Driving Fire Safety Education Where it Matters Most

AWC’s Fire Engagement Team strengthened relationships with fire service leaders and led expanded education efforts across the nation. Through conference presentations, webinars, and on-site visits following fire incidents, AWC reinforced its role as a trusted technical resource and advanced a more accurate understanding of how wood products and building codes contribute to a fire-safe job site.

A central highlight of the year was AWC Director of Fire Service Relations Ray O’Brocki’s work on the 2023 South Park construction fire in Charlotte, North Carolina, an incident in which he played a direct role in the on-the-ground investigation and a television interview explaining how the fire started. Drawing from that experience, O’Brocki developed a detailed case study that became an effective educational tool throughout the year.

The South Park case study was featured prominently at the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) Annual Conference, where O’Brocki walked attendees through the details of the fire and how construction fire safety practices and codes can help prevent loss of life and property. The Fire Marshal of Charlotte happened to be in attendance and thanked O’Brocki for giving a fair and accurate description of the fire. The case study’s reception at NFPA underscored its credibility and value, and it served as a foundational presentation for multiple fire service audiences throughout the year.

In addition, the team responded to several construction fire incidents across the country and met with local fire chiefs to offer expertise, help dispel misinformation, and provide technical resources. These meetings included visits to Ottawa, where a fire was initially mischaracterized as involving mass timber; North Las Vegas; Ogden and Lehi, Utah; and Denver. AWC began preparing a construction fire safety course to be presented to the North Las Vegas fire departments and officials in 2026.

Following a construction fire in Amherst, Massachusetts, the AWC team not only visited the site and met with local fire officials, but WoodWorks also connected AWC with the developer of the building to assist with any incoming media inquiries. A WoodWorks staffer was also scheduled to sit on a multi-family mass timber discussion panel in Boston shortly after the fire. AWC provided talking points in the event that questions were raised from the audience, as well as a slide with information and links to the Construction Fire Safety materials.

Each of these opportunities to speak, educate, and meet with members of the fire service are crucial to building trust and strengthening AWC’s reputation as a reliable, science-based resource for the fire service. Years of dedication and relationship building have now positioned AWC as a leading voice in construction fire safety, helping ensure wood products are understood accurately and viewed as part of a safe, code compliant built environment.