August 27, 2025 — In a coordinated effort to reduce Alabama residents’ risk to home fires, carbon monoxide (CO) exposure, and other emerging threats, state fire officials and community partners are coming together at the Alabama Fire Safety Summit on Thursday, September 4, to address these public safety challenges from multiple angles and perspectives. The one-day event, to be held at Alabama Fire College, is co-hosted by the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) and State Farm® in coordination with the Alabama Fire College, Alabama State Fire Marshals Office, and the Alabama Coalition of CRR Educators.
“Home fires and carbon monoxide poisoning are largely preventable when adequate detection is in place,” said Kelly Ransdell, Director of Public Education at NFPA. “This summit presents a powerful opportunity for the fire service and safety advocates to come together and discuss how they can best reach communities with potentially life-saving messages.” Ransdell notes that CO alarms detect the presence of CO in time for occupants to exit quickly and safely, making them a critical element of home safety, particularly in states like Alabama, which have vast rural areas.
“Our goal is to identify strategies and approaches for effectively getting this message out to the public along with the simple steps they can take to protect themselves,” said Jose Soto, State Farm® Corporate Responsibility Analyst.
The upcoming summit will include speaker sessions covering the dangers, practical approaches that fire departments and safety advocates can take to mitigate them, and strategies to help overcome common challenges and obstacles. In addition, the summit will cover emerging fire safety issues like lithium-ion battery safety with the latest updates and information, including an overview of this year’s theme for Fire Prevention Week, “Charge into Safety™: Lithium-ion Batteries in the Home,” October 5-11, 2025.
To register for the summit, visit www.alabamafirecollege.org/summit.