Reflections from the 9th Annual International Tall Building Fire Safety Conference – Indianapolis, 2025
It was an honor to both attend and present at the 9th Annual International Tall Building/High-Rise Fire Safety Conference, held April 7–9, 2025, alongside FDIC International in Indianapolis. The event brought together some of the brightest minds and most experienced professionals in fire safety, engineering, construction, and emergency response—all with a shared goal: improving life safety in high-rise structures.
From the moment the conference opened, it was clear this wasn’t just another industry gathering. Organized with exceptional care by Russ Timpson, Mark Reilly, and the Tall Building Fire Safety Network, the conference delivered an incredibly rich educational experience. Each speaker brought deep, real-world expertise to the stage, offering critical insights into the modern challenges facing tall building fire safety.
Highlights included Gerald ‘Jerry’ Tracy (FDNY Battalion Commander, Ret.) delivered a compelling and deeply insightful presentation titled “Developing Smoke Skills – Because Smoke Kills.” Drawing on decades of operational experience and investigative analysis, Tracy emphasized that smoke—not flames—is the leading cause of fire-related deaths in high-rise incidents. He underscored the critical importance of training first responders to accurately read, predict, and control smoke movement in vertical structures. Tracy walked attendees through the dynamics of smoke behavior, the value of stairwell pressurization, ventilation tactics, and the use of intelligent suppression strategies. His message was clear: cultivating “smoke skills” is essential to saving lives, not only through tactical response but also through smarter building design, planning, and inter-agency coordination. His talk served as a powerful reminder that understanding smoke behavior must be at the core of every high-rise fire safety plan.
Thomas Burke (Senior Director, Campus Fire Life Safety Operations – Related Companies) delivered an insightful presentation titled “The Role of a Fire Life Safety Director in Tall Buildings (US).” Drawing from his extensive background in fire safety leadership, Burke emphasized the critical responsibilities of Fire Life Safety Directors (FLSDs) in managing emergency preparedness, coordinating evacuation procedures, and acting as liaisons between building occupants, first responders, and property management. He highlighted the importance of real-time decision-making, scenario training, and compliance with jurisdictional regulations such as FDNY Local Law 5, positioning the FLSD as a pivotal figure in the overall life safety strategy of high-rise buildings. Burke’s session underscored the need for ongoing professional development and strong communication protocols to ensure swift, organized responses during fire and life safety incidents.
Captain Chris Greene (Ret., Seattle Fire Department) delivered a fascinating session on “The Energy Battleship,” exploring often-overlooked hazards in high-rise buildings related to energy systems—vaults, switchgear rooms, and manholes. His call for greater awareness and training around energy hazards struck a chord, especially in an era of electrified buildings and evolving infrastructure.
Todd Haines (VP/Global Head of Fire & Life Safety within the Global Real Estate Group, Property Management Section) delivered a compelling presentation titled “JPMorganChase’s Global Approach to Fire & Life Safety.” In his session, Haines outlined the institution’s strategic, enterprise-wide framework for fire and life safety, highlighting how global consistency is achieved through risk-based design standards, centralized policy oversight, and regional adaptability. He emphasized the importance of collaboration between security, facilities, and emergency response teams, ensuring that fire safety practices are not only code-compliant but operationally integrated across a wide and varied real estate portfolio. Haines underscored the bank’s commitment to continuous improvement through data-driven decision-making, employee training, and regular audits, presenting JPMorganChase as a model for proactive and scalable fire safety management in tall buildings worldwide.
Another standout was Captain Jimmy Davis from the Chicago Fire Department, whose presentation “Protecting Vertical Cities: The First Five Minutes” emphasized the importance of initial actions and decision-making in the early stages of a high-rise emergency. His pragmatic, boots-on-the-ground insights were incredibly valuable for any responder or planner tasked with protecting occupants in vertical environments.
The conference also tackled the issue of aging high-rise infrastructure with Terin Hopkins of the National Fire Sprinkler Association, who made a compelling case for retrofitting older buildings with modern fire suppression systems. Raymond O’Brocki of the American Wood Council challenged common assumptions about construction site fires and underscored the importance of fire safety planning during the build phase.
Beyond the formal presentations, what stood out most was the spirit of collaboration. Firefighters, engineers, safety officials, manufacturers, and architects all gathered not just to talk, but to listen, learn, and improve. The exchange of lessons learned—from recent fire events to long-term code development—was authentic and invaluable.
To the organizers, especially Russ Timpson and Mark Reilly: thank you for continuing to foster such a vital platform for learning and progress. This conference truly reflects a global commitment to making tall buildings safer—not just through technology, but through thoughtful design, disciplined operations, and knowledge sharing.
For those responsible for protecting high-rise environments, this annual gathering is not just worthwhile—it’s essential.
To learn more visit https://www.tallbuildingfiresafety.com/ and https://www.fdic.com/
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