NC State Fire Marshal Brian Taylor

10/21/2026

There was nothing like an NC boy performing at the ICC Banquet at the Ga***rd Opryland Resort and Conference Center last night. It was a great night with the NCBIA Board, the OSFM team, and my good friend and fellow New Hampshire State Fire Marshal Sean Toomey being sworn in as an ICC Board Director. It was a great week of education and networking with such passionate professionals building safer communities.

10/20/2026

Congratulations to the NCBIA and NCOSFM team on receiving the International Code Council Educator of the Year award; this recognition is well-deserved, and their commitment to training building officials to ensure safety in North Carolina is outstanding.

10/13/2026

10/12/2026

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We recognize the strength, courage, and resilience of those fighting cancer, and we honor the families, friends, and coworkers who stand beside them through every step of the journey.

Brian recently had the opportunity to meet Captain Hannah Johnson with the Greensboro Fire Department, who is has beat breast cancer. Hannah’s courage is a powerful reminder that behind every diagnosis is a person, a family, and a community coming together to fight a battle no one should have to face alone. Hannah, we are standing with you and cheering you on. Your strength and courage are an inspiration to the fire service and beyond.
While October shines a spotlight on breast cancer awareness, we also recognize everyone battling any type of cancer. Cancer does not discriminate, and its impact reaches across our fire service family and communities every day. To every firefighter, first responder, survivor, and family currently navigating a cancer diagnosis: you are not alone, and we stand with you.

OSFM supporting our firefighters means more than protecting them on the job. It also means helping them when they face some of life's toughest challenges. Through the NC Firefighter Fund we work to help eligible firefighters access cancer-related financial assistance and resources when they need it most.
This month, and every month, let's continue to raise awareness, support early detection, encourage regular screenings, and make sure our firefighters know that help is available.

Hannah, and everyone fighting cancer, we see you, we support you, and we are rooting for you every step of the way.

10/11/2026

I had the pleasure of visiting Brassfield Volunteer Fire Department in Granville County on Saturday to support a young volunteer who is making a difference in her community.

Kaylee Overby, a Junior Volunteer Medical Responder with Brassfield VFD, organized a Community Bake and Craft Sale as part of her senior project to support the department that has given her so many opportunities to learn and serve. She also wanted to use the event to promote fire safety by providing families with free smoke alarms and fire prevention information.

I was proud to present Kaylee with 100 smoke alarms on behalf of the North Carolina Office of State Fire Marshal to help bring her vision to life and provide an important safety resource to families in her community.

It's encouraging to see young people like Kaylee taking initiative, giving back and recognizing the importance of fire prevention. Her commitment to serving others is a great example of how one person can make a real difference.

Thank you, Kaylee, for your dedication to Brassfield Volunteer Fire Department and for helping us spread the message that working smoke alarms save lives!

10/09/2026

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10/03/2026

During my trip to New York this week, FDNY Chief of Rescue Operations Joe Downey invited me to tour their training facilities. We started the day at the ROCK (FDNY Fire Academy) and then moved over to Fort Totten, where Special Operations were conducting exercises with rebreathers. What an incredible opportunity to see behind the scenes and watch FDNY Special Operations and members of FEMA Task Force 1 conducting advanced specialized training.

Thank you Chief Downey and Lt. Arroyo for the opportunity.

10/02/2026

Honored to have been invited by Kidde to join FDNY Fire Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore, NFPA, Home Depot, and other special guests who have experienced the devastating loss of loved ones to fire and carbon monoxide poisoning at iHeartRadio to kick off Kidde’s Cause for Alarm campaign.

This was an especially meaningful occasion as we remember the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, and reflect on the lives lost and the importance of protecting our communities and the people who serve them.

As President of NASFM, it was important to share how much we value Kidde’s longstanding partnership with the fire service. Kidde has been a valued NASFM sponsor for more than 20 years, and most recently has worked with us to establish a bulk purchasing process that allows states to purchase smoke and CO alarms directly from Kidde at wholesale pricing.

Kidde’s commitment goes even further. As a North Carolina-based company, Kidde has consistently supported the NC Office of State Fire Marshal through smoke alarm installations, alarm canvassing projects, and other fire prevention efforts across our state.

When Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina, Kidde stepped up in a BIG way—providing carbon monoxide alarms and fire extinguishers to help communities impacted by the storm.

Partnerships like this make a real difference. We are incredibly grateful to Kidde for its continued commitment to the fire service, our communities, and the shared mission of saving lives and keeping North Carolina safe.

09/28/2026

What an incredible opportunity to take part and elevate this training at such a premier emergency training center. I want to thank the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the petroleum companies that partner with NASFM to provide the Pipeline Emergencies curriculum and handbook to train all emergency responders nationwide.

09/27/2026

Two years later, Western North Carolina continues to rebuild and recover from the worst natural disaster in NC history, and our hearts mourn for all those who lost their lives, and we pray for their families. It goes without saying that we pray for all the firefighters and emergency responders who served their communities while losing everything themselves, and for those who responded from across the state and country who still deal with those images and felt helpless amidst the devastation. No matter how strong a person you are, this event took a toll on everyone. I spent months working with our OSFM team based in Hickory, supporting and re-establishing fire service to 192 fire departments in WNC, providing equipment from around the country, and working with private and nonprofit companies like Operation Helo, Samaritan’s Purse, Elon Musk, and the late Greg Biffle and his wife, Cristina and so many more. As I go around the country and talk about lessons learned, the success of our operation was working outside of the failed state and federal model, embracing NGOs that want to help, and cutting out all government bureaucracy. I am looking forward to the new FEMA leadership recognizing and acting on reform for disaster response and recovery.

Remembering the families and all the first responders that still battle the images and this sense of helplessness. But thankful for those that receive blessings during a time of tragedy.

God Bless!