MEDINA, Ohio — The World Fire Congress (WFC) has named the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association (Metro Chiefs), a section of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), to serve as its Secretariat, according to an association announcement.
The decision “establish[es] a long-term coordination and continuity framework designed to strengthen global collaboration across the fire and emergency services profession,” the announcement says.
The Secretariat structure “will provide continuity between Congresses, preserve institutional knowledge, support host-nation coordination and strengthen sustained international engagement on emerging fire and life safety challenges,” according to the association announcement.
“It is an honor for the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association to serve as the Secretariat for the World Fire Congress,” says Otto Drozd III, executive secretary of Metro Chiefs, in the announcement. “What is being established through this partnership is far more than operational coordination for a single event.
“It is the long-term infrastructure designed to support continuity, global engagement and sustained collaboration for future Congresses and the international fire and emergency services community. With the support of NFPA and IAFC, combined with the research and learning efforts being advanced through UL Research Institutes’ Fire Safety Research Institute, the World Fire Congress is building a strong and enduring foundation capable of supporting global cooperation for generations to come,” he says.
What is the World Fire Congress?
The World Fire Congress is a biennial global forum that “brings together fire and emergency service leaders to strengthen international cooperation, share knowledge and advance evidence-informed dialogue on evolving fire and life safety challenges impacting communities worldwide,” according to the announcement.
Topics include firefighter health and safety, climate-driven disasters, structural fires, wildfires, emerging technologies, prevention, response, recovery and resilience.
The 2026 World Fire Congress will take place Sept. 8-9 at the QEII Conference Centre in Westminster, London, hosted by the United Kingdom and organized by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC).
In addition to the Secretariat announcement, the World Fire Congress confirmed that UL Research Institutes’ Fire Safety Research Institute (ULRI) “will support the Congress’ learning, research and insight efforts by developing global Communities of Practice designed to sustain collaboration between Congresses,” the announcement says.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates is scheduled to host the Congress in 2028, and proposals are currently being accepted for prospective host nations for 2030.
