International Association of Fire Chiefs

Your support directly helps America's fire departments better protect our communities and respond to fires, terrorist attacks, hazardous material spills, natural disasters and rescue missions.

Why do we exist?

Think about it. In every community nationwide you will find the fire service. We depend on the fire service. We trust our firefighters. The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) represents every fire department in the nation. What a compelling need for funding…without your support, the nation’s fire chiefs are at risk of lacking proper education, training, and information on important life-saving issues. The IAFC relies on donations and grants to create public awareness about the needs of the fire service and to advance firefighter safety and fire prevention initiatives.

Established in 1873, the International Association of Fire Chiefs is a powerful network of more than 12,000 chief fire and emergency officers from 40 countries worldwide who provide fire, EMS and other emergency services to approximately 70 percent of the U.S. population. Our members are the world's leading experts in fire fighting, emergency medical services, terrorism response, hazardous materials spills, natural disasters, search & rescue, and public safety legislation. 

IAFC’s mission is to provide leadership to career and volunteer chiefs, chief fire officers and managers of emergency service organizations throughout the international community through vision, information, education, services and representation to enhance their professionalism and capabilities. One of the oldest professional management associations and the first national fire service organization in the nation, the International Association of Fire Chiefs boasts a rich history of innovation, ingenuity and respected leadership.

What have you accomplished?

The IAFC provides leadership and programs to keep communities safe.  The Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery® campaign is just one example of how the IAFC helps save lives. Hundreds of thousands of families now change their smoke alarm batteries when they change their clocks back in the fall. Prevention is key to saving lives, and working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire nearly in half.

What’s more, the IAFC is working to make our roads safer for accident victims and firefighters during emergency responses. Our vehicle and accident scene safety initiative aims to improve vehicle striping, warning lights, traffic control, highway operations and accident investigation. The IAFC is spearheading a national initiative to reduce firefighter injury and death rates, called the National Fire Fighter Near Miss Reporting System. Based on the successful FAA program, Near Miss tracks “close calls” in the fire service to develop policies, training programs and technologies that will improve fire department operations and make our communities safer. Save Lives, Including Your Own is a national education ad awareness campaign, sponsored by Jeep, to remind our heroes that they can't help their community if they get hurt trying.

The IAFC also works with governments to develop legislation to support public safety and respond to natural and man-made disasters.  We educate government and public safety officials to develop systems and services to keep communities safe and respond to emergencies.

	How do you help people in my community?		Why do you need my support?
	How can I be sure that you will use my money wisely and won't waste it?		Can I Volunteer? How?