NFCC represents UK at launch of groundbreaking global fire safety initiative

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) represented the United Kingdom at the launch of Dubai Civil Defence’s “1 Billion Readiness” initiative last week, the largest global programme dedicated to safety and fire hazard prevention. The event, held on 14 January in Dubai, brought together fire and rescue services from 34 countries and 18 major firefighting organisations to take part in the initiative.

The pioneering programme, led by the United Arab Emirates, aims to train and raise awareness among 1 billion people worldwide on fire prevention techniques from 2025 to 2027.

Phil Garrigan, NFCC Vice-Chair and Chair-elect, who represented NFCC at the event said:

“The initiative is a fantastic opportunity for NFCC to contribute to and help shape worldwide fire prevention efforts, enabling us to share information and collectively consider ways of sharing in fire safety information in the future.

“It will also enable us to enhance fire safety awareness within communities across the UK”.

International collaboration is a developing area for NFCC. In November, a representative of Dubai Civil Defense attended NFCC’s Prevention Conference, providing an overview of the “1 Billion Readiness” initiative to fire and rescue service prevention leads from across the UK.

Looking ahead, in 2026 the UK will host the World Fire Congress which will be coordinated by NFCC, further demonstrating the nation’s leadership in international fire safety. The World Fire Congress is a global event that brings together countries to address fire-related issues collaboratively. The inaugural event, hosted by the United States in 2024, saw participation from over 50 countries and the signing of the World Fire Congress Charter, a commitment to advancing global fire safety initiatives.

For more information on the “1 Billion Readiness” initiative, you can visit the Dubai Civil Defence website. Dubai Civil Defense launches ‘1 Billion Readiness’ initiative

ENDS

Notes: Pictured below – Phil Garrigan meets representatives from Dubai Civil Defense and other international visitors