News
Nov 14, 2020
Trend Towards 10-Year Technology
Suggestions for replacing alarms.
Nov 14, 2020
Do Not Be Left Under Protected
If your home was built before 1993, here are optimum locations of smoke alarms.
Dec 04, 2019
Don't Fall Victim to Carbon Monoxide, the "Invisible Killer"
Carbon monoxide, also known as CO, is called the "Invisible Killer" because it's a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas. More than 150 people in the Unites States die every year from accidental non-fire related CO poisoning associated with consumer products, including generators.
Nov 20, 2019
DHS Releases New “Cyber Essentials” Resources to Promote Cybersecurity
The IAFC recommends that fire chiefs review the actions described in the Cyber Essentials to protect your fire department from cyber-attacks.
Nov 12, 2019
What You Need to Know About the New Smoke Alarms
It's critical to have working smoke alarms installed on every floor of your home, including inside and outside every sleeping area.
Nov 12, 2019
6 Ways to Reduce Cancer in the Fire Service
The key to being cancer-free is knowledge and the discipline apply that knowledge daily.
Oct 11, 2019
Firefighter Safety Culture Starts Behind the Wheel
A comprehensive emergency vehicle driver program demonstrates your organization’s culture of safety for your firefighters, as well as the general public, that encounters our emergency vehicles on the street.
Oct 11, 2019
Firefighters' Top 8 Characteristics of Effective Leaders
Firefighters weigh in on what makes a leader worthy of respect and loyalty.
Sep 18, 2019
Seven Ways to Make Community Risk Reduction a Focus of Your Department
An ever-present concern for any fire chief is our role in reducing the impact incidents have on our community.
May 06, 2019
Fire Sprinklers Save Lives; Pass It On
Home Fire Sprinkler Week is May 19-25, a great opportunity for you to raise awareness in your community about this life-saving technology and break down the myths and legislative barriers to its use.
Jan 04, 2019
Are You Using Your Equity Goggles?
At a public-education event, a young Asian boy said to me, “Wow, I didn’t know you could be a firefighter; could I be a firefighter too?” I'll never forget his words; this was the first time he had seen a firefighter who looked like him.
Nov 06, 2018
Fire and Life Safety: Experiencing Home Fires – Still a Real Problem
School visits, department open houses and old messages don’t resonate with average community members. Public apathy is still a real problem. Are we missing the mark on public education?
Oct 15, 2018
Community Risk Reduction: The Magic Pill?
In CRR, we make changes to reduce the risk we find among our organizations, business community and citizens. We have many ways to do this, but what we’re looking for is a change of heart and direction, not just a magic pill.
Oct 15, 2018
Making Community Risk Reduction Relevant
The IAFC’s new CRR Leadership Conference will educate and train chief officers and other fire service managers seeking to create, execute and evaluate measurably successful CRR platforms and programs.
Oct 15, 2018
Teaching and Technology: A Recipe for Safe Cooking
We know that cooking is the #1 cause of home fires and fire injuries in America, with $1 billion lost annually in property damage. An interest in technology that limits the high-end temperature of electric-coil elements is growing as a result.
Oct 15, 2018
Fire Sprinkler Incentives for Developers: A Win-Win
In a national survey of homebuilders and developers, 55% said they would be interested in building homes with fire sprinklers if they were offered incentives. However, only 6% had ever been offered them.
Sep 26, 2018
Fire Prevention Week: A Good Time to Reflect
This year’s Fire Prevention Week theme is "Look, Listen, Learn: Be Aware, Fire Can Happen Anywhere."
Sep 26, 2018
Executive Officer Leadership: “Fire Prevention” Is Outdated!
Am I suggesting the fire service do away with fire-prevention activities? Absolutely not! But are you doing a disservice to your responsibility to protect your community by using the label “fire prevention?”
Jun 28, 2018
Fire and Life Safety: Why Pursue Our Professional Credentials?
What’s the common denominator between obtaining coaching credentials and working for our fire service professional credentials? What value do these provide?
Mar 22, 2018
Kidde Recalls Dual Sensor Smoke Alarms
Recall involves models PI2010 and PI9010 of Kidde dual sensor.
Nov 02, 2017
Bringing the Fire Prevention Message Home
For the first time, the IAFC suggests that local community risk reduction campaigns promote the use of smoke alarms powered by 10-year batteries.
Oct 31, 2017
President’s Letter: Make Community Interaction Count
On the heels of Fire Prevention Week, it’s easy to appreciate the interaction and trust we have within our communities; the week is a magnificent example of harnessing tragedy to make positive change.
Aug 10, 2017
Using Data to Predict Fire, Technology to Detect Them
Listen to Jon Jay, doctoral student, talk about how to use data to predict where house fires are more likely to occur in a city, and to Nathan Armentrout, inventor of a device installed in vacant homes to detect smoke alarms.
Jul 18, 2017
A More Focused Approach for Installing Smoke Alarms in Homes
Listen to Chief McConnell and Director Wise explain how they went from installing 800 smoke alarms to 18,000 using data.
Jan 12, 2017
IAFC Expresses Condolences for Victims of Baltimore Fire
The IAFC expresses its deep condolences to the family and friends of six young children who reportedly perished during a residential house fire Thursday in Baltimore, Md. We commend the first responders who responded to the tragic scene.
Oct 04, 2016
A Simple Act on November 6 Can Buy Life-Saving Minutes Later
ST. LOUIS — Three minutes. That’s how much time families have on average to get out of their homes after an alarm from a smoke detector.* However, those life-saving minutes only occur when detectors are fully powered and operational.
Fortunately, three ...
Feb 21, 2013
National Organizations Support Fire Sprinkler Legislation
On January 26, the world watched a great tragedy unfold as 235 people were killed in a nightclub fire in ...
Jun 01, 2011
IAFC and Kidde Partner for Home Fire Safety
Recognizing the need for improved education and awareness about home fire safety, the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), with ...