Fire and rescue services must learn from emergencies and disasters around the world before the same risks reach their own communities, the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has said following the conclusion of the World Fire Congress 2026.
Fire and government leaders from more than 60 nations gathered in London for three days of discussions on some of the most significant challenges facing fire and rescue services, from climate-related disasters and emerging hazards to major incident response and firefighter health and wellbeing.
A recurring message throughout the Congress was that no single country or fire service has all the answers. As risks become increasingly shared across borders, learning from major incidents and emerging threats elsewhere can help services strengthen their own preparedness and response.
The importance of learning and acting before lives are lost was also brought into focus by powerful testimony from people affected by Aberfan, Hillsborough, the Manchester Arena attack and the Grenfell Tower fire. Contributors challenged fire and rescue leaders to recognise that the failures which contribute to major disasters can begin long before an emergency unfolds. They urged leaders to listen when concerns are raised, confront failings within their own organisations and act before tragedy forces change.
For UK fire and rescue services, the Congress provided a rare opportunity to hear directly from countries responding to shared and emerging risks in different circumstances and at different scales, while contributing UK expertise and experience to the international discussion.
Phil Garrigan, Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council, said:
“Over the past three days, we have shared knowledge, challenged assumptions and had honest conversations about some of the most significant issues facing fire and rescue services around the world. But the true success of this Congress will not be measured by what was said in London. It will be measured by what we do next.
“Our responsibility now is to turn learning into action, maintain the relationships forged here, and continue working together across borders so that we are better prepared for the challenges ahead and stronger in our support of the communities we serve.”
Addressing delegates on Tuesday, Minister for Building Safety, Fire and Resilience Baroness Blake of Leeds CBE reflected on the increasingly extreme challenges facing fire and rescue services around the world and the importance of countries working together to confront shared threats and keep their communities safe.
Building Safety Minister, Baroness Blake said:
“I am delighted London hosted the second ever World Fire Congress. It could not have come at a more pivotal time, following the response of our brave firefighters to one of the most challenging wildfire seasons on record.
“Collaboration is critical and it was so valuable to hear from our international partners about the threats they’re facing, share the expertise of our fire and rescue services, and consider how we can best work together to tackle future challenges.
“Following the devastating wildfires over the summer, we must work together to ensure we have a fire service which can tackle the growing risk of fires, with the potential of hotter and drier summers in the future.”
The work of the Congress will continue beyond London through the World Fire Congress Communities of Practice, providing a route for fire and emergency services to share evidence, research and operational learning throughout the two years between Congresses and maintain the international relationships developed this week.
The Congress concluded with the reaffirmation and signing of the World Fire Congress Statement of Founding Principles, setting out the shared purpose and principles that will continue to guide its work. The United Arab Emirates formally accepted the handover as host of the next World Fire Congress in 2028, continuing the international collaboration established in Washington in 2024 and strengthened in London.
For more information, go to: https://nfcc.org.uk
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