International High-Rise Operations Conference (IHROC) 2026

The International High-Rise Operations Conference (IHROC) 2026, delivered in strategic partnership with County Fire Tactics, is a five-day research-focused program scheduled for November 9–13, 2026, in Pensacola Beach, Florida. This landmark event aims to advance the global understanding of high-rise firefighting operations through structured education, rigorous timed evaluations, and comprehensive data analysis. The conference brings together firefighters, instructors, researchers, and incident commanders from across North America and abroad to conduct extensive performance studies, capturing measurable data across twelve critical high-rise operational challenges. Attendees will engage in an integrated training and research environment, including classroom instruction on fire dynamics and deployment models, hands-on circuit training with wet and dry evolutions, timed task evaluations focusing on standpipe operations, vertical movement, water supply, lithium-ion considerations, and wind-impacted fire behavior, as well as improvised standpipe operations. The final two days are dedicated to comprehensive, data-driven review and analysis to contribute to future tactical models, academic research, and evidence-based best practices for high-rise firefighting. It emphasizes that nearly 50% of high-rise buildings are unprotected or experience suppression system failures, making this event a crucial laboratory for operational readiness. The mission is to define the global benchmark for high-rise operations, stressing that 'Strong Tactics require Strong Research.'