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Opening the 21st Annual Fire Protection & Life Safety Forum

Kevin Reardon                                 Doug Hart

Fire Marshal                                 Battalion Chief

State of Ohio        Columbus, Ohio Division of Fire

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Opening Keynote Presentation   

Frontline Leadership -

Lessons Learned from a Mega-Warehouse Fire in Plainfield, Indiana

Presented by:
 Plainfield, Indiana Fire Territory - Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Dixon and Lieutenant Matt King

Ron Ritchey - National Fire Sprinkler Association

The Town of Plainfield Indiana houses over 50 million square feet of storage warehouse buildings in their jurisdiction. On March 16, 2022, a fire occurred in a 1.4 million square foot mega-warehouse, which contained a four-story, 400,000 square foot “mezzanine” located inside of it.

The fire originated on the second floor of this mezzanine deep inside this massive structure in which their fire department responded and staged an aggressive offensive attack. Believing the fire was under control and observing no indications of extension of smoke or fire, the fire department began mop up operations, only to realize in a matter of minutes that fire had extended through the roof.

Interior conditions inside of the warehouse deteriorated quickly with firefighters located deep inside this massive structure. Deputy Chief Dixon and Lieutenant Matt King were both inside of the facility when a dramatic fire event occurred causing smoke to bank down to the floor, all while racks in the facility began to fail all around them. Following an evacuation order from the incident commander after fire broke through the roof, a “Mayday” was called for a missing member. Chief Dixon, Lt. King and one other firefighter were fortunately able to escape the building and make it out alive.
 
Their firsthand account of lessons learned that day is one that all firefighters need to hear and has been instrumental in prompting a long overdue need for research to address “gaps” which identified there was no literature and/or training resources available for fire departments prior to this incident for fire departments to adequately plan an emergency response in these types of facilities. It also prompted the recently released NFPA Research Foundation Project and Final Report recently released in December 2024, “Identifying Challenges to Fire Service Response in Storage Facilities.”

Some of the lessons learned that will be presented during this keynote address will include: communication problems (including Emergency Responder Radio Coverage), water supply considerations (including private vs. public hydrants), fire sprinkler system performance and water support, rack collapse, effects of ventilation, importance of pre-incident planning and the critical need for interaction between building owner representatives and the fire service before and during a fire event, properly identifying control valve locations, dealing with “alphabet soup” (ATF, FBI, OSHA, others) after the fire, not underestimating span of control in the fire command structure and needing more section chiefs in larger incidents, interacting with the media, social media and its impact on fire department culture, and others.

NOTE: This Keynote presentation has been been APPROVED by the Ohio Board of Building Standards (OBBS) for 2-hours of continuing education credit for building officials, fire protection inspectors, building inspectors and those who receive a separate certification from the State of Ohio [OBBS]. 

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Partners in Prevention and Community Risk Reduction is the primary focus of this annual conference. Fire Prevention and Community Risk Reduction is a movement and a function of many fire departments around the country with the goal of educating the public on the precautions which should be taken to prevent potentially harmful fires and how to survive these fires in the event they do occur...

This conference and our presenters are committed to the idea that there is great success in working together to save lives and prevent property damage through Community Risk Reduction Programs...

Prevention is more than fire safety, emergency management and fire protection. Prevention is also related to firefighter safety and wellness. The "Everyone Goes Home" campaign was designed to create programing to ensure firefighter safety is paramount in ensuring every firefighter goes home safely after their shift...
 

We provide (under one roof) the tools, education, ideas, experts, and networking opportunities to grow and expand your personal and professional development so you can make a difference in your community...

For Ohio's Fire Service and others, our annual "Lunch and Learn with the State Fire Marshal".  This interactive luncheon on Tuesday will address those issues important to you and Ohio's Fire Service. We will continue the discussion regarding the anticipated MAJOR CHANGES and UPDATES to the Ohio Fire Code Code which will take affect, If not before, then shortly after the conference. Get a front-row seat as the State Fire Marshal and his team of experts discuss how these changes will happen and the Ohio Fire Code update will be rolled out!

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Welcome to the Annual Conference and Expo

This annual conference historically provides high-level training and educational workshops, presented by some of the nation’s leading fire safety, code enforcement, fire protection, and emergency management professionals.

We focus this international conference exclusively on code enforcement, life safety, fire protection, campus fire safety, and emergency management,

This Conference is continually ranked as one of the "Best of its Kind".

Campus based occupancies. There are many business and industrial campuses, not including the nearly 5,000 educational facilities, which include, K-12 public & private schools, and 2- & 4-year colleges & universities. Administrators, maintenance staff, security, law enforcement, and support staff wear “many hats” when managing fire safety, fire protection, code compliance, and training. This conference provides many tools and resources needed by those safety professionals to do their job. 

Fire service operations, fire & building code officials, and AHJ training is a big focus of this annual event. Understanding how the codes work, fire protection systems operate, legal aspects of code enforcement, and how to manage such a unique operation are some of the staples of how this conference has become one of the best of its kind.

Firefighter safety is an important. We are proud to offer some of the best knowledge and education available to help reduce firefighter injuries and fatalities around the world.  

Our education division, The Fire Code Academy, provides training from quality presenters to include fire protection engineers, fire protection system designers, code enforcement officers, fire marshals, community risk reduction specialists, and so much more. These educational programs benefit the fire service, fire & building code officials, campus safety professionals, facility managers, law enforcement, general industry, and others.

This conference is designed for those professionals in the fire safety and fire protection career fields.

What do our attendees experience that keeps them coming back? They know there’s no better place to go when looking for ways to do a better job… relevant topics to update their knowledge… tools and resources required to solve problems… saving money with affordable education… networking from peers across the country & beyond... Whatever the motivations may be, you’re sure to find plenty of great reasons of your own to attend this highly rated and reasonably priced conference and expo!

Annually over 450 professionals from around the world consider this conference a "MUST to Attend".

The purpose of this annual event is to provide high-quality education, technology, and networking opportunities. Our multiple day, multiple track format offers a self-directed, facilitated learning environment with education sessions, interactive forums, and technology presentations.

For our 20th Anniversary Conference we opened with Lorraine Carli, Vice President for Outreach & Advocacy at NFPA to discuss the NFPA Ecosystem and connections.

The NFPA Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem™ is a framework that identifies the components that must work together to minimize risk and help prevent loss, injuries, and death from fire, electrical, and other hazards for the fire service, private organizations, campuses and businesses. Click here to Learn more about Lorraine's visit to our 20th Annual Conference. 

 

BEST EDUCATIONAL VALUE FOR THE DOLLAR SPENT!

 

We understand today's budgeting choices and know you have options regarding training and education. One of the reasons we are ranked one of the best conference of its kind, is because the value you receive for the dollar spent. No other event provides discounted savings for the attendees, low registration and hotel fees, or confidential financial assistance for those organizations and with economical and financial hardships. 

 

Each year we continually keep our prices low while providing truly valuable training to keep fire prevention and code enforcement "Proactive not Reactive". We try very hard not to pass inflation costs on to our attendees.

 

 

Attendees receive two days of education, breaks, lunch, hospitality and more...  

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Plan on joining us, we saved you a seat at the table !!

    

  

  

  

  

 

 

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Certificates Awarded for Two Days of Continuing Education Training

Firefighter and Fire Inspector Continuing Education. The Expo is one of the larger training and educational gatherings that providing a valuable resource for: Fire Code Officials, Firefighters, Fire Inspectors, Building Officials, Fire Protection & Construction-Related Professionals, Campus Safety Professionals, and many others. It is a fact that code officials, building inspectors, design professionals, and others look to The Fire Code Academy and The Life Safety Forum to enhance their skills and knowledge necessary to excel in today's challenging world.

Please consult your local jurisdiction regarding their acceptance of this conference as continuing education/training to meet any re-certification and renewal requirements.

We will be awarding training certificates showing two days of training & education (14 Hours).

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Ohio Certified Firefighters and Fire Safety Inspectors - Programs offered through our Fire Code Academy meet and/or exceeded the continuing education requirements as set fourth in the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) for Ohio certified firefighters and fire safety inspectors.

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2025 Campus Fire Department Symposium

Does your Campus have its own Fire Department?

Are you a small Fire Department with the response area covering a College or University?

Do you rely on students as part of your Fire/Rescue response?

If you can answer yes to one of more of these questions, then plan on attending this event and participating in the Campus Fire Department Symposium.

We received several requests for programming specifically for Campus Fire Departments and/or those departments who respond onto campus and rely on students as part of their emergency response staffing. 

Previous Participating Campuses

Clemson University Fire Department
New Mexico State University Fire Department

Purdue University Fire Department
University of California at Davis Fire Department
University of California at Santa Cruz Fire Department
University of Connecticut Fire Department
University of Notre Dame Fire Department

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What are people are saying about our conferences and services? 

"AS A UNIVERSITY VICE-PRESIDENT I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS CONFERENCE TO ALL WHO HAVE A DEDICATED AND VESTED INTEREST IN KEEPING OUR STUDENTS SAFE AND PLANNING FOR EMERGENCIES".
- R. M. Norman; Senior Vice President for Finance/Business Services - Miami University (ret)

"YOU FOLKS DO AN AWESOME JOB. I WAS PROUD TO BE PART OF YOUR ANNUAL EVENT - GOOD LUCK"
- Tonya Hoover; State Fire Marshal - California (ret.) / Deputy United States Fire Administrator

"TRAINING AND EDUCATION IS PARAMOUNT TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR MISSION. THIS CONFERENCE PROVIDES ALL THE TOOLS NEEDED FOR SUCCESS".
- Robert R. Rielage; State Fire Marshal Ohio (ret)

"IT WAS AN HONOR TO HAVE BEEN PART OF THIS PARAMOUNT EVENT. THE PRESENTERS YOU HAVE HERE THIS WEEK ARE VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE AND PROVIDED FOR A GREAT CONFERENCE".
- James Lee Witt; FEMA Director appointed under President Bill Clinton

"THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET SO MANY PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE WORLD WHO ARE INVOLVED WITH CAMPUS FIRE SAFETY AND CODE ENFORCEMENT IN GENERAL."

"I ENCOURAGE ALL FIRE MARSHALS AND FIRE INSPECTORS TO ATTEND, GREAT JOB!"
- Glenn A. Gaines; Former Acting United States Fire Administrator

"ONE OF THE MOST ORGANIZED AND WELL RAN EVENTS I HAVE ATTENDED. IT WAS A PLEASURE TO HAVE MADE THE TRIP UP THERE, FROM TEXAS".
- David Giordano; Fire Chief, College Station, Texas - Home of TEXAS A&M University

"NOBODY DOES IT BETTER WHEN ORGANIZING PROGRAMS SUCH AS THIS".

"OHIO'S FIRE SERVICE MUST BE PROUD TO HOST THIS GREAT CONFERENCE IN OUR GREAT STATE"

- Michael P. Bell, State Fire Marshal Ohio (ret)

"I HAVE HEARD NOTHING BUT POSITIVE COMMENTS ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION, YOUR PROGRAMS, TRAINING & EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCES".
- Kelvin J. Cochran, United States Fire Administrator appointed under President Barack Obama

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  Additional Attendee Comments

"GRAND SLAM EVERY YEAR!"

"IN THIS REGION OF UNITED STATES, YOU CAN'T FIND A BETTER TRAINING EVENT"

"I'M NEW TO CODE ENFORCMENT, THIS CONFERENCE IS WHAT I NEEDED"

"I HAVE BEEN TO EVERY CONFERENCE YOU HAVE HOSTED AND THEY ONLY GET BETTER"

"I HAVE NEVER SEEN SO MANY FIRE PROTECTION ENGINEERS PRESENTING"

"EXCELLENT-KNOWLEDGEABLE PRESENTERS!"

"AS AN EXHIBITOR I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR SHOW EVERY YEAR!"

"ALL OF MY STAFF HAVE ATTENDED OVER THE YEARS AND EACH YEAR IT GETS BETTER'

"I'VE BEEN TO MANY CAMPUS SAFETY EVENTS, THIS ONE OUTSHINES THE OTHERS"

"WELL WORTH THE COST" - "YOU TREAT YOUR PRESENTERS WELL"

"AWESOME KEY-NOTE ADDRESS" - "SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!!"

"YOU ALWAYS DO A GREAT JOB!!" - "GREAT LOCATION"

"EXCELLENT VARITY OF TOPICS AND DISCUSSIONS!"

"THE ONE-STOP-SHOP CONCEPT HAS MADE THIS CONFERENCE WORTH THE COST AND TRIP"

"MOST WELL ROUNDED CONFERENCE FOR THE COLLEGE CAMPUS WE HAVE ATTENDED"

"YOUR STAFF IS ALWAYS SO HELPFUL AND FRIENDLY"

"I RECOMMEND THIS CONFERENCE FOR ALL CAMPUS SAFETY PROFESSIONALS"

"SOME OF THE MOST ENTHUSIASTIC SPEAKERS I HAVE SEEN AT A FIRE CODE CONFERENCE"

"DON'T CHANGE A THING!!"

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Campus Fire Safety Com LLC and The Fire Code Academy
Life Safety Forum Conference Team
81 Mill Street - Suite 300

Gahanna, Ohio  43230 
Office: 614-416-8077

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