IHROC 2026 — HOTEL UPDATE
The Hilton Hotel is SOLD OUT!
Our second host hotel has limited rooms remaining. Secure your room now as you prepare to join us for the International High-Rise Operations Conference.
Pensacola Beach, Florida
November 9–13, 2026
See the booking link in the description below.
Book your room. Bring your crew. Be ready for IHROC 2026.
https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/pnsflhx-91f-1523a72e-2d7e-4e89-8289-8e252f327420/
IHROC 2026 — HOTEL UPDATE
UPDATE: High-Rise and Mayday Presentations — IHROC 2026
Good afternoon, everyone,
As part of the International High-Rise Operations Conference (IHROC) 2026, we are developing a focused presentation and discussion series examining firefighter Maydays in high-rise and complex vertical environments.
The objective is not to criticize the decisions made during difficult incidents. It is to understand the conditions firefighters faced, the decisions they made, the challenges encountered and the lessons that may improve future operations and firefighter survivability.
The following presentations are currently being planned:
We are continuing to expand this portion of the program and are looking for firefighters, officers and instructors willing to discuss a high-rise Mayday incident in which they were directly involved or that they have studied in depth.
We are particularly interested in the operational details:
If you can contribute to this discussion, or know someone whose experience should be included, I would very much like to hear from you.
These conversations are not easy, but they are important. The fire service learns through honest discussion and shared operational experience. If examining one difficult incident helps another firefighter recognize the warning signs sooner, then the conversation is worth having.
Please contact me directly if you are interested in participating.
Respectfully,
Brent Brooks
International High-Rise Operations Conference (IHROC)
highrise332@gmail.com
International High-Rise Operations Conference Announces Five-Day Research-Driven Training Event
November 9–13, 2026 | Pensacola Beach, Florida
PENSACOLA BEACH, Fla. — The International High-Rise Operations Conference (IHROC), in partnership with County Fire Tactics and High-Rise Firefighting, will deliver a five-day, research-driven training program from November 9–13, 2026, in Pensacola Beach, Florida.
This will not be a sit-in-the-chair-and-check-the-box conference.
IHROC 2026 will bring together firefighters, instructors, researchers, incident commanders, authors, podcasters, videographers, and international fire service leaders from across North America and around the world. The purpose is simple: study high-rise firefighting, test what we think we know, put firefighters to work, time the tasks, collect the data, and build better operational models for the next fire.
The modern high-rise fire is not getting easier. Buildings are taller, systems are more complex, staffing models are different, fires are moving faster, and the distance between the hydrant and the fire floor still belongs to the firefighters who have to make the stretch.
Over five days, IHROC will collect measurable performance data across 14 critical high-rise operational challenges.
A Research-Driven Approach: Time to Task
At IHROC, firefighters will not just talk about high-rise operations. They will work through them.
Participants will operate in an integrated training and research environment that includes:
The final day will be dedicated to structured analysis and international collaboration. The findings are intended to support future tactical models, academic research, incident command development, and evidence-informed high-rise firefighting practices.
This is training with a purpose. The goal is not to prove who is fast, who is strong, or who has the best patch on their sleeve. The goal is to understand how long critical tasks actually take when real firefighters, from real departments, work through real high-rise problems.
A Study That Reflects Today’s Fire Service
IHROC welcomes firefighters with different levels of experience, training backgrounds, staffing models, departmental systems, and physical-fitness profiles.
That is intentional.
The fire service is not made up of one type of firefighter from one type of department. High-rise fires are handled by career departments, combination departments, large urban departments, smaller municipal departments, and crews with different resources, procedures, staffing, and equipment.
Meaningful operational research has to reflect that reality.
A broad participant base will help show how different crews, staffing configurations, equipment packages, and command systems perform under complex vertical-response conditions.
The Green Army, instructors, evaluators, logistics personnel, spouses, and support members will play a critical role in recording times, documenting observations, supporting scenario flow, and capturing the information needed for the case study.
This data collection matters. What gets timed can be studied. What gets studied can be improved. What gets improved can save firefighters and civilians when the next high-rise job goes sideways.
Dr. Katherine Lamb, founder and CEO of K Lamb Associates and a respected authority on incident command training and assessment, will assist in examining the data collected during the event.
Three Conferences in One
This year’s event will bring together IHROC, Water on the Fire, and Battalion Boot Camp, creating a demanding and exciting week of training, logistics, media, instruction, and operational research.
The Green Army will be busy supporting all three conferences throughout the week. There will be multiple tracks, speakers, evolutions, book signings, podcasts, video interviews, hands-on training stations, and a lot of moving pieces.
That is exactly what makes this event different.
It will be busy. It will be loud. It will be organized chaos at times. But it will also be one of the most practical, firefighter-driven high-rise training events being delivered.
Five-Day Program
Monday, November 9 — MAYDAY
Day One will focus on Mayday events and firefighter emergencies in complex vertical environments.
Multiple speakers will share operational lessons, critical decisions, near misses, and firsthand experiences from significant high-rise and complex-building incidents.
This portion of the program is shaping up to be one of the most powerful parts of the week. These are not just stories. These are lessons paid for by firefighters who found themselves in trouble, crews who had to solve problems under pressure, and departments willing to share what others need to hear.
Additional details about the speakers will be released separately in the IHROC MAYDAY media announcement.
Tuesday, November 10 — Improvised Standpipe Operations
The day will begin with classroom instruction, followed by afternoon hands-on evolutions.
Teams of three will complete DRY tactical rotations involving:
These evolutions are designed to examine what happens when crews have to think, move, adapt, and solve problems in the vertical environment.
Tuesday evening: Corley Moore of Firehouse Vigilance will present The SCRAP LIVE.
Wednesday, November 11 — Deployment and Tactics
Teams of two will participate in WET circuit training involving 14 time-to-task operational challenges.
The timed evolutions will examine water supply, standpipe system operations, equipment deployment, vertical movement, system troubleshooting, and tactical decision-making.
This is where theory meets sweat. Firefighters will move equipment, stretch lines, solve problems, and generate the data needed to better understand the true timing of high-rise operations.
Thursday, November 12 — Complex High-Rise Tactics
Teams of three will address emerging and high-consequence operational challenges, including:
These are the problems that are already showing up in today’s buildings. IHROC is designed to bring them into the training environment before firefighters are forced to solve them for the first time at three in the morning.
Friday, November 13 — Working-Group Analysis and International Presentations
The final day will bring participants, instructors, researchers, and international speakers together for a comprehensive review of the week’s findings.
Collected data, participant observations, instructor feedback, and operational lessons will be examined through structured working groups to help inform future research, training programs, and high-rise operational models.
This is where the week comes together. The goal is to leave with more than sore legs and good stories. The goal is to leave with evidence, observations, questions, and direction for the future of high-rise firefighting.
Special Features and Media Coverage
Each training day will include opportunities for participants, instructors, and guests to share knowledge and continue the conversation.
Planned features include:
The smoke-movement model will provide a strong connection to the ventilation discussions and will be especially valuable with John Ceriello joining the program with his ventilation instruction.
International Participation
IHROC is built around a simple truth: high-rise firefighting does not belong to one city, one country, or one department.
Firefighters around the world are facing many of the same building features, fire protection systems, vertical travel problems, staffing challenges, and command decisions.
The 2026 event will include an international group of contributors, including Gerald Mann from Australia, Thomas Philipp from Germany and Brent Brooks from Canada. Their involvement helps strengthen the global conversation around high-rise operations, firefighter safety, occupant survival, and practical solutions.
Our host, Curt Isakson has brought in other presenters and instructors include Anthony Rowett, Daryl Liggins, Kyle Smith, Jason Jones, Martin Rafacz, Clark Lamping, Todd Edwards, Dave McGrail, Daryl Liggins, Jimmy Davis, Patrick Doyle, Mike Ciampo, Kyle Saxton, Alain Rancourt, Mike Cornelius, Todd Edwards, Mike Terpak, Dan Mishler, Driver Joe Wisz, Brent Brooks, John Evans, Jerry Tracy, Jack Murphy, Dr. Katherine Lamb, John Ceriello, Scott Hewlett, Chris Logan, Kent Gallant, Corley Moore, Andy Plofkin
Registration Information
Registration will be managed through County Fire Tactics at:
Conference information and program updates will also be available at:
Participants are responsible for their own travel and accommodations. Conference fees support the venue, equipment procurement, consumable materials, research needs, media support, and the logistical requirements necessary to conduct the hands-on evolutions safely and effectively.
About IHROC
The International High-Rise Operations Conference is committed to advancing the study and practice of high-rise firefighting.
Its mission is to strengthen high-rise firefighting capabilities worldwide through a unified, evidence-informed approach.
This conference is being built by firefighters, for firefighters, with a clear purpose: better operations, better command decisions, safer buildings, and better outcomes when the fire is above us and the work gets real.
Join Chief Ike for a Water On The Fire Seminar in Bay County, Florida, on September 8th from 08:00 to 17:00.
This FREE event is a must-attend for everyone who responds to fires, serve as a chief officer at any fire department level, makes staffing decisions, and much more.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to gain valuable insights from Deputy Chief Isakson and network with other industry experts.
Reserve your spot today by emailing Bay County Fire, Chief of Professional Standards, Chief Justin Busch at jbusch@baycountyfl.gov.
Exciting news, everyone! We’re thrilled to announce the release of Team + Work = Success, the latest leadership book by Chief Dennis Reilly! As a US Army war veteran and seasoned Fire Chief, Chief Reilly has seen it all – from the battlefield to the fireground. He’s here to share his proven formula for building high-performing teams that will take your firehouse to the next level!
In his book, Chief Reilly dives deep into the importance of teamwork in the fire service. He emphasizes that a high-functioning firehouse is crucial for operational success. If your crew is cohesive and skilled, you’ll be ready to tackle any challenge that comes your way. But if you’re stuck in a dysfunctional environment? Well, let’s just say luck won’t be on your side!
So, whether you’re a seasoned leader or just starting out, this book is packed with actionable insights that will help you create a culture of teamwork and excellence. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn from someone who’s been in the trenches and knows what it takes to succeed! Grab your copy today and start transforming your team!
https://www.firefighterbookclub.com/product-page/team-work-success
Time is running out! Only 100 spots remain for the International High Rise Operations Conference (IHROC) happening from November 9 – 13, 2026, at the stunning Hilton Pensacola Beach.
This is your chance to immerse yourself in an unparalleled learning experience that combines intense research with practical applications in high-rise firefighting. Don’t wait—secure your spot today and be part of a transformative event that could change the way you approach your work!
At IHROC 2026, you’ll dive deep into the science of firefighting with hands-on evaluations of vertical water movement, wind-impacted fire behavior, and the physics of the hallway stretch. This isn’t just another conference; it’s an opportunity to gather data that could save lives.
Your performance will contribute to vital research that shapes the future of our profession. Plus, you’ll be surrounded by fellow passionate professionals who understand the challenges and triumphs of the fire service.
As the sun sets over Pensacola Beach, the networking opportunities will be just as intense. Join us for nightly socials where you can connect with international instructors and colleagues, share experiences, and forge relationships that last a lifetime.
With the discounted room block at the Hilton Pensacola Beach, you’ll be right in the heart of the action. Use code WOTF for your discount! Don’t miss out—register now and be part of something extraordinary!
#IHROC2026 #FireService #HighRiseOperations #Networking #FirefighterTraining #Brotherhood #PensacolaBeach #ItsWorthTheRisk
Come join Bay County Emergency Services – Fire Rescue Division !!!
Under new leadership, big things happening in Bay County, Share, Share, Share !!!
Learn More Here, Now Recruiting Firefighter Medic, Firefighter EMT, and Paramedic.
Recent high-rise fires in Spain, Hong Kong, New York, New Jersey, and Pakistan remind us that the challenges facing firefighters are remarkably similar no matter where the alarm sounds. Different building codes, different languages, and different fire departments all face many of the same operational problems: smoke migration, difficult evacuations, stairwell operations, standpipe systems, occupant accountability, and resource management. There is nothing foreign about high-rise firefighting. We all must go up and hook up.
A recent office tower fire in Madrid forced hundreds of occupants to evacuate through protected stairwells while firefighters battled smoke conditions far beyond the actual fire floor. In Hong Kong, investigators continue examining how construction features and building systems contributed to a deadly residential fire. Fires in Atlantic City and the Bronx highlighted familiar problems involving older buildings, difficult rescues, upper-floor access, and vulnerable occupants. A commercial building fire in Karachi reinforced the importance of building maintenance, exit access, and smoke control. The locations may differ, but the lessons remain the same.
By am730 – YouTube: 大埔宏福苑五級火 蔓延7幢樓宇 至少13死28傷一消防殉職
High-rise fires rarely become simple fire attack problems. They quickly evolve into rescue operations, evacuation operations, and command challenges occurring simultaneously. Smoke often creates more victims than fire. Stairwells become both lifelines and operational bottlenecks. Occupants may be trapped above the fire, while crews struggle with access, communications, water supply, and accountability. These are challenges that every firefighter, company officer, and chief officer must prepare to face.
That is exactly why the International High Rise Operations Conference (IHROC) exists. Scheduled for November 2026 in Pensacola Beach, Florida, IHROC brings together firefighters and fire officers from around the world to study high-rise operations through realistic training, operational evaluations, and evidence-based discussions. The conference focuses on the problems firefighters actually encounter inside tall buildings, including standpipe operations, stairwell management, vertical hose stretches, command decision-making, building systems, and firefighter performance.
Many departments respond to relatively few high-rise fires, yet when these incidents occur they become some of the most complex and resource-intensive events the fire service faces. The next major high-rise fire may occur in a modern office tower, an older residential building, a hotel, a healthcare facility, or a mixed-use occupancy. Regardless of the occupancy type, firefighters must understand the building, the fire, the occupants, and the operational challenges that develop as companies move higher into the structure.
IHROC recognizes that no single department has all the answers. Firefighters in New York, Madrid, Hong Kong, Karachi, and Florida all confront many of the same problems. Sharing those experiences improves tactics, strengthens decision-making, and helps firefighters prepare for incidents that may occur in their own response areas. The conference creates an opportunity to exchange ideas, evaluate operational performance, and learn from firefighters who have faced these challenges firsthand.
The recent fires highlighted in our daily brief serve as reminders that high-rise incidents remain one of the most demanding environments in the fire service. Smoke still moves the same way. Stairwells still determine survivability. Building systems still influence outcomes. Firefighters still carry equipment upward, stretch hose, search for occupants, and make difficult decisions under pressure.
There is nothing foreign about high-rise firefighting. The buildings may change, the languages may change, and the cities may change, but the mission remains the same. Firefighters everywhere continue to go up and hook up.
Join firefighters, company officers, chief officers, instructors, and high-rise specialists from around the world at the International High Rise Operations Conference in Pensacola Beach, Florida. Because the next lesson may come from another country, and the next high-rise fire may happen in your district.
