The Fire & Life Safety Section (FLSS) of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) advances fire prevention, community risk reduction, and life safety through leadership, advocacy, education, research, and collaboration.
Our Mission
The mission of the Fire & Life Safety Section is to reduce injuries, loss of life, and property loss by advancing fire prevention and life safety and providing leadership and vision for fire safety professionals.
FLSS works toward a future where:
- Deaths from structure fires are reduced to zero and property damage is limited to the area of origin.
- Firefighter deaths resulting from fireground operations are reduced to zero.
- Fire departments make prevention, community risk reduction, and life safety fundamental organizational priorities.
- The public understands fire risks and the important role everyone plays in preventing fires, injuries, and deaths.
Why Join FLSS?
Membership in the Fire & Life Safety Section connects you with fire and life safety professionals who are working to shape the future of prevention and community risk reduction.
As an FLSS member, you can:
- Expand your professional network by connecting with fire chiefs, fire marshals, code officials, educators, community risk reduction practitioners, and other fire and life safety leaders.
- Stay informed about emerging issues, trends, research, technologies, codes, and standards affecting fire prevention and life safety.
- Strengthen your expertise through education, professional development, shared resources, and access to the experience of your peers.
- Exchange ideas and best practices with professionals facing similar challenges in communities across the country.
- Have a voice in the future of fire safety by supporting advocacy, model code development, public policy, and initiatives that improve safety for firefighters and the communities they serve.
- Advance community risk reduction by learning about proven strategies, programs, and partnerships that can be applied within your own department and community.
- Build leadership opportunities by becoming more engaged in the fire and life safety profession and contributing your knowledge and experience to the Section.
Whether you lead a prevention bureau, work in community risk reduction, enforce fire and building codes, deliver public education, oversee department operations, or simply believe prevention should play a greater role in the fire service, FLSS provides a community where you can learn, contribute, connect, and lead.
Our Priorities
Reduce Structure Fire Deaths and Property Loss
FLSS promotes a comprehensive approach to fire and life safety that combines community risk reduction, public education, fire protection systems, strong building and fire codes, and emerging technologies.
The Section advocates for effective layers of fire protection, including automatic fire sprinklers, smoke alarms, fire alarm and suppression systems, fire-resistant construction, and technologies that address leading causes of residential fires.
FLSS also supports fire safety research, participates in model code development, and builds partnerships with organizations that share its commitment to safer communities.
Reduce Firefighter Fireground Deaths
Effective fire prevention protects both the public and firefighters.
FLSS promotes an integrated, all-risk approach that combines prevention, built-in fire protection, community risk reduction, and emergency response to reduce firefighter exposure and operational risk.
The Section encourages suppression personnel to participate in prevention activities such as inspections, public education, home fire safety visits, and advocacy. It also supports safer building systems and better understanding of building performance to help firefighters make informed decisions during emergency operations.
Make Prevention a Fire Service Priority
FLSS works to strengthen a fire service culture in which prevention and life safety are essential components of every fire department’s mission.
The Section supports improved fire incident reporting and data, professional certification, accreditation, appropriate funding for prevention and education programs, and increased fire service participation in code-development processes.
By promoting research and data demonstrating the effectiveness of prevention programs, FLSS helps departments identify community risks and direct resources where they can have the greatest impact.
Empower the Public to Prevent Fires
Fire prevention is a shared responsibility. FLSS works to ensure communities understand their fire risks and have the knowledge and resources needed to reduce them.
The Section supports national fire-safety initiatives, community partnerships, public education campaigns, and resources that fire departments can use to engage residents and strengthen local prevention efforts.
Be Part of a Safer Future
The Fire & Life Safety Section brings together professionals committed to moving the fire service beyond responding to emergencies toward preventing them before they happen.
Through leadership, advocacy, education, collaboration, research, and code development, FLSS gives members an opportunity to strengthen their own organizations while contributing to a larger mission: reducing fire deaths and injuries, protecting property, improving firefighter safety, and creating safer communities.
Join FLSS and add your experience, expertise, and voice to the future of fire and life safety.
