Crime & Public Safety
State Fire Marshal Hosts Fire Safety Summit in Charleston Focusing on Wildfire Intervention
A statewide fire safety summit was held in Charleston, Kanawha County, on Sept. 29, 2026, bringing fire service leaders and community organizations together to concentrate on wildfire intervention and prevention. The event took place at the Beni Kedem Temple and was organized by the West Virginia State Fire Marshal’s Office in partnership with the National Fire Protection Association and other partners.
Organizers described the summit as the second gathering of its kind in 12 years. Attendees included fire safety professionals and leaders from across West Virginia, with participants coming “from as far as the Eastern Panhandle to as south as Mercer County.” The agenda emphasized the NFPA’s Don’t Chance Safety campaign and covered topics such as wildfire interface, fire escape planning, smoke alarms, portable fire extinguishers, and carbon monoxide education.
State Fire Marshal Ken Tyree framed the meeting around reducing fire fatalities and improving public education. He noted the state has experienced a significantly high fire death rate in recent years, citing a total of 60 fire-related deaths in that period. Because wildfires were a summit focus, Tyree also noted that West Virginia’s limited burn season was set to begin later in the week and urged caution and proper procedures for controlled burning.
The summit served as a networking and training opportunity for first responders and community partners. Agency officials presented prevention strategies and best practices; no criminal allegations, injuries, or enforcement actions were reported in connection with the event in the available account.
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