NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
STATE FIRE MARSHALS |
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NASFM Members and Staff at the TELSA Crash Test Lab in Fremont, California May 13-14, 2025
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Principal Membership
Eligibility: State Fire Marshal or equivalent in each state. Principal Members are full voting members of NASFM.
Associate Membership
Eligibility: Staff members from State Fire Marshal offices who have been appointed by the State Fire Marshal to assist with NASFM issues. Associate members are non-voting members. | |
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Michigan Governor Whitmer Appoints New State Fire Marshal The new State Fire Marshal Thomas Hughes, Jr., of Northville, is the outgoing deputy fire chief for Northville Township. Hughes has served in multiple positions in his over 21 years of service with the Northville Township Fire Department, including as a firefighter and paramedic, fire inspector, and fire marshal. Hughes holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in public safety studies from Siena Heights University and a Master of Science in technology studies from Eastern Michigan University. Hughes is also a graduate of the School of Fire Staff and Command at Eastern Michigan University. Thomas Hughes, Jr. will be appointed as State Fire Marshal for a term commencing June 2, 2025, and expiring at the pleasure of the governor, no later than June 1, 2029. Hughes succeeds Kevin Sehlmeyer, who has resigned. “I am incredibly honored by this appointment and humbled by the opportunity to serve as Michigan’s State Fire Marshal,” said Hughes. “I look forward to working with the dedicated men and women of the Bureau of Fire Services and supporting the fire service across Michigan.” The State Fire Marshal leads the Michigan Bureau of Fire Services, a division of the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and also serves as a member of the State Board of Mechanical Rules and as an ex-officio member of the Fire Fighters Training Council and State Safety Board.
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The Code Authority® newsletter provides timely updates from UL Solutions on topics of interest to code authorities responsible for safety in the built environment. Explore this month’s articles on updated product safety requirements and trends from UL Solutions experts.
Bruce Johnson, managing editor May 2025 Newsletter Registered for the Newsletter HERE!
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NASFM Monthly Leadership Exchange
Each month will consist of an educational presentation of interest and followed by an open discussion by any attendee. The calls are kept under a strict 60 minutes of duration.
The Next Virtual Call is June 19, 2025 @ 3pm Eastern
Please mark your calendars and watch for a NEW meeting invite from Executive Director Butch Browning. If you are a Principle Member and not receiving the invite, please let us know. |
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Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control Launched an Awareness Campaign in Response to Chromebook Safety Concerns Given the nature of this new TikTok challenge and knowing it is not just a Colorado problem, we thought we would share this information and the resources we've created to all SFMOs. You are welcome to use any of this information and contact Chris Burnette if you have any questions. In recent weeks, more than 200 incidents have been reported across Colorado schools involving damaged laptops that experienced overheating, catching on fire, or emitting smoke. These “Chromebook Challenge” incidents are believed to be linked to a social media trend that encourages students to insert sharp foreign objects into the charging ports of their laptop. While many students may see this as a harmless challenge, the results are dangerous. Read the full Press Release HERE!
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Registration NOW OPEN! 35th ANNUAL FIRE PREVENTION & SAFETY SYMPOSIUM
The National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) is excited to announce the 35th Annual Fire Prevention & Safety Symposium, set to take place in Biloxi, Mississippi, August 10-14, 2025. This year’s symposium will be hosted by Mississippi State Fire Marshal Connie Dolan and the Mississippi State Fire Marshal’s Office.
The theme for 2025 is:
"All Hours, All Hazards: Disasters Never Sleep!"
NASFM is partnering once again with two esteemed national organizations for this event. The National Carbon Monoxide Awareness Association (NCOAA), which joined NASFM two years ago, will continue its mission to address carbon monoxide poisoning and support survivors in leading healthy, productive lives. The International Fire Marshal Association (IFMA), a section of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), will also return, representing local fire marshals. Together, these organizations will provide an exceptional platform for networking and addressing critical issues such as disaster mitigation, response, recovery, code enforcement, fire investigations, and community risk reduction.
Join us for this landmark conference in August 2025 in Biloxi, Mississippi. Registration and additional details will be available in January. Don't miss this opportunity to connect and collaborate with national fire safety leaders! | | |
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NASFM Partnership Aims to Increase Kidney Donations for Firefighters Firefighters and their families, as well as staff with any state fire marshal office, who are bravely battling the hardship of kidney disease now have a lifeline through the Kidneys for First Responders program. Kidneys for First Responders connects those who want to support firefighters, emergency medical service providers and law enforcement officers by facilitating a living kidney donation. You more than likely know someone who is impacted by kidney disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that kidney disease affects an estimated 37 million people in the U.S., and approximately 90% of those with kidney disease don’t know they have it. The only program in the country that focuses on community-directed living kidney donation for first responders, Kidneys for First Responders has helped facilitate different types of kidney donations, such as one to a New York Police Department officer, which was initiated when an altruistic donor stepped up and asked that their kidney donation support a police officer in need. NASFM will work with member PIOs to communicate this resource through the most efficient and appropriate channels. Contact info@kidneysforcommunities.org or 1-800-575-KDNY (5369) with any questions. Learn more about the Kidneys for First Responders program here. The program is a joint effort of Kidneys for Communities, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, First Responder Center for Excellence, and Knox Company. Go to the Website HERE!
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Maximizing the Impact of Fire Prevention and Safety
FREE NASFM TRAINING!
All online training offerings available through NASFM, click here
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ExxonMobil and the National Association of State Fire Marshals are teaming up to take portions of the HazMat Liquid & CO2 Pipeline and Industrial Fire Emergencies training on the road! Previously only available at the Brayton Fire Training Field in College Station, Texas, this training will provide your team with advanced hands-on and companion classroom simulations of emergency response scenarios – including an industry-first CO2 pipeline release – all from the comfort of your own department. INFO & SIGN-UP HERE!
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NEW! FEMA REVIEW COUNCIL RECOMMENDATIONS FROM NASFM From Butch Browning, Executive Director, On behalf of the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM), I write to respectfully submit NASFM’s input for the Council to consider as they begin the important task of ensuring America is resilient, prepared, response ready and can recover from disasters. As state fire marshals, we hold a deep commitment to safeguarding lives, property, and the environment, and we believe our insights could greatly assist in identifying leaders and best practices that can strengthen national fire and emergency response capabilities. NASFM is a leading organization dedicated to advancing fire prevention, life safety, and emergency preparedness across the United States. Our association is composed of senior fire officials from all 50 states and U.S. territories, each of whom brings an understanding of the unique fire-related challenges facing their communities. Click Here to read the entire document.
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Virginia State Fire Marshal Billy Hux opening the Spring Virginia Fire Prevention Association in Virginia Beach with State Fire Marshals Office, legislative and Virginia Fire Marshal Academy updates. What a crowd this year! | |
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California - Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) seized over 100,000 pounds of illegal fireworks discovered in Commerce, CA, located in Los Angeles County. CAL FIRE – OSFM would like to commend ongoing efforts to help curb the use and sales of illegal fireworks, protecting the public from the hazards they present. Additionally, we would like to thank Los Angeles County Fire Department as well as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Task Force. The collaborative efforts of all agencies involved demonstrate their ongoing commitment to protecting our communities.
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NCOAA developed The Protect the Protectors Training course on the Fire Hero Learning Network with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) that addresses the most pressing gaps in carbon monoxide safety knowledge in firefighters. The training is available online and is free. Please share with trainers in your state.
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Hotels: Family fights to save others from carbon monoxide poisoning following their own tragedyMay 20, 2025. Following the 2023 loss of their son and his girlfriend, a family is hoping to help save others from carbon monoxide poisoning. The Heathco family is speaking out for the first time as they launch an effort to legally require hotels to have working carbon monoxide detectors in each room. CBS News senior transportation correspondent Kris Van Cleave has more. Watch and/or Download the Video Here 14 states already have laws requiring CO Alarms in Hotels. OR, CA, LA, TN, FL, NC, WV, MD, NJ, WI, MI, ME, VT, NY
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Oregon State Fire Marshal leading.
PREPARING FOR WILDFIRE SEASON: Today our agency leadership, along with the Oregon Department of Forestry, met with the agencies' six incident management team commanders to plan for wildfire response this summer. The group also covered what went well and areas we can improve from last year's historic season.
Oregon is in a good spot in that we have six state teams that are ready to go no matter the time of year; only a handful of states have these resources. These teams are all hazard and have responded to everything from wildfires to flooding and hurricane recovery.
LINK: https://preventwildfires.oregon.gov
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NASFM visits TESLA in Fremont, CA |
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Thanks TESLA for sharing the technology! |
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PIO Network - Sharing the Message
At the 2024 Symposium, several Public Information Officers (PIOs) from various state fire marshal offices participated in an introductory meet and greet. The event aimed to bring together peers from different states to connect, learn about each other’s roles, and exchange ideas and policies on their operations. The next day, the group attended a Crisis Communications class led by Ashley Rodrigue of Louisiana, where they explored real-life scenarios. Attendees appreciated the face-to-face interaction after meeting virtually for the past two years.
The National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) plans to expand this group by continuing monthly meetings and incorporating at least one breakout session at future Symposiums.
If you are a PIO or share responsibilities in Public Information or Community Risk Reduction (CRR) for your state, the NASFM PIO Network might be a great fit for you. To join or if you know someone in your State Fire Marshal (SFM) Office who could share valuable best practices, reach out to Gary West at gary@browning.red to be added to the list. The PIO Network meets monthly on the third Wednesday for one hour starting at 1 PM Central Time. |
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It was mentioned on the leadership call about letters coming to Governors about natural gas alarms. The NTSB is providing information to urge States to act on the safety recommendation in this letter because they believe your organization can help reduce the risk of future accidents.
In Wyoming, Marshal Byron Mathews is asking for your thoughts on this. The information is provided below and in Wyoming, he has been tasked with a discussion about this with his Wyoming policy teams. Please contact Marshal Mathews direct with your thoughts. West Virginia and other states have reported getting the same letters. |
NTSB - National Transportation Safety Board |
The attached letter from NTSB Chairman provides information about the March 18, 2025, report UGI Corporation Natural Gas-Fueled Explosion and Fire, West Reading, Pennsylvania, March 24, 2023, PIR-25-1.
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A Welcome from Mississippi Fire Marshal Mike Chaney.
Greetings from Mississippi! My staff and I look forward to welcoming you all to beautiful Biloxi in August.
As fire marshals, you serve on the front lines of prevention. Your work—conducting inspections, enforcing safety codes, investigating incidents, and educating the public—forms the backbone of our fire safety system. The NASFM Fire Prevention & Safety Symposium is an opportunity to further your training, share ideas, and strengthen the professional network that keeps our communities safer, smarter, and more resilient.
Please encourage your peers to register and attend the conference.
Enjoy your time in Mississippi |
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See You in Biloxi, MS in August |
Send stories and info for the Newsletter to Gary@browning.red
This message was sent to you by the National Association of State Fire Marshals
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE FIRE MARSHALS
PHONE: 225-806-0803 ADDRESS: PO Box 1224, Brusly, LA 70719
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