Syracuse to host major fire chiefs conference, expo in June 2026

Syracuse is set to become a regional training hub for fire, rescue and EMS leaders when the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs brings its 120th Annual Conference & FIRE 2026 Expo to The Oncenter in downtown Syracuse. The four-day event runs June 10-13, with Hands-On Training scheduled June 10-12 at the Syracuse Fire Department Training Center.

For Onondaga County, the gathering lands in a place where fire service is not abstract. The county has dozens of fire departments, including the Syracuse Fire Department and many volunteer companies, and that local density makes shared training and statewide networking especially valuable. NYSAFC bills the expo as the Northeast’s premier fire industry, rescue and EMS educational event, and the setup reflects that mission: exhibits, fire and EMS classes, accredited training opportunities, and hands-on instruction for first responders of all ranks.

The training center component matters most for local capacity. The Syracuse Fire Department Training Division says its training meets or exceeds current state and federal requirements, and hosting outside instructors there gives local crews access to methods and equipment they can use long after the conference ends. In a county where mutual aid is routine and department sizes vary widely, that kind of common ground can help chiefs, officers and line firefighters work from the same playbook when calls cross municipal lines.

The conference also carries a governance angle. NYSAFC members will vote on proposed constitution and by-laws changes during the 120th annual conference, a reminder that the event is not just about classroom hours and vendor booths. It is also a place where the state’s fire-service leadership can set rules, priorities and organizational direction for the year ahead.

Registration materials list the full-term conference pass at $50 for NYSAFC members and $100 for non-members. That pass includes a four-day entry to the exhibits, education programs and activities. One-day expo-only tickets are free through FIRE 2026 exhibitors, children 15 and under get free entry to the exhibits, and pre-registered attendees staying at least three days can access conference housing options.

The June 12 program adds a memorial and reflective element with the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb & Walk and a roundtable discussion titled “With the Last Lions.” Those sessions, alongside the training blocks and exhibit floor at 800 South State Street, reinforce the larger purpose for Syracuse and Onondaga County: building skill, strengthening ties and leaving local responders better connected after the expo closes.