Fire chiefs unite at 2025 NFPA forum

QUINCY, Mass. — Fire chiefs from Australia, Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, and the United States convened at NFPA headquarters in Quincy, Massachusetts, for the annual Urban Fire Forum (UFF).

Hosted by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the 2025 gathering advanced global collaboration and tackled the most urgent and complex challenges confronting today’s fire and emergency services.

Participants undertook a broad agenda, from wildfire-driven urban conflagrations and lithium-ion battery hazards to data-driven emergency planning, national mutual aid, and the evolving role of fire service leadership in shaping policy and public safety. Following these discussions, the chiefs formally endorsed five position papers that provide a framework for improving firefighter safety, advancing national coordination, and strengthening leadership in the face of emerging threats.

In addition to these position papers, the Forum announced a sixth endorsed deliverable, an informational bulletin titled, Enhanced Tactical Considerations for Fighting Lithium-Ion Battery Electric Vehicle (EV) Fires.

"NFPA is proud of its longstanding commitment to supporting fire departments of all sizes and types across the globe,” said NFPA President and CEO Jim Pauley. “Through initiatives like the Urban Fire Forum and the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association, we bring together leaders to address today’s fire and life safety challenges. The insights and resources generated from these collaborations are designed to benefit not only large metropolitan departments but also smaller and rural organizations that may face their own unique challenges. Our goal is to ensure that every fire service—regardless of size or capacity—has access to the guidance needed to protect their communities effectively."