NC State Fire Marshal Brian Taylor

06/02/2026

Had the opportunity to speak today at the South Carolina Fire Marshals Association Annual Conference.

A big thank you to South Carolina State Fire Marshal Jonathan Jones for the introduction and invitation to share North Carolina’s experience with Hurricane Helene recovery efforts.

I spoke with more than 150 South Carolina fire marshals about the challenges we faced, lessons learned along the way, and some of the changes we believe are needed to better prepare for future disasters. While every event is different, there’s a lot we can learn from one another.

I appreciate the chance to share our story and continue building strong partnerships across state lines. Thanks to everyone who attended and participated in the discussion.

05/27/2026

We had a great meeting with Chief Matheis and his team to discuss how we can collaborate in the best interest of the U.S. Fire Service. It was really encouraging to see that Chief Matheis understands the importance of State Fire Marshals in achieving success.🇺🇸

05/27/2026

The NASFM Executive Board had the honor of meeting with newly appointed U.S. Fire Administrator Chief Paul Matheis to discuss strengthening partnerships and enhancing emergency readiness across the states.

Also participating in the meeting were FEMA Deputy Administrator Charles Wollenhaupt, NASFM President Michael Desrochers, Vice President Brian Taylor, Treasurer Sean Toomey, and Chief Butch Browning. Together, these leaders remain committed to collaboration, innovation, and improving preparedness for communities nationwide.

05/25/2026

Memorial Day always serves as an important reminder that freedom comes at a cost. Today, Kathy and I are thinking about the brave men and women who gave their lives serving our country, along with the families who continue to carry that loss every single day. Their sacrifice is something we should never take for granted. As we spend time with our family and friends this weekend, we hope everyone takes a moment to remember what this day is truly about and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. We are thankful for our freedom for those that sacrificed all.

05/21/2026

The NC Fire Service Legislative Day was a resounding success. More than 200 firefighters visited Raleigh to champion initiatives such as enhanced retirement benefits, modifications to existing cancer benefits, and various other endeavors benefiting fire services and their communities. It is a privilege to serve this state and represent the NC Fire Service.

05/19/2026

It was great catching up with my friend Brad Creasy, Director of Fire Programs for Virginia, and his team during their visit to the State Emergency Training Center.

I always enjoy the opportunity to share ideas and learn from each other. Partnerships like these matter, especially when it comes to training and preparing for disaster response.

Looking forward to continuing to work alongside our neighbors to the north.

05/18/2026

Last week at the North Carolina Association of Fire Chief Conference, there were a lot of productive conversations happening around the future of emergency response, public safety, and disaster recovery in North Carolina.
I appreciated the opportunity to be there, listen, and help clarify facts surrounding some of the ongoing discussions and proposals. These conversations matter because the decisions being made impact firefighters, emergency responders, and communities across our state every single day.
One thing that stood out to me all week was the shared commitment from so many leaders across North Carolina to keep improving how we serve people during emergencies and disasters. We may not all agree on every detail, but having honest conversations and focusing on facts is how progress gets made.
Appreciate everyone who took the time to talk, ask questions, and work toward solutions.

05/12/2026

For clarification, all funds were distributed as directed by the General Assembly, we believe those dollars should stay focused on helping North Carolina fire and rescue agencies prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.

This bill lines up with FEMA reform discussions happening across the country and supports a faster, more efficient response model with fewer delays and more support getting directly to the people on the ground.

A number of national fire service organizations support this direction, including the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI)-National Advisory Council, National Association of State Fire Marshal( NASFM), Metro Chiefs-National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), and United States Fire Administration (USFA).

A Senate bill would shift key disaster response authority from NC Emergency Management to the Office of the State Fire Marshal and redirect nearly $5 million in remaining Helene recovery funds.

05/10/2026

May 8 is always a day that stays with me. I had the privilege of attending the North Carolina Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Raleigh, and it’s something you don’t walk away from unchanged.

Today at the Fallen Firefighters Memorial, I am honored to stand there with the families, hearing the names, and feeling the weight of each one—it’s deeply personal. These aren’t just names on a memorial. They’re fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, friends…people who answered the call and gave everything. Moments like this remind me why we do what we do. It’s about service, but it’s also about honoring those who came before us and making sure their sacrifice is never forgotten.
I’m grateful for the time to reflect, to pay my respects, and to stand with a community that continues to carry their legacy forward every single day.

05/09/2026

This week, the FEMA Review Council released its final recommendations, and I’m thankful to have had the opportunity to provide input on behalf of NASFM and our State.

One thing was clear from conversations across the country — states and local communities need the funding, resources, and flexibility to support and coordinate during disaster response.

Fire departments are the front line every single day, and they need the support to continue doing that job well.

We’ve learned a lot through past disasters, and I’m proud some of those lessons helped shape this national conversation.

I appreciate the great work done by this committee and the collaboration from our fire service, our partners, including CFSI and NAC, as we continue working to elevate and strengthen the U.S. Fire Administrator’s role as part of FEMA’s transformation.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EFpn9UpuC/

On May 7th, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Review Council finalized its report following its final council meeting. The recommendations included items related to a focus on shifting disaster response to the state and local level, staffing levels in FEMA, and the speed of federal disaster relief funds. View the Full Report at https://bit.ly/4u38IiX