Delegates from more than 50 countries gathered in Washington on Tuesday to bolster efforts for addressing climate-driven wildfires.
The inaugural meeting of the World Fire Congress is an international initiative aimed at reducing the health and safety risks of blazes that are becoming bigger and more complex around the world.
Along with the growing effects that climate change is having on the timing and ferocity of fires, delegates also said intensifying risks are affecting the ability of firefighting services to recruit and retain people in an already dangerous career path.
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They also pointed to another emerging threat: technologies, such as lithium-ion batteries, that can burn for hours and are a growing public safety concern.
