA 610) where he served 

as Chairman from 2005 until 2016.

Source: https://i-psdi.org/about.html

Vickie Pritchett

Vice President and Executive Officer

NFSA

Vickie Pritchett became involved in the fire service in 1997. Vickie served on the Board 

of Directors for the Pleasant View Volunteer Fire Department from 1998-2013, and 

was awarded lifetime membership into PVVFD in December of 2013. Vickie served 

as the Community Development Liaison for the Town of Pleasant View and Executive 

Director of the Joint Economic & Community Development Board of Cheatham 

County at the time she began her service to the local volunteer fire department. 

During this time, she was instrumental in bringing fire service officials, builders and 

developers, and elected officials together. This coordination resulted in a zero square 

foot fire sprinkler ordinance for the town in 2001, and county-wide in 2006.

Vickie’s dedication to the improvement of quality of life, passion for the community, 

and her ability to bring people together makes her the “spark plug” and advocate of 

fire sprinkler requirements at the local, state, and federal level. She has presented 

across the state of Tennessee and the nation. She has worked in Washington, D.C., 

to promote fire protection issues and to highlight the differences that can be made 

by fire sprinklers and the legislation that requires them. 

Vickie is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and received her MBA 

from Vanderbilt’s Owen School of Management. She is a VCOS Symposium 

committee member, Board Member of the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition, Board 

member of the IAFC Fire & Life Safety Section, Board Member of Common Voices, 

and is a member of both NFPA and ICC. 

Vickie currently serves as Vice President/Executive Officer of the National Fire 

Sprinkler Association.

Source: https://community.nfsa.org/network/members/profile?UserKey=3aece444-

b9da-4fc6-9e7a-0ff8cae8143c 

Chief Shane Ray

President

NFSA

Shane Ray began his fire service career in 1984 and worked through the ranks of 

career and volunteer organizations serving from firefighter to chief. Shane currently 

serves as president of the NFSA, headquartered in Maryland, and remains a 

volunteer in his hometown community of Pleasant View, Tennessee. Shane served 

13 years as fire chief, and he served 6 years as the mayor. He also held the position 

of superintendent of the South Carolina Fire Academy and as South Carolina state 

fire marshal.

Chief Ray is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University, Harvard’s John F. Kennedy 

School of Government, the University of Maryland’s Leadership Development 

Program, and the NFA’s EFO Program. Shane’s education not only comes from 

universities and institutions but from practical experience as well. 
142 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

Shane was selected as Fire Chief Magazine’s Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year for 

2005 and Eastern Kentucky University’s Distinguished Alumnus of the Year award 

for 2006. He was also selected as Tennessee Fire Chief of the Year in 2011. He was 

awarded the Order of the Palmetto by Governor Nikki Haley in June of 2014. 

Source: Chief Shane Ray

Chief Ron Siarnicki

Executive Director

NFFF

Ronald Jon Siarnicki, the Foundation’s Executive Director, began his career as a 

firefighter with the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department in 1978 and, 

over 24 years, progressed through the ranks to Chief of the Department. In this 

position, he served as the Chief Executive Officer responsible for the fire, rescue and 

emergency medical services of Prince George’s County, Maryland. While with the 

Department, he also served on the Joint Fire and Police Pension Board for four years.

Prior to joining the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department, he served as a 

volunteer firefighter with the Monessen Volunteer Fire Department, Hose House #2, 

in western Pennsylvania. In doing so, he followed a family tradition; both his father 

and grandfather were volunteer firefighters.

In July 2001, he retired from the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department 

to take the position of Executive Director of the National Fallen Firefighters 

Foundation. In this role, he has managed the day-to-day operations of the 

Foundation to include the National Memorial Services, construction of the National 

Memorial Park and the renovation of the Fallen Firefighters Memorial Chapel 

located in Emmitsburg, Maryland. In addition, he created the catalyst for the 

development of the Everyone Goes Home® Program designed to reduce the number 

of firefighter line-of-duty deaths that occur each year in the United States.

Chief Siarnicki delivers presentations at fire and emergency conferences and 

meetings across the country, increasing awareness of the Foundation, the efforts 

of its prevention work and support for the families of the fallen. In recognition of 

his outstanding leadership with the Foundation’s and the fire service as a whole, 

he has been recognized by various groups and organizations to include: The Fire 

Engineering Lifetime Achievement Award, Alan Brunacini Fire Services Executive 

Safety Award from the International Association of Fire Chiefs, Metropolitan Fire 

Chiefs’ Presidents Award of Distinction, University of Maryland, University College 

Distinguished Alumnus, American Burn Association’s Moncrief Award and the 

Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Silver Medal of Valor.

A strong proponent of higher education, he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s 

degrees from the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) and served as a 

UMUC faculty member for the Fire Science Curriculum.

Source: https://www.firehero.org/about-us/foundation-staff/ronald-siarnicki/
Appendix C: Summit Speakers Biographies 143

Dr. Denise L. Smith

Tisch Distinguished Professor

Professor for Health and Human Physiological Sciences Department

Director, First Responder Health and Safety Laboratory

Skidmore College

Professor Smith’s primary area of research is cardiovascular health, with a specific 

focus on the relationship between heat stress and cardiovascular function. A 

significant portion of her research focuses on the cardiovascular strain associated 

with firefighting activity. She has led several government-funded studies to 

investigate strategies to minimize the physiological strain associated with 

firefighting. Professor Smith has also conducted several laboratory studies designed 

to identify specific components of firefighting activity (work performed, heat stress, 

sympathetic nervous stimulation) that are responsible for specific physiological 

responses to the combined stress of firefighting. Professor Smith has coauthored 

several textbooks and has published over 60 scientific papers, primarily on 

firefighter cardiovascular health. She has been awarded more than 15 million dollars 

in research funding, with awards from FEMA-AFG, DHS S&T, NIOSH, and DoD.

Source: https://www.skidmore.edu/hhps/faculty/denise-smith.php

Michele Steinberg

Wildfire Division Director

NFPA

Michele Steinberg is the wildfire division director at the NFPA. Since 2002, she has 

guided the development and growth of the Firewise USA® recognition program, the 

national Wildfire Community Preparedness Day campaign, and Outthink WildfireTM, 

a policy initiative to end the destruction of communities by wildfire. She also serves 

as secretary on the volunteer Board of Directors of the International Association 

of Wildland Fire and on the presidential Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management 

Commission.

Source: Michele Steinberg

Deputy Chief Rick Swan

IAFF

Spending the last 7 years as director of operational services for the IAFF, he was 

responsible for developing knowledge and codes/standards and provided field 

education and training within the fire service so that firefighters can understand 

and control their health and safety. He has been a member of several NFPA and 

International Organization for Standardization standards committees for over 20 

years and chairs the NFPA Correlating Committee for Fire and Emergency Services 

Protective Clothing and Equipment. Rick spent 33 years at CAL FIRE, retiring as 

deputy chief in San Luis Obispo, and has almost 40 years of service as a union 

leader for the IAFF and CAL FIRE Local 2881, representing the over 7,000 women 

and men of CAL FIRE.

Source: Rick Swan
144 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

Adam K. Thiel

Fire Commissioner

City of Philadelphia Fire Department

Adam K. Thiel became the 20th commissioner of the Philadelphia Fire Department 

in May 2016 and is responsible for leading its 3,000+ members in every facet of 

protecting the city from fires and emergencies arising from all hazards. Thiel also 

served as Director of the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management from 2019-

2022. He has over 30 years of government, private sector, and nonprofit experience 

spanning five states. Before coming to Philadelphia, he held posts including 

Deputy Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security for the Commonwealth 

of Virginia, and Chief of the Fire Department in Alexandria, Virginia. Thiel earned 

a master’s degree in cities from the London School of Economics, a master’s in 

public administration from George Mason University, and has completed doctoral 

coursework in both public administration and public policy. He is an Aspen Institute 

Health Innovators Fellow, an Eisenhower USA Fellow, and a Leadership Philadelphia 

Fellow.

Source: https://www.phila.gov/departments/philadelphia-fire-department/
Appendix D: Summit Media 145

Appendix D: Summit Media

Media advisory

October 3, 2022

USFA to Host Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), a component of the Federal Emergency 

Management Agency (FEMA), in partnership with the National Fallen Firefighters 

Foundation (NFFF), will host the U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention 

and Control: State of Science on Oct. 11, 2022, from 1 to 6 p.m. EDT.

The summit marks the 75th anniversary of the 1947 President Truman Conference 

on Fire Prevention and Control that launched the America Burning report and 

established the USFA. Many of the outcomes from the original Truman Conference 

hold true today. For example, as outlined in the original Truman Conference 

Proceedings Report:

The nation’s fire problem is exacerbated by (A) the indifference with which 

some Americans confront the subject; (B) the nation’s failure to undertake 

enough research and development into fire and fire-related problems; (C) 

the scarcity of reliable data and information; (D) the fact that designers and 

purchasers of buildings and products generally give insufficient attention to 

fire safety; (E) the fact that many communities lack adequate building and fire 

prevention codes.

“In 2022, the climate crisis fuels more frequent, destructive and deadly wildfire. In 

addition to the growing burdens of wildfire, the demands on our nation’s local fire 

departments continue to increase, further exacerbating daily fire impacts on all our 

communities. Thus far in 2022, fires have killed more than 1,600 people nationwide. 

Additionally, firefighters pay a high price with 73 firefighters killed on duty so far 

this year,” said USFA Fire Administrator Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell.

“The NFFF is proud to work with the USFA in providing an opportunity for the fire 

service — and more importantly, the public — to understand the impact of fire 

on communities across the country,” said NFFF Executive Director Chief Ronald J. 

Siarnicki.

A first-of-its-kind livestreaming event from the National Emergency Training Center 

in Emmitsburg, Maryland, the Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and 

Control: State of Science features presentations from the country’s most prominent 

fire service leaders and researchers. The livestream event is 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.

The first 2 speakers for the State of Science are Philadelphia Fire Department 

Commissioner Adam Thiel and the City of New York Fire Department’s Acting Chief 

of Training Frank Leeb. Both cities began 2022 with structure fires that killed 17 

and 12 people, respectively. They will discuss the impact of those fires on their 

communities and fire departments.
146 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

Viewers of the livestream will then be introduced to topics such as the risks 

associated with the evolution of high-risk structures like lithium-ion energy storage 

facilities and massive shipping warehouses with robotic technology. The livestream 

event will also cover the training that structural firefighters need to respond to the 

new hazards associated with wildfires in the urban interface. It will highlight the 

recruitment and retention challenges faced by fire departments across the nation. 

Nationally renowned researchers will discuss the impact of the growing number 

and intensity of fires on the physical and mental health of firefighters, including the 

prevalence of cancer and suicide among the ranks.

Register for the livestreaming event here: www.firehero.org/USFA-Summit/

Confirmed State of Science speakers

ĵ Dr. Jeff Burgess, University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public 

Health

ĵ Chief John S. Butler, Fairfax County (VA) Fire and Rescue Department

ĵ Dr. Kenneth Fent, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

ĵ Karl Fippinger, International Code Council

ĵ Chief Brita Horn, Rock Creek (CO) Volunteer Fire Department

ĵ Dr. Sara Jahnke, Center for Fire, Rescue & EMS Health Research

ĵ Dr. Steve Kerber, Fire Safety Research Institute

ĵ Deputy Assistant Chief Frank Leeb, City of New York Fire Department

ĵ Dr. Susan M. Moore, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

ĵ Patrick Morrison, International Association of Fire Fighters

ĵ Chief John H. Oates, International Public Safety Data Institute

ĵ Chief Shane Ray, National Fire Sprinkler Association

ĵ Dr. Denise L. Smith, Health and Human Physiological Sciences, Skidmore College

ĵ Rick Swan, International Association of Fire Fighters

ĵ Michele Steinberg, National Fire Protection Association

ĵ Commissioner Adam K. Thiel, City of Philadelphia Fire Department

ĵ About the U.S. Fire Administration

The USFA was established by Public Law 93-498, the Federal Fire Prevention 

and Control Act of 1974. The act called for the establishment of the National Fire 

Academy to advance the professional development of fire service personnel and 

others engaged in fire prevention and control activities. The act also called for a 

national system for the collection, analysis and dissemination of fire data necessary 

to assist local fire departments to establish research and action priorities. The 

USFA, as a component of FEMA, has a mission to support and strengthen fire and 

emergency medical services and stakeholders to prepare for, prevent, mitigate and 

respond to all hazards.

About the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation

Congress created the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to lead a nationwide 

effort to honor America’s fallen firefighters. Since 1992, the non-profit Foundation 

has developed and expanded programs that fulfill that mandate. Our mission 

is to honor America’s fallen fire heroes; support their families, colleagues, and 

organizations; and work to reduce preventable firefighter death and injury. www.

firehero.org.
Appendix D: Summit Media 147

Contact information:

ĵ FEMA Jeremy Edwards at jeremy.edwards@fema.dhs.gov

ĵ USFA Teresa Neal at teresa.neal@fema.dhs.gov

ĵ NFFF Kelly Lynch at klynch@firehero.org

Social media samples
148 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings
Appendix D: Summit Media 149
150 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings
Appendix D: Summit Media 151

Articles

NFPA Journal: Fall 2022

Call To Action

A first ever USFA summit on fire prevention puts the nation’s fire problem in 

sharp focus 

By Lorraine Carli

Cancer, behavioral health, recruitment and retention, and resources for firefighting 

in the wildland urban interface were just a few of the fire service-related issues 

addressed at a recent event designed to highlight the most pressing aspects of the 

nation’s fire problem.

The Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control, presented by the 

U.S. Fire Administration and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, brought 

together an array of fire service stakeholders, including NFPA, to identify critical 

issues and present possible solutions to those problems. The historic, first-ofits-kind event was held in October during the 100th anniversary of NFPA’s Fire 

Prevention Week. This year also marked the 75th anniversary of the Conference on 

Fire Prevention, an event spearheaded by President Harry S. Truman to highlight 

the nation’s fire problem. 

Watch a video of last month’s USFA summit event

President Joseph Biden addressed the group virtually to express his appreciation. 

“On behalf of my own family and every American, I just want to [say] again: Thank 

you, thank you, thank you. Fires will always be a fact of human life. And when the 

worst happens, when those alarms go off, when everything and everybody you love 

is in danger, there’s no better sight in the world than that firefighter who’s ready to 

go to work.”

The Summit included two key components: a national roundtable between fire 

service leaders and Biden administration officials, and a live-streamed “State of 

Science” featuring presentations on fire issues by some of the most prominent 

fire-science experts in the United States. 

 The roundtable was moderated by US Fire Administrator Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell 

and included Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas 

(virtual), Deputy Secretary John Tien, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, and 

Special Assistant to the President Director Caitlin Durkovich. The discussion 

produced six big-picture asks of the administration. 

ĵ Chief Donna Black from Duck, North Carolina, who is also President of the 

International Association of Fire Chiefs, spoke about the need to provide proper 

training and equipment for firefighters nationwide to battle wildfires in the 

wildland urban interface, or WUI. 

ĵ Chief Kevin Quinn from Union Fire District in Rhode Island, who also serves 

as first vice chair of the National Volunteer Fire Council, presented a plan to 

address the shortage of career and volunteer firefighters across the country and 

to make the fire service more diverse by investing in a national apprenticeship 

program. 
152 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

ĵ Ed Kelly, general president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, 

asked that the federal government establish a comprehensive firefighter 

cancer strategy, invest in research, provide access to cancer screening for all 

firefighters, and reduce and ultimately eliminate PFAS exposure. 

ĵ Chief Ernie Mitchell, former U.S. Fire Administrator and representative of the 

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, discussed the efforts needed to prevent 

firefighters dying by suicide and to address the mental health needs of first 

responders. He also spoke of the need to elevate the fire service within the 

federal government to work side-by-side with other agencies working to protect 

and serve communities.

ĵ NFPA President and CEO Jim Pauley closed out the panel by saying that the 

way to create safer communities is by implementing and enforcing codes and 

standards, especially in the WUI and in underserved and vulnerable populations 

by providing affordable and fire-safe housing. He implored the federal 

government to incentivize compliance by providing funding to local jurisdictions 

for code implementation, inspection, and enforcement, urging that all federally 

funded construction projects be required to comply with the most current fire 

and building codes and that federal housing assistance be tied to the use and 

compliance of the most current fire, life safety, electrical, and building codes. 

He further asked that that government make investments in retrofitting public 

housing with fire sprinkler systems and to ensure all public housing units are 

equipped with working smoke alarms that are installed and maintained to the 

relevant codes and standards. 

ĵ The State of Science presentations provided rich background on the specific 

asks to the federal officials during the morning roundtable, starting with Adam 

Thiel, commissioner of the Philadelphia Fire Department, and Frank Leeb, acting 

chief of training for the City of New York Fire Department. The two cities began 

2022 with devastating structure fires that killed 17 and 12 people, respectively. 

Other presentations addressed the increasing frequency and intensity of 

wildfires in the WUI; firefighter training, recruitment, and retention needs; and 

the current physical and mental health toll experienced by firefighters, including 

the prevalence of cancer and suicide.

Dr. Moore-Merrell’s charge to government, presenters, and attendees was to 

embrace these challenges and support efforts to address them. “Collectively, we 

can save lives and property and preserve the nation’s infrastructure for future 

generations and protect our responders,” she said.

The Road Ahead

Summit participants were left with a handful of key takeaways that should serve as 

motivation for action, starting with the fact that the nation has a fire problem.

That broad point was illustrated by Dr. Moore-Merrell, who opened the event with 

a poignant explanation of the significance of June 8, 2022 — the only day during the 

nine months leading up to the summit when no one died in a home fire somewhere 

in the US. On every other day, at least one person died in a fire at home. Steve 

Kerber, executive director of UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute, underscored this 

observation by saying that we have the least amount of time to escape a fire in our 

homes than at any other point in history. And for every fire that receives public 
Appendix D: Summit Media 153

attention, thousands more occur each day with little acknowledgement or media 

attention, yet with similar tragic devastation. The underlying circumstances noted 

in many of these fires — changing demographics of neighborhoods, inequity in 

housing, lack of public awareness of safety, complacency towards fire, and deficient 

code compliance — provide important insights into how to reduce future losses in 

this country. While there has been a significant reduction in loss over the last four 

decades, the largest decreases occurred more than 20 years ago, and in recent 

years the trendline has been fairly flat.

Those are the kinds of characteristics sound eerily familiar to anyone who has read 

the proceedings from the 1947 Turman event which read in part “The nation’s fire 

problem is exacerbated by the indifference with which some Americans confront 

the subject; the nation’s failure to undertake enough research and development 

into fire and fire-related problems; the scarcity of reliable data and information;  

the fact that designers and purchasers of buildings and products generally give 

insufficient attention to fire safety; [and] the fact that many communities lack 

adequate building and fire prevention codes.”

Nowhere in the modern version of this problem is the situation more acute 

than in the wildland urban interface. WUI fires increasingly contain the threat of 

becoming suburban or urban conflagrations, vast fires capable of destroying entire 

communities at any time during the year. Climate volatility, land use and building 

practices, and population shifts have put large swaths of the public, as well as the 

first responders who serve those people, in harm’s way. According to the latest 

NFPA Needs Assessment, structural firefighters are ill-equipped and ill-trained for 

this reality. Wildfire prevention and mitigation have been conducted predominantly 

through voluntary action, but to more rapidly impact this crisis, we need to change 

how we build and where we build. We need to bring the public, first responders, 

and policymakers together to make wildfire policy and regulatory changes.

In the face of these immense challenges, the health of the nation’s fire service 

needs greater attention. Cancer and behavioral health concerns are becoming more 

prevalent across both the volunteer and career ranks. While we know more about 

these issues than we did before, there is much more to do to better understand the 

risks to physical and mental health associated with the job and to provide adequate 

resources to address those risks. Additionally, there is a significant fire service 

staffing challenge. Covid, civil unrest, active shooters, and mass casualty events are 

contributing to a decline in recruitment and retention, as well as to a less-diverse 

workforce in both career and volunteer departments. Meanwhile, the number of 

calls to fire departments around the country has tripled over the last 30 years. 

Finally, this event brought together fire service leaders who spoke with one voice on 

behalf of the entire fire service community.  This united approach and collaborative 

spirit provide an opportunity to further reduce loss from fire. A recent NFPA study 

found that the most successful recipe for fire safety in the built environment is the 

implementation of fire safety technologies through mandated codes and standards, 

enforced through a strong system of checks and balances. Supporting this finding, 

the NFPA Fire & Life Safety EcosystemTM is a framework of eight interconnected 

elements that work together to advance safety. The ecosystem includes 

policymakers setting the right regulatory framework; jurisdictions using the most 

updated codes and standards; applying all of the standards, including referenced 

standards; prioritizing safety across the board; promoting the development of 

skilled workers in the design, installation, inspection and ongoing maintenance; 
154 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

supporting effective code enforcement; providing effective preparedness and 

response capabilities; and educating the public on the dangers posed by these 

hazards. Every component of the ecosystem is essential; when one or more 

elements is missing or ignored, tragedies can occur. This framework can provide a 

path forward against fire and a range of related challenges.

Source: https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Publications-and-media/NFPAJournal/2022/Fall-2022/Features/Summit-online-only

FireRescue1 by Lexipol

November 14, 2022

USFA summit highlights fire groups ‘singing off the same sheet of music’

Recent actions (and cautious optimism) suggest a finely tuned performance ahead 

from our fire service organizations

By Billy Goldfeder

I was recently privileged to be invited to the U.S. Fire Administrator’s 2022 Summit 

on Fire Prevention and Control. Now to be honest, by nature of my age and refusal 

to go away, I’ve been honored to participate in many of these “where are we going” 

national forums and discussions on the future of the fire service. Some have 

mattered, and some have not.

So, before I detail more about this one, I want to share one example from the event 

where I think we may be getting it right. While there are many common challenges 

to all aspects of the fire service, one comment provided me with a real “aha 

moment.”

During introductions of the leadership panel, National Volunteer Fire Council First 

Vice-Chair Kevin Quinn commented about some differences in the fire service, 

specifically the very real volunteer challenges these days. To this IAFF General 

President Ed “Edzo” Kelly responded, “I don’t think we have that many differences, 

and we certainly have a whole lot of common challenges that we will work on 

together.” And Kevin smiled and affirmed Edzo’s comments.

The Summit on Fire Prevention and Control focused on the nation’s fire problem 

and the needs of the fire and emergency medical responders.

BAM!

The fact that the leader of the largest firefighters’ labor union and the leader of 

the nation’s volunteer firefighters publicly agreed that solving our many common 

problems will require a team effort is a phenomenal place to start.

COMMON GROUND ISSUES

Just take a look at the primary challenges facing America’s firefighters today (and in 

the future):

ĵ Training and PPE for those working in the wildland/urban (suburban) interface

ĵ Recruitment and retention

ĵ Occupational cancer

ĵ Firefighter behavioral health

ĵ Elevation of the fire service — federal policy development and prioritization

ĵ Codes and standards to protect the public and firefighters
Appendix D: Summit Media 155

If you are issued bunker gear, every one of the above issues impacts you. Every 

single one. 

Recruitment: The volunteer fire service is in serious trouble, but we are also seeing 

measurably less interest in people applying to be career firefighters.

Retention: Keeping volunteers with increased call load, time restraint and 

requirements? In so many areas, career firefighters are moving to other 

departments or leaving the service all together for a variety of reasons, including 

working conditions, pay and leadership challenges.

Behavioral health: Firefighter wellness, mental health, PTSD and suicide — hardly 

a strictly career or volunteer issue.

Cancer: There is not a firefighter in America, career or volunteer, who doesn’t know 

another brother or sister who has or had ... or is dealing with it themselves.

Hopefully I’ve made my point, as Edzo certainly made his.

If the leaders of the primary fire service organizations — IAFF, IAFC, NVFC, NFPA, 

NFFF and CFSI, and many other organizations leaders who were represented — 

maintain their commitment to actually work together, under Dr. Moore-Merrell’s 

support and energy, and commit to actually work together, they will (without 

question) be more powerful than if they work by themselves, and they will impact 

the critical issues threatening our nation’s fire service.

BREAKING DOWN OUR CHALLENGES

In 1947, President Harry S. Truman convened the first National Conference on fire 

prevention, life safety and control activities. Seventy-five years later, the USFA 

continued this tradition with this Summit on Fire Prevention and Control.

The summit focused on the nation’s fire problem and the needs of the fire and 

emergency medical responders. It served as an opportunity to engage national 

leadership, evaluate the state of science, and collaborate to set forth actionable steps 

that can be taken. There are numerous well-defined and organized working groups 

that are breaking down the issues and developing plans to go forward. This is NOT 

a “meet and go” scenario where a report sits on a shelf. This is a “meet, work and 

do more work” scenario until realistic and funded solutions are identified. Multiple 

solutions to some very tough problems. Further, the Summit was only the beginning 

of work that will lead to reports and deliverables at the 2023 U.S. Fire Administrator’s 

Summit, which is to be held annually during October Fire Prevention Week.

During the summit, the energy was palpable by participants eager to actually take on 

these issues, because every one of them knows these are very real problems. And 

while we had President Joe Biden join us and address the group virtually, his positive 

and supportive words of encouragement were great, no different than a highly 

motivating coach — it all comes down to how we perform together moving forward.

Imagine your favorite band performing but each musician playing “their own way.” 

That is often what our fire service looks like. Sure, it may sound good on occasion 

(especially during a solo), but imagine how great it would sound if the musicians 

practiced together. While each musician is different in their own sound (just like 

the differences among career, combination, volunteer, urban, rural, suburban 

departments, etc.), when they come together, they will almost always get a standing 

ovation, and cheers for more.
156 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

That’s the very doable potential of the U.S. Fire Administrator’s 2022 Summit on Fire 

Prevention and Control, as long as those involved focus not only on their own issues 

but also the big national picture so that we all benefit — and the public, too. There is a 

whole lot of work ahead, and if we stay focused and genuinely work together, we will 

see a much stronger nationally united fire service, with some great sounding music.

Source: https://www.firerescue1.com/leadership/articles/usfa-summit-highlightsfire-groups-singing-off-the-same-sheet-of-music-kdzntA2yPWqJ8OtS/

Firehouse

October 11, 2022

Biden Praises FFs During Address to USFA Fire Prevention and Control Summit 

Attendees

President Joe Biden was the first president since Harry Truman to address the 

conference.

By Susie Nicol

EMMITSBURG, MD — President Joe Biden lauded America’s firefighters Tuesday 

during a virtual address to attendees of the U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire 

Prevention and Control.

He is the first president since Harry Truman to speak to officials gathered to address 

the nation’s fire problem. 

“ Cancer is a leading killer of firefighters. Toxic substances you’ve been exposed 

to as part of your job are almost certainly — certainly connected to those cancer 

diagnoses.  And we’re doing — we’re going to do something about it. The Cancer 

Moonshot is bringing together every part of our government to cut cancer 

death rates in half and to end cancer as we know it, including by addressing 

environmental and toxic exposures to prevent cancer,” Biden said.

“I’m determined — I’m absolutely determined to make sure you have the gear that 

protects you without making you or your family sick. And I’m urging Congress to 

send to my desk the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act — let me say it again: the 

Federal Firefighters Fairness Act — which are going to help federal firefighters and 

their families assess critical worker compensation resources, including making sure 

that several forms of cancer are presumed to be caused — presumed to be caused 

by the firefighter’s job...” 

The president also pointed out he is aware of impact that climate change is having. 

“You know, the Inflation Reduction Act enables us to take unprecedented steps to 

confront climate crisis, which is going to protect forest health, reduce fire risk, and 

supercharge our clean energy future.”

Technology also is being tapped to help keep firefighters safe. “We’re using the 

Department of Defense’s satellite imagery to detect wildfires in their early stages so 

firefighters have a better chance to suppress the fires early before they can impact 

on local communities. And we’re working to help it — we’re working to help educate 

the public on basic fire safety, like preparing fire escape plans, testing smoke and 

carbon monoxide alarms monthly and replacing those alarms every 10 years.  This 

is the simple steps we can take to save lives.”
Appendix D: Summit Media 157

The president lamented that he couldn’t attend the summit. But was quick to add 

he was happy to speak with fire service leaders. 

“Look, on behalf of my own family and every American, I just want to close by 

saying again: Thank you, thank you, thank you. Fires will always be a fact of human 

life.  And when the worst happens, when those alarms go off, when everything 

and everybody you love is in danger, there’s no better sight in the world than that 

firefighter who’s ready to go to work. So, thank you for being who you are.  Thank 

you for all the heroes you represent.

U.S. Fire Administrator Lori Moore-Merrell was ecstatic that Biden spoke to the 

group. She called his address historic, noting that no president since 1947 has taken 

the time to listen to their concerns.

 Fire service leaders briefed Homeland Security Leadership, FEMA and the 

Administration on the critical issues facing the fire service and our nation.”

She said the fire service needs to have a strong, single voice to bring about change.

“We gather at this National Roundtable from different organizations, but today we 

stand together as a unified fire service.”

While some issues may take time to resolve, some can happen immediately, she 

pointed out.

June 8 was a historic day this year. “That’s because June 8 was the only day that 

there were no known reported civilian home fire fatalities,” she said, adding that on 

every other day this year someone died.

“Some of these tragedies make the evening news...like the Jan. 5 fire in Philadelphia 

that killed 12 people, among them nine children”

But, she noted, many other fatal fires don’t make the headlines. And, she said, many 

were preventable. 

She said that firefighters need to “do a better job to ensure that no more lives are 

taken by fires that could have been prevented if the codes and standards that are in 

place were enforced.”

Among the topics addressed included how climate change affects the fire service 

and impacts firefighters who don’t have sufficient gear or training.

“We are facing the fire problem in America with fewer firefighters than we need,” 

she noted.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said firefighters 

once again demonstrated their bravery recently as they responded to the needs of 

residents whose lives were disrupted and destroyed by Hurricane Ian. 

During Mayorkas’ virtual address, he said he learned of some challenges during a 

meeting with the International Association of Fire Chiefs leadership including issues 

dealing the delivery of vital equipment including ballistic vests.

Mayorkas said he is concerned about the rising number of responders diagnosed 

with cancer.
158 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

“You all take care of us, and we must take care of you,” he said.

Among the priority topics are climate change and wildfire fires, firefighter 

recruitment and retention, firefighter cancer, firefighter behavioral health support/

parity with law enforcement, and codes, standards and enforcement.

Firefighter Recruitment and Retention: Chief Kevin Quinn, first vice-chair, 

National Volunteer Fire Council, said there are a number of reasons why there’s 

a decline in people interested in joining the fire service. Among them he said are 

civil unrest, active shooters and mass casualty events. “Both career and volunteer 

departments are affected by this.”

“In Minneapolis, for instance, the fire department normally receives about 2,500 

applications per year. But this year, they received only 700 applications,” he said.

Quinn suggested investing in a national apprenticeship program to address the 

shortage of firefighters and to make the fire service more diverse and inclusive.

“The fire service occupies a unique place in American society — trusted and often 

welcomed. We need to do everything we can, on every level of government, to 

attract firefighters to serve their communities.”

Firefighter Cancer: IAFF General President Edward Kelly pointed to disturbing 

statistics about firefighters being diagnosed with cancer. 

“Recently, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research of 

Cancer declared a firefighter’s occupational exposure at the highest level, as a Class 

1 threat.”

He added that research must be expanded to define the connection between 

exposures and genetic mutations. 

“We ask the federal government to establish a comprehensive firefighter cancer 

strategy that invests in research, provides access to cancer screening for all...” Kelly 

said.

He is very concerned about carcinogens in bunker gear. “The very gear we rely on to 

protect us is making us sick. Next generation PPE must be developed.”

Climate Change and Wildfire: IAFC President and Duck, NC, Chief Donna Black 

explained how climate change is affecting how firefighters do their jobs. 

“As climate change drives extremes in weather, we see extremes emerging in our 

nation’s fire problem,” she said adding that fires in the wildland and wildland-urban 

interface are larger and more destructive.”

Chief Black said some of these destructive fires are not limited to what many used 

to consider as wildfire season. “The Marshall fire in Colorado burned 6,000 acres, 

destroyed more than 1,000 homes and businesses and caused over $500 million in 

damages in December.”

She added that structural firefighters are finding entire neighborhoods ablaze or 

threatened. Training and equipment must be provided to volunteer and career 

personnel. 
Appendix D: Summit Media 159

Water issues also have reached critical levels in some areas. “Limited water for 

firefighting is not something that may happen someday. It is happening now, today,” 

she said.

Behavioral Health Support/Parity with Law Enforcement: Former US Fire 

Administrator Ernie Mitchell said another issue facing the service is the increasing 

number of firefighters dying by suicide and suffering from mental health issues.

As a NFFF Board Member, Mitchell said recent statistics show firefighter suicides are 

estimated to be at least 100 annually. 

“We are responsible for protecting those who protect us by investing in their mental 

health, including collecting accurate data,” he said.

In January, the FBI launched a collection agency to track suicides of law enforcement 

officers. “Federal agencies have poured millions of dollars into addressing the 

suicide problem for our colleagues in blue, but there is no comparable effort for the 

fire service.”

He said all responders should receive the same support as the men and women in 

blue.

Codes, Standards and Enforcement: James Pauley, President of National Fire 

Protection Association, the enforcement of fire codes is essential to saving lives. 

“Fire disproportionately impacts our most vulnerable populations -- older adults, 

children, people of color, low-income populations and people with disabilities. 

This an equity issue. Safe housing and affordable housing should not be manually 

exclusive concepts,” he said.

He said three out of five home fire deaths occur in homes without smoke alarms 

or ones that fail to operate. Resources should be provided to retrofit housing units 

with hardwired or long-life battery powered detectors.

Source: https://www.firehouse.com/operations-training/news/21283388/myriad-ofissues-and-solutions-discussed-by-at-usfa-fire-prevention-and-control-summit

Homeland Security Today

October 14, 2022

Historic U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit Tackles Challenges, Opportunities 

for Fire Service

Biden told the gathered fire professionals that “when the impacts of climate change are 

becoming increasingly evident, we’re calling on you more and more and more.”

By Bridget Johnson

Fire service and homeland security leaders discussed issues ranging from wildfires 

in the wildland-urban interface and improving firefighter safety to fostering more 

diverse and inclusive fire departments at the U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on 

Fire Prevention and Control on Tuesday at the National Emergency Training Center 

in Emmitsburg, Md.
160 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

“I can’t begin to tell you how very important this summit is,” U.S. Fire Administrator 

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell said, calling the event “historic” after a morning roundtable 

that included Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security John Tien, National Security 

Council Senior Director for Resilience and Response Caitlin Durkovich, and FEMA 

Administrator Deanne Criswell. “We’ve identified some very real issues and we have 

a lot of work yet to do.”

The summit marked the 75th anniversary of President Truman’s Conference on Fire 

Prevention and Control in 1947 that launched the “America Burning” report and 

established the U.S. Fire Administration. The livestreamed event also kicked off the 

100th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week.

Summit discussions focused on preparing for the impacts of climate change on 

fire departments, investing in a national apprenticeship program to grow the 

ranks of the fire service, establishing a comprehensive strategy to address cancer 

in firefighters, providing behavioral health and suicide prevention initiatives for 

firefighters, enforcing codes and standards to ensure more housing is better 

protected from fire, and involving the fire service in developing federal policy to 

ensure parity with law enforcement.

Ron Siarnicki, Executive Director of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and 

Retired Chief of the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department, said that the 

foundation “is very proud to work side-by-side with the U.S. Fire Administration 

on so many projects, but especially in providing this opportunity for the American 

fire service and more importantly the individuals who are working to keep our 

communities safe.”

“All of us owe it to those who have lost a firefighter to do all in our power to prevent 

another firefighter from dying and to prevent the public from suffering any loss 

from such occurrence,” Siarnicki said.

Siarnicki praised Moore-Merrell as “a longtime champion for firefighter health and 

safety.”

“Every day Dr. Moore-Merrell demonstrates her commitment to protecting the 

nation from fire, helping firefighters hear learn about the training tools available 

and the equipment they need to do their job effectively,” he said. “And she does all 

she can to ensure that every firefighter goes home at the end of their tour of duty.”

President Biden addressed the summit by video, noting to the gathered fire 

professionals that “when the impacts of climate change are becoming increasingly 

evident, we’re calling on you more and more and more.”

“Extreme heat and prolonged drought have turned wildfire season into wildfire 

years,” he said. “And local firefighters are being called in more to respond to the 

fires in the wildland urban interface where we’re moving out into the forest areas to 

develop and it becomes local and federal.”

Biden said the administration “is doing everything we can to make sure you have 

the resources you need to do your job as safely and effectively and efficiently 

as possible” including increasing federal firefighting grants to fund more local 

firefighters, emergency response vehicles, and sets of turnout gear.

The International Association of Fire Fighters and the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs 

Association recently warned firefighters about health risks, including increased risk 

of liver and kidney cancers, linked to PFAS chemicals in their protective gear.
Appendix D: Summit Media 161

“Cancer is a leading killer of firefighters. Toxic substances you’ve been exposed 

to as part of your job are almost certainly — certainly connected to those cancer 

diagnoses,” Biden said. “And we’re doing — we’re going to do something about it,” 

including recently creating a special claims unit at the Department of Labor “to 

ensure that they’re processing federal firefighters’ cancer claims quickly.”

“I’m absolutely determined to make sure you have the gear that protects you 

without making you or your family sick,” he added.

The president said the administration is “doing everything we can to ease the 

burden on our firefighters by preventing fires” while “also maximizing protections 

for people when fires do break out, through a national initiative to help states, 

local, and tribal and territorial governments adapt and adopt the most up-to-date 

building codes that reflect the threats from climate change.”

“We’re using the Department of Defense’s satellite imagery to detect wildfires in 

their early stages so firefighters have a better chance to suppress the fires early 

before they can impact on local communities,” he continued. “And we’re working to 

help educate the public on basic fire safety, like preparing fire escape plans, testing 

smoke and carbon monoxide alarms monthly and replacing those alarms every 10 

years. This is the simple steps we can take to save lives.”

Biden thanked those in the fire service “on behalf of my own family and every 

American,” because “when the worst happens, when those alarms go off, when 

everything and everybody you love is in danger, there’s no better sight in the world 

than that firefighter who’s ready to go to work.”

Source: https://www.hstoday.us/featured/historic-u-s-fire-administrators-summittackles-challenges-opportunities-for-fire-service/

UL Research Institutes

November 2, 2022

UL Research Institutes Joins U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire 

Prevention and Control

On Oct. 11, 2022, The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), a component of the Federal 

Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), 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 American Burning Report and established the USFA. 

“In 2022, the climate crisis fuels more frequent, destructive and deadly wildfires. In 

addition to the growing burdens of wildfire, the demands on our nation’s local fire 

departments continue to increase, further exacerbating daily fire impacts on all our 

communities,” said Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, U.S. fire administrator. “We gather at this 

national roundtable from different organizations, but today we stand together as 

a unified fire service,” she added, stressing the need for the fire service to have a 

strong, single voice to bring about change.

Among those in attendance at this historic event were UL Research Institutes’ 

(ULRI) chief research officer, Chris Cramer, and Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) 

executive director, Steve Kerber alongside representatives from the International 
162 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Center for Fire, 

Rescue & EMS Health Research (CFREHR), Philadelphia Fire Department, City of New 

York Fire Department and other notable fire safety organizations. 

Speakers presented about topics critical to the fire service and safety, including 

research, codes and standards, climate change, wildfire, recruitment, retention and 

health. Dr. Kerber was among those chosen to present, and he described how new 

technology and changes in today’s homes and furnishings have made fires more 

deadly than in the past. He further emphasized the fire environment and society 

continue to evolve and create new fire safety challenges in the world. “Evolutions 

will continue. We can’t let them continue to outpace safety,” said Kerber.

Several FSRI Advisory Board members also featured prominently on the agenda. 

Noting that the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on 

Cancer recently classified firefighting as a known human carcinogen, Dr. Kenneth 

Fent, a research industrial hygienist at NIOSH, called for firefighter participation 

in a new data collection effort called the National Firefighter Registry (NFR), which 

aims to generate detailed knowledge about cancer in the fire service to reduce the 

disease’s incidence. Dr. Denise Smith, a professor at Skidmore College in New York 

and a research scientist at the University of Illinois Fire Service Institute, discussed 

the reasons firefighters also have a higher risk of heart disease. According to Smith, 

firefighters should be screened for cardiovascular disease and receive preventive 

fitness and wellness programs. Commissioner Adam K. Thiel, City of Philadelphia 

Fire Department, shared valuable insights into the far-reaching impact the fire 

service makes in their community. “The United States has a fire problem. America is 

still burning.” said Thiel. “We can do better. We must do better. And we cannot do it 

alone. Fire is everyone’s fight.”

In a virtual address to the Summit, United States president, Joe Biden, underscored 

how many of the outcomes from the original Truman Conference still hold true 

today. “Extreme heat and prolonged drought are turning wildfire season into 

wildfire years. And local firefighters are being called on more and more to respond 

to the fires in the wildland urban interface (WUI),” said Biden. “I want you to know 

we’re doing everything we can to make sure you have the resources you need to do 

your job as safely and efficient as possible.”

FSRI’s extensive research and evidence-based insights will continue to inform what 

evolutions in strategies and tactics may be needed to address the nation’s fire 

problems. Following the Summit, Dr. Kerber was among those leaders gathered 

from research, national organizations and governmental affairs to discuss ways to 

collaboratively advance six critical fire safety needs requested by federal officials, 

which included: 

ĵ Improving parity with law enforcement in policy development

ĵ Investing in a national apprenticeship program to address shortages and 

diversity

ĵ Providing behavioral health resources to the fire service

ĵ Preparing firefighters for climate-driven increases in wildfires in the wildland 

urban interface  

ĵ Implementing and enforcing codes and standards for fire-safe housing

ĵ Establishing a comprehensive firefighter cancer strategy 
Appendix D: Summit Media 163

Under Moore-Merrell’s guidance, six task groups were formed to address these 

urgent issues and this week a landing page was published that highlights the issues 

in more detail and features a recorded video of the State of Science presentations 

delivered during the Summit. The task groups are charting a path forward for each 

area of concentration and will turn to the USFA’s Fire and Life Safety Communicators 

Initiative (FLSCI) to develop a strategy for message delivery, promotion and 

amplification over the coming weeks, months and years. FSRI is represented on 

three of the task groups and FSRI’s director of research amplification, Zoe Susice, 

represents FSRI on the FLSCI and is a member of the messaging committee that will 

lead the initiative’s efforts in this area.

Appendix E: National Emergency Training Center (E Auditorium) 165

Appendix E: National Emergency 

Training Center (E Auditorium): Site 

of the 2022 U.S. Fire Administrator’s 

Summit on Fire Prevention and 

Control

Appendix F: National Roundtable Briefing Document 167

Appendix F: National Roundtable 

Briefing Document
2022 U.S. Fire Administrator’s 

Summit on Fire Prevention 

and Control

A National Roundtable

October 11, 2022

National Emergency Training Center

Emmitsburg, Maryland
Table of Contents i

Welcome Letter

Welcome to the 2022 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and 

Control. You are taking part in a historic meeting of governmental offi cials, notable 

fi re service leaders, and expert scientists, gathered with the collective purpose of 

combating the fi re problem in America and keeping fi refi ghters safe and healthy. 

The federal government’s involvement in fi re protection began with President 

Woodrow Wilson’s fi rst proclamation of fi re prevention week in 1922. Today, as we 

commemorate that proclamation’s 100th anniversary, we will carry on that tradition. 

The fi re problem in America was also addressed in 1947 by President Harry S. Truman 

after several horrifi c fi res with tremendous loss of life. It is a true honor for this 

Summit to have President Truman’s grandson, Clifton Truman Daniel, with us today.

In 1968, the Fire Research and Safety Act created the National Commission on Fire 

Prevention and Control, whose mandate was to examine the nation’s fi re problem 

and formulate recommendations for improving fi re safety. This led to the formative 

1973 America Burning document, which set the course for eff orts in the latter part 

of 20th Century to reduce the eff ects of fi re. We are now nearly one-quarter of the 

way through the 21st Century, and America is still burning.

In fact, the United States continues to have the highest per capita death rate and 

property loss of all major industrialized nations. This Summit is an opportunity 

for you to join me in reducing the eff ects of fi re loss as envisioned by President 

Woodrow Wilson and President Harry S. Truman.

I challenge you to lean in and support this eff ort with all your might. Individually, we 

have limited impact. Collectively, we can save lives and property and preserve the 

nation’s infrastructure for future generations ... and protect our responders. The 

task is daunting but not insurmountable.

It is my pleasure to have you join us in our renewed eff ort to make America fi re safe, 

and I look forward to working with you to make our country a model for fi re safety 

that other nations will aspire to emulate.

Sincerely,

Lori Moore-Merrell, DrPH, MPH

U.S. Fire Administrator

U.S. Fire Administration
ii 2022 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Table of Contents

Agenda ........................................................................................................................... 1

A National Roundtable ................................................................................................ 2

Chief Donna Black, International Association of Fire Chiefs ........................... 3

Chief Kevin Quinn, National Volunteer Fire Council ......................................... 5

General President Edward Kelly, International Association of Fire Fighters ... 6

Chief Ernest Mitchell, Jr., National Fallen Firefi ghters Foundation ................. 7

Mr. James Pauley, National Fire Protection Association................................... 8

Fire Prevention and Control Fact Sheets ................................................................... 10

Impact of Climate Change .................................................................................... 11

Fire Service Apprenticeship Program ................................................................. 13

Impact of Occupational Cancer ........................................................................... 14

Impact of Behavioral Health ................................................................................ 15

Parity with Law Enforcement in Federal Policy Development ........................ 16

Impact of Codes and Standards ........................................................................... 18
A National Roundtable 1

Agenda

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell

U.S. Fire Administrator

Mr. Clifton Truman Daniel

National Roundtable

Chief Donna Black

President, International Association of Fire Chiefs

Chief Kevin Quinn

First Vice Chair, National Volunteer Fire Council

General President Edward Kelly

International Association of Fire Fighters

Chief Ernest Mitchell, Jr.

Board of Directors Member, National Fallen Firefi ghters Foundation

Former U.S. Fire Administrator

Mr. James Pauley

President and Chief Executive Offi cer, National Fire Protection Association

Presidential Proclamation of the 100th Fire Prevention Week

Closing Remarks
2 2022 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

A National Roundtable
A National Roundtable 3

Chief Donna Black

President, International Association of Fire Chiefs

I am honored to speak with you this morning. As Fire Chief of Duck, North Carolina, 

I have witnessed the eff ects of climate change. I have seen hurricane-driven storm 

surges and wind endanger our residents and visitors and damage our buildings, 

beaches, and roads.

As climate change drives extremes in weather, we see extremes emerging in our 

nation’s fi re problem. Due to climate change, more fi re departments are responding to 

an increasing number of wildland-urban interface and suburban confl agration fi res. 

The wildland-urban interface is where suburban and rural areas merge with the 

wildland. About one-third of our population lives in this built environment. My 

state ranks fourth in terms of houses in the wildland-urban interface, trailing only 

California, Texas, and Florida.

Fires in the wildland and wildland-urban interface are also larger and more 

destructive. The Western states continue to experience signifi cant impacts, 

including increases in fi res so severe that they threaten forest recovery. These fi res 

are not limited to the western U.S. — the southeast may see large fi res increase by 

300 to 400% in the next 30 years. 

Nor are these fi res limited to a season. Colorado’s Marshall Fire burned 6,000 acres, 

destroyed more than 1,000 homes and businesses, and caused over $500 million in 

damages in December, well outside the traditional wildland fi re season. 

With suburban confl agration fi res in the wildland-urban interface, structural 

fi refi ghters are not fi ghting a single-family house fi re. Instead, they are responding 

to entire neighborhoods and communities under threat. The NFPA’s needs 

assessment found that while 88% of structural fi re departments respond to 

interface fi res, only 50% have training on interface fi res involving multiple 

structures. 

This must change. We need funding to provide all fi refi ghters — career and 

volunteer — with the training and equipment necessary to meet these challenges. 

Properly equipped and trained fi refi ghters can conduct rapid fi re attack operations, 

reducing life and property loss, preserving scarce fi refi ghting resources, and 

lessening environmental impacts. 

Finally, water is a critical issue as droughts continue. Limited water for fi refi ghting 

is not something that may happen someday. It is happening now, today. In July, 

fi refi ghters in Pembroke, Massachusetts could not use their fi re hydrants because 

of a water shortage. Offi cials in Las Vegas, New Mexico announced they had 

about 20 days of water left as ash and debris from the state’s largest wildfi re 

contaminated the supply. Without readily available water, fi refi ghters may not be 

able to stop a small brush fi re from becoming a disaster.
4 2022 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

In closing, we cannot continue this cycle. Our current system, while much improved, 

cannot overcome climate change, population growth, and complex changes in 

both our society and the built environment. We must prepare all fi refi ghters for 

the climate-driven increase in wildfi res in the wildland-urban interface by 

providing them with the proper training and equipment.

Thank you again for this opportunity.
A National Roundtable 5

Chief Kevin Quinn

First Vice Chair, National Volunteer Fire Council

In my opinion, being a fi refi ghter represents one of the most signifi cant ways to 

serve a community.

Sadly, the number of people interested in becoming fi refi ghters is declining. While 

we must study why this is happening, I can share with you the challenges I’ve seen 

and heard from fi refi ghters across the country.

Over the past 2 1/2 years, there have been mass retirements in fi re departments 

due to the COVID pandemic. A number of other factors contributed to the decline in 

recruitment and retention of fi refi ghters, including civil unrest, active shooters, and 

mass casualty events. Both career and volunteer departments are aff ected by this.

In order to maintain services within their communities, fi re departments are 

requiring mandatory overtime, and they are having diffi culty recruiting and 

retaining employees. In Minneapolis, for instance, the fi re department normally 

receives about 2,500 applications per year. But this year, they received only 700 

applications.

While there has been a decline in the number of volunteer fi refi ghters over the past 

30 years, call volume has more than tripled, primarily due to increased emergency 

medical calls. Increasing time demands, time-consuming training requirements, and 

aging communities make fi nding and keeping new volunteers challenging.

The fi re service struggles to recruit and retain women and people of color. The 

most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 11.6% of career 

fi ghters were Hispanic or Latino, 8.5% were African-American, and 1.3% were 

Asian. Women represent 11% of volunteer fi refi ghters and 5% of career fi refi ghters, 

according to the NFPA’s 2022 “U.S. Fire Department Profi le” report based on 2020 

data.

As Dr. Moore-Merrell mentioned earlier, we are here to provide some solutions. 

One solution is to invest in a national apprenticeship program to address 

the shortage of fi refi ghters and to make the fi re service more diverse and 

inclusive. A fi re service apprenticeship program could mirror the Registered 

Apprenticeship Program and the Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Program 

administered by the Department of Labor. Fire departments can benefi t from 

apprenticeship programs by attracting people who might not have considered the 

fi re service originally as a career or as a way to serve their community.

The recent grants awarded under the Apprentice Building America program are 

grounded in equity, job quality, sustainability, and evidence-based practices. 

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are vital to the longevity of the fi re service, and these 

types of grants support these factors.

The fi re service occupies a unique place in American society – trusted and often 

welcomed. We need to do everything we can, on every level of government, to 

attract fi refi ghters to serve in their communities. Thank you for being here today.
6 2022 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

General President Edward Kelly

International Association of Fire Fighters 

We ask the federal government to establish a comprehensive fi refi ghter 

cancer strategy that invests in research, provides access to cancer screening 

for all fi refi ghters, and reduces and eliminates PFAS exposure.

In 2010, NIOSH found fi refi ghters have excess cancer risk compared to the general 

population for multiple cancers, including testicular, brain, prostate, colon, 

mesothelioma, multiple myeloma, and leukemia. Recently, the International Agency 

for Research on Cancer declared a fi refi ghter’s occupational exposure as “Class 1, 

threat, carcinogenic to humans.” 

Given that there is now little doubt that the higher risk is due to our occupational 

exposures, what we need now is to further understand the link between these 

exposures and cancer development. There has been some critical research into 

the connection between exposures and genetic mutations, and that research 

must continue and expand until we know enough about the impact of cancer on 

fi refi ghters. Thus far, what we are learning from science about this matter is of great 

concern to our profession. 

Second, we need access to health screenings for all fi refi ghters, throughout their 

time as a fi refi ghter and in retirement when the chronic exposures usually manifest. 

For example, fi refi ghters have a higher risk of lung cancer, yet it is often diffi cult for 

individual fi refi ghters to get lung screenings due to existing recommendations that 

do not take into account that our profession is a signifi cant risk factor for cancer. 

We must direct medical professionals and insurance companies to account for this 

occupational risk when making coverage decisions. A comprehensive, aggressive 

screening program will help us fi nd and treat cancer early, when there is a greater 

likelihood of a positive outcome.

Finally, we need to reduce PFAS exposures. Because of the slow rate in which they 

degrade, PFAS have been termed “forever chemicals.” None of the over 12,000 

types have proven to be safe. PFAS are in some foams we use to put out particularly 

diffi cult fi res and we urge action to ban the production and use of these foams, as 

they have in European countries.

PFAS accumulate in our bodies, compounds our exposures, and contribute to higher 

rates of several cancers. They can pass in utero and via breastmilk to the children of 

female fi refi ghters. And PFAS are a driver of higher rates of testicular and prostate 

cancers in male fi refi ghters.

Most concerning, our bunker gear contains PFAS. The very gear we rely on to 

protect us is making us sick. Next-generation PPE must be developed, evaluated, 

and manufactured as quickly as possible. Most departments cannot aff ord 

to replace their gear and we need to make sure that funding isn’t a barrier to 

replacement. We must also plan for the safe disposal of our existing gear. 

Time is of the essence, and we must act now. Together, we can ensure other families 

do not experience the pain we have felt.
A National Roundtable 7

Chief Ernest Mitchell, Jr.

Board of Directors Member, National Fallen Firefi ghters Foundation

As my esteemed colleagues have discussed, preventing and mitigating fi res is crucial 

to protecting the lives of citizens, and protecting fi refi ghters from a toxic environment 

is vital. Today, I want to share another issue aff ecting families and fi re departments 

across the country, the increased number of fi refi ghters dying by suicide and 

suff ering from behavioral health issues. It is our position, that we need to provide 

behavioral health resources and suicide prevention initiatives for all fi refi ghters.

According to organizations tracking the issue, the number of fi refi ghter suicides 

is estimated to be at least 100 per year. Additionally, the “Ruderman White Paper 

on Mental Health and Suicide of First Responders” noted that the suicide rate for 

fi refi ghters is 18 per 100,000 compared to 13 per 100,000 for the general public.

We are responsible for protecting those who protect us by investing in their mental 

health, including collecting accurate data. According to evidence-based research, 

behavioral health awareness campaigns provide eff ective intervention methods. It 

is our collective responsibility to provide those who serve with the tools they need 

to help themselves and each other.

The fi re service, as well as our brothers and sisters in blue, are both dealing 

with occupational-related behavioral health issues. The FBI launched the 

Law Enforcement Suicide Data Collection on January 1, 2022, to help improve 

understanding and prevent suicide among law enforcement offi cers. We applaud this 

eff ort and see this data collection as a model of what is needed in the fi re service. 

Federal agencies have poured millions of dollars into addressing the suicide problem 

for our colleagues in blue, but there is no comparable eff ort for the fi re service.

As policies and programs are developed by federal agencies on fi rst responder 

behavioral health and other topics, it is time to involve the fi re service in federal 

policy development on an equal basis with law enforcement. Nearly every 

Cabinet-level department in the federal government plays a role in addressing the 

fi re problem in America. Each has programs to address fi re safety issues in keeping 

with its specifi c mission. Our Fire Administration must be elevated to adequately 

represent the more than 1.1 million fi refi ghters serving in this country.

Where relevant issues touch law enforcement, emergency medical services (EMS), 

and the fi re service, it is essential that the federal government gives equitable 

consideration to each discipline. Initiatives addressing sustainable infrastructure, 

resiliency in the built environment, or public health initiatives cannot operate in 

silos. Public safety must be approached holistically, which requires equal support to 

all fi rst responders — the fi re service, EMS providers, and law enforcement.
8 2022 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Mr. James Pauley

President and Chief Executive Offi cer, National Fire Protection 

Association

More than 300 codes and standards infl uence fi re and life safety in the built 

environment. We can create safer communities by assisting local jurisdictions in 

implementing and enforcing these codes and standards, which will keep Americas 

safe from the “menace of fi re,” just as Mr. Daniel’s grandfather spoke of in 1947. 

State and local governments are responsible for promoting the use and 

enforcement of current codes and standards. The federal government can help 

by incentivizing compliance and providing funding to local jurisdictions for code 

implementation, inspection, and enforcement.

Proper use of life-saving technology, like smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, and 

automatic fi re sprinkler systems, is proven to save lives. All modern buildings require 

these systems, and the fi re codes must be consistently and aggressively enforced. 

In addition, we strongly urge that all federally funded construction projects be 

required to comply with current fi re and building codes and that federal housing 

assistance needs to be tied to the use and compliance of current fi re, life safety, 

electrical, and building codes. 

Fire disproportionately impacts our vulnerable populations — older adults, children, 

people of color, low-income populations, and people with disabilities. This is an equity 

issue. Safe housing and aff ordable housing should not be mutually exclusive concepts. 

Nearly a million households live in public housing units in the United States, and fi re 

safety improvements in public housing must receive heightened attention. 

In 1992, Congress passed the Federal Fire Safety Act, requiring newly constructed 

multi-family housing units to have fi re sprinklers. HUD estimates that approximately 

570,000 multi-family public housing units are still in the inventory constructed before 

the sprinkler requirement, of which a signifi cant portion still lacks fi re sprinklers. 

We must make investments in retrofi tting public housing with fi re sprinkler 

systems. An NFPA study found that in buildings with sprinkler systems the civilian 

fi re death and injury rates were 89 percent and 27 percent lower. 

Additionally, HUD must ensure all public housing units are equipped with working 

smoke alarms that are installed and maintained under the relevant codes and 

standards. 

Nearly three out of fi ve home fi re deaths are caused by fi res in properties without 

smoke alarms or smoke alarms that failed to operate. HUD must provide resources 

to public housing authorities to either retrofi t housing units with hardwired smoke 

alarms or require the installation of tamper-resistant long-life battery-powered 

smoke alarms. 

By embracing current fi re and life safety codes and standards at all levels of 

government, we can make great strides in addressing the fi re problem in our nation. 

Together we can create safer communities by implementing and enforcing 

codes and standards, especially in the wildland-urban interface and underserved and vulnerable populations providing aff ordable and fi re-safe housing.
Fire Prevention and Control Fact Sheets 9

It is important to note this year marks the 100th Anniversary of the National Fire 

Protection Association’s Fire Prevention Week. The theme is ‘Fire Won’t Wait, Plan 

Your Escape.’ This theme clearly applies to all communities, including the urban 

interface. Each year, the President of the United States signs the proclamation of 

Fire Prevention Week, signaling the federal government’s support of saving lives 

and property.
10 2022 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Fire Prevention and Control 

Fact Sheets
U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Impact of Climate 

Change

Impact Areas 

Occurrence of Wildfi re

According to a June 2022 U.S. Congressional Budget Offi ce report, the 

intensity of wildfi res has increased, as has the number of wildfi res 

impacting the built environment over the past 30 years. As our nation 

continues to grow and develop in the WUI, our communities are faced 

with increased wildfi re threats associated with:

Ý Increased populations.

Ý Reduced land management practices.

Ý Dangerous increase of fuel buildup.

Ý Climate change.

The fi re service today is faced with three main fi re types:

1. Structural fi res — fi res involving built construction where trained 

fi refi ghters have specifi c strategies and tactics to maintain life safety 

and gain control of a fi re, including interior attack, exterior attack, 

search and rescue, ventilation, salvage, and overhaul. 

2. Wildland fi res — fi res typically involving trees and other vegetation 

where wildland trained fi refi ghters use specifi c strategies and tactics 

to gain control and suppress the fi re, including off ensive (direct attack) 

and defensive (indirect attack), backfi re burning, and trenching. These 

strategies use equipment and/or resources such as bulldozers, aircraft, 

hand crews, and fi re engines to construct fi re lines that provide control 

and containment of the fi re.

3. WUI fi res — fi res occurring in the built (structural) environment directly 

adjacent to or intermixed with a wildland area. WUI fi re operations have 

non-standardized and relatively new and diff erent strategies and tactics 

when compared with either strictly structural or wildland fi refi ghting. 

Firefi ghters operating in the WUI use primary and secondary tactics 

typically conducted by structural engine crews attempting to adapt 

these tactics to fi t the wildland fi re situation. 

Prepare all fi refi ghters for the climate-driven increase in wildfi res in the wildland urban 

interface (WUI) by providing them with the proper training and equipment.

Issue

WUI fi res are one of the most 

devastating fi re problems in the 

United States. Currently, most 

structural fi refi ghters receive 

little to no training on how to 

respond, remain safe, and/or 

how to operate eff ectively in 

an extremely dangerous and 

dynamic fi re environment.
U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control — Impact of Climate Change

Firefi ghting Resources 

Wildfi re knows no boundaries. Fires can start and burn across federal, tribal, state, local, and private lands. 

That means fi res are often fought with a combination of agencies and fi refi ghters from diff erent training 

backgrounds and employers. These diff erences include seasonal federal and state wildland fi refi ghters, state 

and local career fi refi ghters, and volunteer fi refi ghters from community-based fi re stations. While some 

fi refi ghters trained to operate in the built environment are also specifi cally trained to engage in wildland 

fi refi ghting, the majority have little to no training for operating in an urban or suburban confl agration with 

multiple structures burning simultaneously.

Advances in command and coordination, especially at large, long-duration wildland and WUI fi re events, have 

improved resource deployment and operations on the ground. However, these resources often take time to 

get into place. Therefore, initial response often comes from state and local fi re departments, many of which 

are already dealing with limited and overworked staff . 

Training, Equipment, and Water

Local fi re department responders are typically trained as structural fi refi ghters given that single family 

dwellings are the most common fi re risk they encounter. Structural fi refi ghters, accustomed to fi ghting one 

structure fi re at a time, are now being confronted with multiple structures burning simultaneously. They must 

react and respond with uncharacteristic tactics and strategies to successfully mitigate the event by reducing or 

eliminating fi re spread. The reality is that they must add urban interface wildfi re strategies and tactics to their 

operational repertoire. 

As the risk of losing entire communities from wildfi re extends to a year-round threat, staffi ng resources, 

proper training, and equipment are necessary to fi ght these WUI fi res. 

Training and Equipment 

Communities across the nation are experiencing an increasing number of larger and more destructive 

wildland, urban interface, and suburban confl agration fi res. Because these fi res are occurring more often in 

both suburban and rural areas adjacent to or intermixed with the wildland, structural fi refi ghters are regularly 

involved in suppression eff orts and responsible for defending homes and critical infrastructure. According 

to the National Fire Protection Association Needs Assessment, 88% of structural fi re departments in the U.S. 

respond to urban interface fi res, but only 40 percent of those fi re departments provide training on urban 

interface strategy and tactics. 

Additionally, there is often diffi culty accessing wildland fi refi ghting equipment including PPE and proper 

footwear, for both women and men who attend training and are involved in WUI fi refi ghting.

Water Access 

Particularly in the West, water is a limited and often contested resource. Drought conditions elsewhere in the 

country are causing similar eff ects to spread eastward. Scarcity of water has a severe impact on fi refi ghting 

eff orts. Additionally, fi re in watershed areas and burn scars following a fi re can contaminate water resources 

as debris and other contaminants aff ect both availability of potable water and treatment eff orts. 

More Information 
U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Fire Service 

Apprenticeship Program

Impact Areas 

Local communities are facing numerous challenges when 

it comes to staffi ng local fi re departments. The COVID-19 

pandemic, civil unrest, active shooter, and mass casualty 

events have all contributed to recruitment and retention 

challenges for career and volunteer fi re departments. In 

addition, increasing emergency call volumes, greater time 

demands, time-consuming training requirements, aging 

communities, and the physical and behavioral risks of the 

occupation create further challenges to fi re departments 

struggling to maintain suffi cient staffi ng levels.

The fi re service struggles to recruit and retain women 

and people of color. The most recent data from the 

Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2019 reported that 11.6% 

of career fi refi ghters were Hispanic or Latino, 8.5% were 

African American, and 1.3% were Asian-Pacifi c Islanders. 

Women represent 11% of volunteer fi refi ghters and 5% of 

career fi refi ghters, according to the NFPA’s 2022 “U.S. Fire 

Department Profi le” report based on 2020 data.

The creation of a National Fire Service Apprenticeship 

program would assist local communities in addressing 

the shortage of fi refi ghters in both career and volunteer 

departments and help make the fi re service become 

a more diverse and inclusive vocation. The fi re service 

apprenticeship program should be designed to mirror the 

Department of Labor’s Registered Apprenticeship and the 

Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs.

Invest in a national apprenticeship program to address the shortage of fi refi ghters and 

to make the fi re service more diverse and inclusive.

Issue

In recent years there has been a steady 

decline in the number of fi refi ghters in 

the nation. This decline is impacting both 

career and volunteer departments, leaving 

the communities they serve vulnerable to 

threats, and increasing the stresses among 

fi refi ghters and the municipalities. It is 

imperative that we invest in programs to 

incentivize individuals to join volunteer and 

career fi re departments. 

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2.0

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

300,000

350,000

400,000

198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997

1998199920002001200220032004200520062007

20082009201020112012201320142015201620172018

2019

Career firefighters per 1,000 people

Number of Career Firefighters

Figure 1. Number of Career

Firefighters and Rate per 1,000 People

Career

Firefighters

Rate per 1,000

People

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

8.0

9.0

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

700,000

800,000

900,000

198619871988

1989199019911992

199319941995

1996199719981999

200020012002

2003200420052006

200720082009

2010201120122013

2014201520162017

20182019

Volunteers per 1,000 people

Number of Volunteer Firefighters

Figure 2. Number of Volunteer

Firefighters and Rate per 1,000 People

Volunteer

Firefighters

Rate per 1,000

people

NFPA. US Fire Department Profi le 2019 Rita Fahy, Ben Evarts and More Information 

Gary P. Stein, December 2021. https://www.nfpa.org/-/media/

Files/News-and-Research/Fire-statistics-and-reports/Emergencyresponders/osfdprofi le.pdf
U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Impact of 

Occupational Cancer

Impact Areas 

Research

Greater investment in research will expand our 

understanding of the mechanisms between occupational 

exposures and cancer, why fi refi ghters are at heightened 

risk from some cancers, and to better understand the 

cancer risks of our under-studied populations, including 

women and minorities. 

Access to cancer screenings

Preventive screenings can identify cancer in its earliest 

stages when positive treatment outcomes are more likely. 

However, it remains diffi cult for individual fi refi ghters to 

receive early screenings as current screening guidance 

does not account for their occupational exposures. Revised 

screening guidance can help medical professionals and 

insurance companies understand the need to screen 

fi refi ghters based on their higher cancer risk. 

Reduce and eliminate PFAS exposures

PFAS are likely carcinogenic chemicals that degrade very 

slowly, earning the label “forever chemicals.” PFAS are 

found in a fi refi ghter’s blood, their fi rehouses, some 

fi refi ghting foams, and perhaps most concerning, bunker 

gear. These chemicals are intensifying exposures, even 

though it is coming from the very gear meant to protect 

fi refi ghters. Next-generation PPE can remove this risk.

Establish a comprehensive fi refi ghter cancer strategy that invests in research, provides 

access to cancer screening for fi refi ghters, and reduces and eliminates PFAS exposure.

Issue

Firefi ghters have a 9% higher risk 

of developing cancer and a 14% 

higher risk of dying from cancer 

compared to the general public. 

More Information 
U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Impact of Behavioral 

Health

Impact Areas 

Firefi ghters and other rescue personnel develop PTSD at a similar rate 

to military service members returning from combat, according to an 

August 2016 study from the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology. 

The report reveals that approximately 20 percent of fi refi ghters and 

paramedics meet the criteria for PTSD at some point during their career.1

This compares to a 6.8 percent lifetime risk for the general population. 

The connection between PTSD and traumatizing rescue work is clear.

The number of fi refi ghter suicides is estimated to be at least 100 per 

year. According to the “Ruderman White Paper on Mental Health and 

Suicide of First Responders,” the suicide rate for fi refi ghters is 18 per 

100,000 compared to 13 per 100,000 for the general public. 

The federal government has a responsibility to protect those who 

protect us by investing in the protectors’ mental health. Grant programs 

funding peer-supported behavioral health and wellness programs 

within fi re departments should be established by Congress. Resources 

should be available to health care providers highlighting best practices 

for addressing post-traumatic stress among public safety offi cers. 

Accurate data on the prevalence and causes of post-traumatic stress 

and suicide with the fi re service must be collected. According to 

evidence-based research, behavioral health awareness campaigns 

provide eff ective intervention methods. It is our collective responsibility 

to provide those who serve with the tools they need to help themselves 

and each other. 

The FBI launched the Law Enforcement Suicide Data Collection on 

January 1, 2022.2 to help improve understanding and prevent suicide 

among law enforcement offi cers. We applaud this eff ort, and a similar 

data collection model is needed at the U.S. Fire Administration.

It is our position, that we need to provide behavioral health resources 

and suicide prevention initiatives for all fi refi ghters. Like other injuries, 

early detection, access to culturally competent behavioral health 

specialists and proper screening can help reduce the eff ects of posttraumatic stress. Many insurance providers cap the costs related to 

behavioral health assistance and treatment centers for behavioral 

health programs are often out of the reach of the average fi refi ghter.

1 https://www.iaff recoverycenter.com/blog/trauma-fi refi ghting-and-ptsd/

2 https://www.fbi.gov/services/cjis/ucr/law-enforcement-suicide-data-collection

Provide behavioral health resources and suicide prevention initiatives for all fi refi ghters.

Issue

An increasing number of 

fi refi ghters are dying by suicide 

suff ering from behavioral 

health issues, including 

post-traumatic stress, from 

exposures that they have 

suff ered while delivering 

emergency medical services 

to the public. There is a 

lack of culturally competent 

behavioral health specialists 

to assist fi refi ghters, and local 

Employee Assistance Programs 

are ill-equipped to assist fi rst 

responders.

More Information 
U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Parity with Law Enforcement in 

Federal Policy Development

Impact Areas 

The White House Fiscal Year 2023 budget proposal includes $1.97 

billion in discretionary funding to support state and local law 

enforcement, an increase of 12% over the previous fiscal year.1 This 

represents a significant investment in local law enforcement and is 

much needed. Despite the significant fire problem our nation faces, 

the Administration requested $740 million for grants to local fire 

departments.2 The National Fire Protection Association estimated 

the total cost of fire in the United States in 2014 was $328.5 billion, 

approximately 1.9% of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product.3 Federal 

investments in fire protection and response are not sufficient to 

address the scope of the problem.

In addition to supporting local law enforcement, federal law 

enforcement agencies have a significant presence in the federal 

government. These agencies include the Air Force Office of Special 

Investigations, Army Criminal Investigation Division, Defense Criminal 

Investigative Service, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Coast Guard 

Investigative Service (Department of Defense), Customs and Border 

Protection, Federal Protective Service, Immigration and Customs 

Enforcement, U.S. Secret Service (Department of Homeland Security), 

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement 

Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshal 

Service (DOJ), U.S. Park Police (Department of Interior), IRS Criminal 

Investigations Division (Department of Treasury), U.S. Postal Inspection 

Service (U.S. Postal Service), Probation and Pretrial Services (Judicial 

Conference of the U.S.), and U.S. Capitol Police (United States Congress).

Nearly every department and agency in the federal government 

touches upon fire and emergency services. These departments are 

responsible for engaging with fire service stakeholders — inside and 

outside of the federal government — when developing policies and 

1

FACT SHEET: President Biden’s Budget Invests in Reducing Gun Crime to Make Our Communities 

Safer (White House; March 28, 2022)

2Fiscal Year 2023 President’s Budget

3Total Cost of Fire in the United States (NFPA; October 2017)

Involve the fire service in federal policy development on an equal basis with law 

enforcement.

Issue

The fire service must be included 

in federal policy development 

on an equal basis with law 

enforcement when federal 

agencies develop policies and 

programs related to public safety, 

such as first responder behavioral 

health, building and fire codes, 

and the five mission areas of 

the National Preparedness Goal 

(prevention, protection, mitigation, 

response and recovery). 
U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control — Parity with Law Enforcement in Federal Policy Development

procedures impacting fire and life safety. Despite the fire service’s 

significant footprint within these departments’ mission, there is a 

lack of coordination and cohesive policy development among these 

agencies. Consistent, competent and effective leadership at the U.S. Fire 

Administration level can coordinate these policies and ensure that the 

fire service stakeholders can effectively operate at the national level. 

The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) should be elevated within the 

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and transformed 

into a multi-disciplinary response, preparedness, and mitigation 

agency. As many response agencies already have, each FEMA region 

should have a dedicated USFA specialist to assist in the planning and 

response to disasters. USFA must be fully funded and appropriately 

staffed in order to execute its mission.

More Information

Department of Defense 

Ý Military firefighter health and safety 

Department of Justice 

Ý Bureau of Justice Assistance 

Ý Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program 

Department of the Interior

Ý Bureau of Land Management 

Ý Wildland firefighting 

Department of Agriculture

Ý U.S. Forest Service 

Ý Wildland firefighting 

Department of Commerce 

Ý National Telecommunications and 

Information Administration 

Ý First Responder Network Authority 

(FirstNet) 

Department of Labor 

Ý Occupational Safety & Health 

Administration 

Department of Health and Human Services

Ý Centers for Disease Control & Prevention/

National Institute for Occupational Safety & 

Health

Ý National Firefighter Registry 

Department of Housing and Urban 

Development

Ý Public and Indian Housing 

Ý Safe and affordable housing for our most 

vulnerable populations 

Department of Transportation

Ý National Highway Traffic Safety 

Administration 

Ý Office of EMS 

Department of Energy

Ý Office of Environment, Health, Safety & 

Security 

Ý Fire Protection Program 

Department of Education

Ý Office of Postsecondary Education 

Ý Campus Safety & Security 

Department of Veterans Affairs 

Ý Safe and affordable housing for veterans 

and their families 

Department of Homeland Security 

Ý Federal Emergency Management 

Agency/U.S. Fire Administration 

Ý National Fire Academy

Ý Assistance to Firefighters/Staffing for 

Adequate Fire & Emergency Response/Fire 

Prevention & Safety Grants 

The federal government has numerous agencies and programs impacting the nation’s 

fire and emergency services. Nearly every department in the federal government 

touches upon fire and emergency services. Here is a snapshot of some of the various 

programs in the federal government impacting fire and life safety.
U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Impact of Codes and 

Standards

Impact Areas 

Model building codes improve building resilience to natural 

disasters and save $11 for every $1 invested.1

All nationally recognized modern building and fi re codes 

require the use of life-saving technology, like smoke 

alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, and automatic fi re 

sprinkler systems. 

Nearly a million households live in public housing units 

in the United States,2 and fi re safety improvements in 

public housing must receive heightened attention. In 1992, 

Congress passed the Federal Fire Safety Act (15 USC 2227), 

requiring newly constructed multi-family housing units to 

have fi re sprinklers. HUD estimates that approximately 

570,000 multi-family public housing units are in their 

inventory that were constructed before the sprinkler 

requirement. A signifi cant portion of these units lack the 

protection off ered by fi re sprinklers. 

In buildings with automatic fi re sprinkler systems, 

the civilian fi re death rate is 89 percent lower than 

non-sprinklered buildings and the injury rate is 27 

percent lower. Furthermore, property damage decreases 

signifi cantly in buildings protected by fi re sprinklers.3

Investments must be made in retrofi tting public housing 

with fi re sprinkler systems.

Nearly three out of fi ve home fi re deaths are caused by 

fi res in properties without smoke alarms or smoke alarms 

that failed to operate.4 HUD must provide resources to 

public housing authorities to either retrofi t housing units 

with hardwired smoke alarms or require the installation of 

tamper-resistant long-life battery-powered smoke alarms. 

1

Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves: 2019 Report (National Institute for Building Sciences; 

December 1, 2019)

2

U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, Office of Public and Indian Housing 

3US Experience with Fire Sprinklers (NFPA; October 2021)

4 Smoke Alarms in US Home Fires (NFPA; February 2021)

Create safer communities by implementing and enforcing codes and standards, 

especially in the wildland urban interface (WUI) and under-served and vulnerable 

populations providing aff ordable and fi re-safe housing.

Issue

State and local governments are responsible 

for promoting the use and enforcement of 

current codes and standards. The federal 

government can help by incentivizing 

compliance and providing funding to local 

jurisdictions for code implementation, 

inspection, and enforcement. This 

will increase fi re and life safety in our 

communities, especially in the WUI and 

among under-served and vulnerable 

populations.

More Information 

Philadelphia Fire Department 

units operating at January 2022 

multi-fatality fi re in the city’s 

Fairmount neighborhood. 

Photo credit: PFD Community 

Action Team

January 9th 2022: Bronx, New 

York: FDNY units operating at 

the Twin Parks Fire. Tragically, 17 

people died at this fi re. However, 

many more were rescued by the 

FDNY. Photo credit: Frank Leeb
Notes

16825 South Seton Ave.

Emmitsburg, MD 21727
192 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Proceedings

Appendix G: State of Science 

Program
2022 U.S. Fire Administrator’s 

Summit on Fire Prevention 

and Control

State of Science

October 11, 2022

National Emergency Training Center

Emmitsburg, Maryland
1 2022 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Welcome Letter

Welcome to the 2022 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and 

Control: State of Science. You are taking part in a historic meeting of federal 

governmental offi cials, notable fi re service leaders, and expert scientists, gathered 

with the collective purpose of combating the fi re problem in America and keeping 

fi refi ghters safe and healthy. 

The federal government’s involvement in fi re protection began with President 

Woodrow Wilson’s fi rst fi re prevention proclamation in 1922. The fi re problem in 

America was also addressed in 1947 by President Harry S. Truman after several 

horrifi c fi res and tremendous loss of life. 

In 1968, the Fire Research and Safety Act created the National Commission on Fire 

Prevention and Control, whose mandate was to examine the nation’s fi re problem 

and formulate recommendations for improving fi re safety. This led to the formative 

1973 America Burning document, which set the course for eff orts in the latter part 

of the 20th Century to reduce the eff ects of fi re. We are now nearly one-quarter of 

the way through the 21st Century, and America is still burning. 

In fact, the United States continues to have the highest per capita death rate and 

property loss of all major industrialized nations. This Summit is an opportunity 

for you to join me in reducing the eff ects of fi re loss as envisioned by President 

Woodrow Wilson and President Harry S. Truman.

I challenge you to listen to the leading researchers and the fi re service leaders 

who are speaking today — and decide how you can be part of this eff ort to make a 

fi re-safe America and ensure the health and safety of fi refi ghters. Individually, we 

have limited impact. Collectively, we can save lives and property and preserve the 

nation’s infrastructure for future generations ... and protect our responders. The 

task is daunting but not insurmountable. 

It is my pleasure to have you join us in our renewed eff ort to make America fi re safe, 

and I look forward to working with you to make America a model for fi re safety that 

other nations will aspire to emulate.

Sincerely,

Lori Moore-Merrell, DrPH, MPH

U.S. Fire Administrator

U.S. Fire Administration
Agenda 2

Agenda

Opening Remarks

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, U.S. Fire Administrator

Chief Ron Siarnicki, National Fallen Firefi ghters Foundation

Impact on Communities

Introduced by Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell

Commissioner Adam K. Thiel, City of Philadelphia Fire Department

Deputy Assistant Chief Frank Leeb, City of New York Fire Department

Dr. Susan M. Moore, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Dr. Steve Kerber, Fire Safety Research Institute

Chief Shane Ray, National Fire Sprinkler Association

Climate Change Impact on the Fire Service

Introduced by Ms. Lorraine Carli, Vice President, Outreach and Advocacy, National 

Fire Protection Association

Karl Fippinger, International Code Council

Michele Steinberg, National Fire Protection Association

Rick Swan, International Association of Fire Fighters

Impact on Firefi ghter Recruitment, Retention and Training

Introduced by Ms. Vickie Pritchett, Executive Offi cer, National Fire Sprinkler 

Association

Chief John H. Oates, International Public Safety Data Institute

Chief John S. Butler, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (VA)

Chief Brita Horn, Rock Creek Volunteer Fire Department (CO)
3 2022 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Impact on Firefi ghters’ Health

Introduced by Tonya Hoover, Deputy U.S. Fire Administrator

Dr. Kenneth Fent, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 

Dr. Jeff Burgess, University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health

Dr. Sara Jahnke, Center for Fire, Rescue & EMS Health Research

Dr. Denise L. Smith, Skidmore College

Patrick Morrison, International Association of Fire Fighters

Closing Remarks

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell
Additional Information | Sponsors 4

 

Additional Information

For more information on the topics discussed at the State of Science, please visit 

www.firehero.org/USFA-summit or use the QR code below.

Sponsors

The U.S. Fire Administration and the National Fallen Firefi ghters Foundation would 

like to thank the following organizations for their support of the State of Science at 

the 2022 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control. 

Premier Sponsor

Leading Sponsor

Supporter

Additional funding from: 
5 2022 U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control

Notes
Notes 6
16825 South Seton Ave.

Emmitsburg, MD 21727