Institution of Fire Engineers- United States of America Branch

05/24/2026

Remember and Honor 🇺🇸

05/08/2026

The National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service, the official national tribute to fallen firefighters, paid homage to 204 brave firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty. This past weekend, we commemorated 97 firefighters who perished in 2025 and 107 who made the ultimate sacrifice in previous years. Each year, numerous fire service personnel gather in Emmitsburg to pay respects and provide support to our Hero Families. Represented by our President and Vice President, the USA Branch is proud and honored to participate in this esteemed tribute.

For more information, please visit: https://weekend.firehero.org/

03/17/2026

🔥 Your voice matters on Capitol Hill. 🔥

🔥 Your voice matters on Capitol Hill. 🔥

Fire and emergency services leaders from across the country will come together for Fire Service Day on the Hill to share their firsthand experiences with Members of Congress and their staff. These conversations help shape the policies and resources that support departments and protect communities nationwide.

Take this opportunity to advocate for the issues impacting the fire and emergency services and ensure your perspective is heard.

📅 Fire Service Day on the Hill
🗓️ March 18, 2026
🔗 https://cfsi.org/hillday/

Schedule of Events:
🚒 All Day: Meetings with Members of Congress and congressional staff
📸 2:00 PM: Capitol Hill Group Photo

03/16/2026

Have a safe and happy St Patrick's Day ☘️

03/14/2026

Join the Board Members of your USA Branch in DC at all of the CFSI activities!
See you there !

is almost here! 📍

If you're joining us in DC next week (March 18–19), be sure to check your Know Before You Go email for important event details, schedules, and tips to make the most of your time at the summit 👉 https://conta.cc/47sbrZP

See you soon! 🚀

03/10/2026

Our thoughts and prayers are with our brothers and sisters in the fire service in Glasgow following the devastating fire that destroyed the historic Forsyth Building near Glasgow Central Station.

The loss of such an incredible and historic structure is heartbreaking. Incidents like this remind us that even the most iconic buildings are vulnerable. As tragic as this event is, it also provides important lessons for the fire service, building owners, and our communities.

Historic structures often predate modern fire protection systems, making prevention and early detection critical. Retrofitting buildings with modern alarm and suppression systems, when possible, can dramatically reduce fire spread and loss.

Public education remains one of our most powerful tools. Many fires begin with preventable causes, and continued community awareness about fire safety—especially in older and mixed-use buildings—can help reduce risk and ensure early reporting.

Building construction and age also play a significant role in fire behavior. Legacy construction, concealed void spaces, aging infrastructure, and limited compartmentation can allow fire to spread rapidly and unpredictably. These factors reinforce the importance of strong pre-incident planning and building intelligence for responding crews.

Finally, the building’s proximity to critical infrastructure like a major rail station highlights the complex risks present in dense urban environments. Fires in these areas can quickly impact transportation, commerce, and life safety well beyond the initial structure.

While the loss of the Forsyth Building is deeply unfortunate, it serves as a reminder of the importance of prevention, education, modernization of historic structures, and strong coordination between fire services, city leaders, and building owners.

Our thoughts remain with the firefighters and community members in Glasgow as they respond to and recover from this tragic incident.

A massive fire that reportedly started in a v**e shop has caused the collapse of the historic Forsyth Building, situated just yards from Glasgow Central Station.

The four-storey Victorian structure, which dates back to 1851, saw its dome completely fall in as the blaze ripped through the premises on Sunday evening.

Scotland's busiest railway station remains closed until further notice, with all high-level services cancelled and no set estimate for when it might safely reopen.

Thick smoke and falling debris forced the evacuation of the Voco Grand Central Hotel and nearby streets, though the station building itself appears to be undamaged.

Emergency services continue to manage the scene following the inferno, which has caused substantial travel chaos across Glasgow's city centre and rail network.

03/04/2026

From the Vigiles of ancient Rome to the firefighters operating today in cities under siege, the profession has been marked by constancy in the face of chaos. Political systems rise and fall. Conflicts emerge and resolve. But the presence of firefighters — steady, disciplined, and committed to life safety — remains one of civilization’s quiet assurances that order can be restored.

IFEUSA Fellow Azarang (Ozzie) Mirkhah, P.E., CBO, CFO, FIFireE recently provided details on the death of an off-duty firefighter who was killed by gunfire while attempting to rescue civilians trapped in a marketplace fire.

See Details Regarding Firefighters Death

Though not assigned to duty at the time, he responded as firefighters have for centuries, compelled not by orders, but by service.

His actions reflect the enduring values of our profession: courage without calculation, service without condition, and commitment without regard for personal safety.

Across Ukraine, firefighters continue to respond to structural collapse, fire, and mass-casualty incidents amid ongoing hostilities. In Gaza, emergency responders operate in densely impacted communities under extraordinarily complex conditions. Throughout multiple countries in the Middle East currently experiencing instability, firefighters are responding to incidents affecting civilians, infrastructure, and essential services — often in environments where the risks extend beyond the emergency itself.

These situations differ in geography and politics, but they share a common truth: firefighters respond.

The fire service is, at its core, a humanitarian profession. We do not choose the circumstances in which we serve; we choose only to serve.

As members of the Institution of Fire Engineers USA Branch, we stand in professional solidarity with firefighters everywhere who perform their duties in complex and dangerous environments. Their service reflects the enduring character of our global profession — grounded in competence, ethics, and the unwavering protection of life.

In honoring their service, we reaffirm our shared commitment to advancing knowledge, strengthening resilience, and upholding the professional standards that bind the global fire community together.

Respectfully,

Bruce H. Varner
President
Institution of Fire Engineers – USA Branch

Promoting, Encouraging, and Improving the Science of Fire Engineering

03/02/2026

Vision 20/20 Chairman and Institution of Fire Engineers USA Branch Past President Randall Hanifen, along with IFE-USA Branch Vice President Peki Prince and Education Chair Clint Murphy, were proud to participate in Symposium 9 hosted by Vision 20/20.

This outstanding event delivered powerful insights into how data can be strategically leveraged to clearly communicate the value and impact of Community Risk Reduction (CRR) initiatives. The speakers provided practical, forward-thinking approaches that help fire and emergency service leaders translate data into meaningful action and community outcomes.

To learn more about the important work of Vision 20/20 and access valuable CRR resources, visit:
🔗 https://strategicfire.org/

02/24/2026

Vision 2020 Chairman and IFE-USA Past President, Randall Hanifen, welcomes Symposium 9 participants and challenges them to change how we protect our communities. Moving to CRR from response and recovery will be key to a resilient community.

01/07/2026

Well... a couple of months ago due to some unforeseen circumstances, we had to reschedule Matt Perry's Lunch and presentation. So, if you would, join us for "Take 2 of Lessons Learned: 2023 Spalding County Tornado Outbreak"

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87349675202?pwd=Qjuc0FxFpgZd22vnwWaoSmTW6blomg.1

12/31/2025

The IFE USA Branch Board wishes you and yours a safe and wondrous New Year.

May the year ahead bring good health, continued success, and new opportunities. We look forward to working together in the coming year and building on our shared commitment to excellence and engagement.

Happy New Year!

Warm regards,
IFE USA Branch Board