NFSA backs National Fire Academy reopening call

by Associations and OrganisationsFeatured News

National Fire Academy access in question

Access to the U.S. Fire Administration campus in Emmitsburg, Maryland, is uncertain ahead of the 2026 Memorial Weekend, placing events linked to the National Fire Academy site at risk.

The National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA) said the uncertainty follows a lapse in funding at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and could affect access to the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial.

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) said 204 fallen firefighters from 43 states are due to be honoured during the 2026 Memorial Weekend.

The Foundation said families travel to the site to remember relatives whose service and sacrifice are permanently honoured there.

If access to the memorial is restricted, the Fallen Firefighters Memorial Ceremony and Candlelight Service will need to be held at another location.

NFSA and NFFF call for support

NFSA President Shane Ray said: “Our call to action encourages everyone to join us in contacting their members of Congress and ask them to support re-opening the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial for the 2026 Memorial Weekend.

“This is an example of ‘Fire Service One Voice’ in action and we are happy to support the NFFF and stand united with our plea to everyone for support.”

NFFF CEO Victor Stagnaro added: “Ensuring access to this sacred space is not optional. It is essential.

“We are very grateful to NFSA and all fire service organizations who are working to help us reach policy makers in time to help.

“We know first-hand the importance of this annual service, and we hope our pleas are heard.”

The organisations said Memorial Weekend gives families a chance to gather at the place where national recognition and remembrance come together.

For families attending in 2026, the Foundation said access to the memorial site remains central to that promise.

‘We can do better, we can do more’: NFSA responds to child fire fatalities

by Featured NewsFire Suppression

The National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA) has responded to media-reported child fire fatalities since the beginning of 2022 calling for improved fire protection measures.

The Association has logged news articles that report 217 children as victims of fatal fires since January. These fires occurred in apartments, town homes, single family residences and condominiums. NFSA said that although the residences varied, one thing did not; none were equipped with fire sprinklers.

“We can do better, and we can do more,” said NFSA President Shane Ray. “Losing children in fires underscores the importance of fire protection, and there’s no better prevention technology than fire sprinklers. This also reminds us that fire risks increase during the holidays.”  

He continued: “We represent the most effective means of buying you time to escape a fire and for the fire department to arrive. We also represent the only product in residences that is singled out in 26 state laws as prohibited in the code adoption process. Shame on these states.

“The deaths of these children and the thousands of others that die in fire in the future are on the hands of those who work to exclude fire sprinklers.” 

NFSA collects information from across the country on when fire sprinklers save lives and property. Over 37,000 people have died in building fires since 2010 without fire sprinklers. In the same time period, only 68 people have died in building fires with fire sprinklers.  

“It doesn’t matter how old the residence is, it’s the contents that kill people and causes cancer to firefighters,” Ray added. “According to the United States Fire Administration there has been a 24% increase in fire deaths. This will only continue to get worse as more houses are built with more and more unregulated contents that are brought into this country.”