New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control

**Vision and Mission** **Our Vision** The New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control strives to be the leader in fire services, delivering the highest quality most comprehensive training, response and technical assistance programs to emergency responders, local entities and the citizens of the State of New York. Office of Fire Prevention and Control programs have created the best trained most effective professional emergency response force in the nation, the safest colleges and universities, and the lowest rate of arson fires per capita in the United States. **Our Mission** The Office of Fire Prevention and Control will deliver a wide breadth of services to firefighters, emergency responders, state and local government agencies, public and private colleges, and the citizens of New York. The Office advances public safety through firefighter training, education, fire prevention, investigative, special operations and technical rescue programs. The timely delivery of these essential services enables the Office to make significant contributions to the safety of all of New York State. **History** The New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control (OFPC) was originally established shortly after World War II as the Division of Safety in the state Office for Local Government. From lessons learned about civil defense during the war, the Division was tasked with establishing a statewide fire mobilization and mutual aid plan, creating a standardized firefighter training program and adopting statewide emergency radio frequencies. Growing exponentially from these roots, to include codification as the Office of Fire Prevention and Control in 1979, OFPC has developed to become one of the most comprehensive state fire service organizations in the nation. The legislation outlining OFPC's responsibilities exists primarily, although not exclusively, within [Article 6-C of the Executive Law](https://www.dhses.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2021/12/ex-6-c.pdf). **Administration** The Office of Fire Prevention and Control (OFPC) is headed by the State Fire Administrator, a position filled by gubernatorial appointment. In addition to directing the staff and operations of OFPC, the State Fire Administrator is a member of the New York State Disaster Preparedness Commission and the State Fire Prevention and Building Code Council, and chairs the [Advisory Council for Fire Prevention and Control](https://www.dhses.ny.gov/advisory-council-fire-prevention-and-control "Advisory Council for Fire Prevention and Control"). **Branches** The OFPC is organized into the following Branches: - **Operational Support Branch** - **Fire and Life Safety Branch** - **Hazardous Materials Branch** - **Technical Rescue Branch** - **Fire Training and Education Branch** - **Investigations Branch**