Fire chiefs from Australia, Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, and the United States gathered at NFPA headquarters in Quincy, Massachusetts, for the annual Urban Fire Forum (UFF).
Organised by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the 2025 event strengthened international collaboration while addressing the most pressing challenges facing fire and emergency services.
The agenda focused on a wide range of issues, including the growing threat of wildfire-driven urban conflagrations, the risks associated with lithium-ion batteries, data-driven approaches to emergency planning, national mutual aid systems, and the evolving role of fire service leadership in shaping both public safety and policy.
At the close of discussions, the chiefs formally endorsed five position papers that will serve as official UFF–Metropolitan Fire Chiefs (Metro Chiefs) position statements. These statements offer strategic guidance on firefighter safety, leadership, and coordination across national and international levels. The position papers include Combating the Assault on Codes and Standards – Fire Service Leadership Toolkit, National Fire Apparatus Specification, Support for Advancing National Fire and Emergency Services Capabilities Through Strategic Leadership and Unified Advocacy, Statement in Support of Reauthorization of FirstNet, and Confronting the Risk of Wildfire-Initiated Urban Conflagrations.
In addition, the Forum endorsed a sixth deliverable: an informational bulletin titled Enhanced Tactical Considerations for Fighting Lithium-Ion Battery Electric Vehicle (EV) Fires. This bulletin will be released alongside a Fire Protection Research Foundation research report, offering critical guidance for fire departments faced with the increasing hazards posed by EV battery incidents.
Together, these outcomes highlight the Forum’s commitment to strengthening global fire service readiness, improving firefighter safety, and advancing coordinated strategies to meet the challenges of a rapidly evolving risk landscape.
"Today’s fire and emergency services face challenges that reach far beyond traditional response," said Otto Drozd III, Executive Secretary of the Metro Chiefs and UFF facilitator. "The position papers endorsed this year focus on strengthening leadership, advancing national coordination, standardizing apparatus, and addressing emerging threats such as wildfire-driven urban conflagrations and lithium-ion battery hazards. These deliverables provide critical guidance for departments navigating an increasingly complex environment and highlight the need for collaboration across all levels of government and the private sector."
