Aug 25, 2026
This September, dozens of fire service and government leaders
from more than 70 countries around the world will meet in London
for the second ever World Fire Congress. Their broad goal is to
discuss and share ideas and potential solutions to the many common
risks and challenges that fire and rescue services share—everything
from extreme wildfires and lithium-ion batteries to firefighter
cancer and the looming impacts of artificial intelligence. It’s all
based on the idea that, rather than each country and department
fighting its own battles, working together can solve problems
faster and more efficiently, potentially having enormous positive
impacts for firefighters and the communities they serve.
Today on the podcast, Jesse talks to Otto Drozd III and Stephen
Wevers, two accomplished international fire service leaders who are
helping to plan and oversee the World Fire Congress. They chat
about how the Congress came to be, what it aims to become, and why
international cooperation in the fire service is becoming so
critical.
The interview was recorded live at the 2026 NFPA Conference & Expo
in Las Vegas.