Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs

What Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs does

The Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs (OAFC) is a not-for-profit professional association founded in 1952 and headquartered at 520 Westney Road South, Unit 22, Ajax, Ontario. It represents more than 700 chief fire officers from 437 fire departments across Ontario, encompassing 32 career, 210 composite, and 195 volunteer departments, collectively covering 30,716 firefighters (18,281 volunteer, 11,971 career, 464 part-time) and serving approximately 15 million Ontario residents. Its mandate is to be the recognized authoritative voice on fire and emergency services management and delivery in Ontario, working cooperatively with the provincial government and the Office of the Fire Marshal on legislation, policy, and public safety.

The OAFC's core offerings are organized around membership, education, events, marketplaces, and public safety. Members access tiered programs (Individual, Industry, Associate, Retired, Lifetime) and resources such as the Humber Fire Service Executive Management Certificate Program, Fleet Signing Authority Certification, OFM-aligned training resources, and the OAFC Online Learning Series. The association runs annual touchpoints including FireCon, the Annual General Meeting and Trade Show, the Labour Relations Seminar, and Town Halls. Marketplace and commercial surfaces include an online store (Fire Service Licence Plates at $82.15 per set plus shipping, plus branded merchandise), a used-equipment marketplace, the Fire Service Buyer's Guide with 112+ supplier listings, and a job postings board. Public-safety programming spans smoke and carbon-monoxide alarm education, seasonal safety guidance, and partnerships with RONA, First Alert Canada, and the Ontario Real Estate Association.

The business model is a diversified, subscription-and-event driven not-for-profit revenue base: membership dues across five categories, paid event registrations, training and certification fees, marketplace and directory fees, e-commerce sales, and corporate sponsorships. There is no proprietary technology product; the technology stack is a Drupal-based website, an e-commerce storefront, and virtual learning delivery. Governance is provided by an elected Board of Directors supported by a small staff, with the Section 21 committee providing the formal advisory channel to the Ontario Fire Marshal on firefighter health, safety, and operational guidance.

Name

Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs

Legal name

Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs

Website

https://oafc.on.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs is a 1952-founded not-for-profit association representing 700+ chief fire officers from 437 Ontario fire departments, delivering membership services, training certification, annual events, marketplaces, and public fire-safety education across the province.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Fire & Rescue Services (Fire Suppression, Rescue) (BPAIAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fire Prevention, Inspection & Code Enforcement (Life Safety) (BPAIAGAL), Firefighter & Fire Service Training (EDAOAMAB)

Keywords

• Fire service association
• Public safety education
• Professional development training
• Fire safety advocacy
• Membership association services

Headquarters

HQ city

Ajax

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership and Event Services: As a not-for-profit association, the OAFC generates revenue through membership fees, event registrations, training programs, an online store selling merchandise and licence plates, marketplace advertising, and corporate sponsorships.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs is a not-for-profit membership association that represents fire chiefs and fire departments across Ontario. It delivers professional development, training programs, annual conferences (FireCon, AGM), advocacy on legislation and public policy, governance support, public safety education, and operates marketplaces for used equipment, job postings, and branded merchandise such as Fire Service Licence Plates.

Product overview

The Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs (OAFC) operates as a not-for-profit professional association representing fire chiefs across Ontario, offering a portfolio of membership services, professional development programs, and marketplaces rather than a unified technology product. The core offerings include: Education and Training Programs (Humber Fire Service Executive Management Certificate, OFM Training Resources, OAFC Online Learning Series); Events (FireCon annual conference, Annual General Meeting and Trade Show, Labour Relations Seminar); Marketplace services (OAFC Online Store for branded merchandise, Fire Service Licence Plates, Used Equipment marketplace, Fire Service Buyer's Guide directory); Career services (Job Postings board); and Public Safety Education resources (fire prevention information, CO alarms, smoke alarm programs, seasonal safety guidance, and partnerships with RONA and OREA for community outreach). The association serves 437 fire departments representing 30,716 firefighters across Ontario.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Education and Training Programs Comprehensive firefighter education and professional development programs including the Humber Fire Service Executive Management Certificate, OFM Training Resources, the OAFC Online Learning Series, and certification courses designed for fire service professionals in Ontario.
• FireCon Conference and Trade Show Annual comprehensive training event for firefighters and emergency first responders in northwestern Ontario, featuring a professional trade show with the latest equipment, technologies, and services.
• Annual General Meeting and Trade Show Annual general meeting combined with a trade show for fire service industry networking, governance, and education.
• Labour Relations Seminar Annual seminar addressing labour relations issues for fire service leadership and human resources professionals.
• OAFC Online Learning Series Virtual educational seminars and online learning opportunities for fire service professionals.
• OAFC Online Store Online retail store selling OAFC-branded merchandise including apparel, accessories, promotional items, and Fire Service Licence Plates.
• Fire Service Licence Plates Official fire service licence plate sets sold by the OAFC, priced at $82.15 per set plus shipping and not including taxes.
• Used Equipment Marketplace Classifieds platform for fire departments to buy and sell used fire service equipment including pumper tankers, wildland units, command units, and UTVs.
• Fire Service Buyer's Guide Searchable directory of fire service equipment suppliers and service providers, featuring 112+ supplier listings, organized by category and company name.
• Job Postings Board Career marketplace for posting and viewing fire service job listings including Fire Chief, Deputy Fire Chief, Fire Training Coordinator, and Firefighter positions.
• RONA and First Alert Canada Fire Prevention Events Collaborative fire prevention education events held at RONA stores across Ontario during Fire Prevention Month, featuring firefighter information sessions, fire escape planning exercises, and safety giveaways with First Alert Canada.
• Carbon Monoxide Alarms Program Public-facing educational resources and information about carbon monoxide alarm installation, maintenance, and safety practices for homeowners and landlords.
• Real Estate Smoke Alarm Challenge Public safety campaign in partnership with the Ontario Real Estate Association to promote fire prevention best practices through realtor-client education and smoke alarm awareness.
• Public Safety Resources Comprehensive public-facing fire safety information covering fire and carbon monoxide hazards, smoke alarms, fire escape plans, fire extinguishers, home sprinklers, seasonal safety, and role-specific safety guidance for business owners, homeowners, landlords, and tenants.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• First Alert CanadacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with First Alert Canada and RONA for Fire Prevention Month events throughout Ontario. Fire departments host education and fire safety information sessions at RONA stores, with First Alert providing public education/fire prevention kits including activity books, stickers, crayons, red fire helmets, and smoke/CO alarm brochures.
• RONAcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRONA hosts fire prevention and fire safety information sessions at stores across Ontario during Fire Prevention Month. As one of the world's largest home improvement retailers, RONA provides in-store locations and promotional support for fire safety education events.
• Ontario Fire AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOntario Fire Academy provides fire service training and education. Featured as a partner on the OAFC website, offering professional development opportunities for firefighters.
• Firehall BookstoreminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAnnex/Firehall Bookstore serves as a distributor for fire service books and educational materials, featured as a partner on the OAFC website.
• Canadian Automatic Sprinkler Association (CASA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCASA partners with OAFC to provide live virtual educational seminars on automatic sprinkler systems and fire safety.
• Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerOAFC partnered with OREA for the #RealEstateSmokeAlarmChallenge campaign to promote fire prevention best practices through Ontario's real estate agents and improve safety of Ontarians.
• Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with the Office of the Fire Marshal on public fire safety initiatives including the 12 Days of Holiday Fire Safety campaign.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA): U.S.-based global standards and codes organization for fire and life safety. Less a direct competitor but a comparable professional constituency organization — training, codes/standards, and member-driven — that commands significant industry sponsorship and training revenue.
• International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC): Established U.S.-based international association of fire chiefs offering similar training, conferences, and advocacy services at a much larger scale. Comparable product offerings (training, certification, standards work) but operates a much broader geography and has larger industry-membership revenue.

Direct peers

• Fire Chiefs' Association of British Columbia: Provincial fire chiefs association in British Columbia with parallel structure to OAFC: membership-based, training and advocacy focus, events-driven. Functionally the same product set (membership dues, conferences, training, public safety education) targeted at a different provincial membership base.
• Alberta Fire Chiefs Association: Alberta's provincial fire chiefs association representing chiefs from across the province. Closely comparable to OAFC in mandate, membership categories, training programs, and event portfolio (annual conference, training, advocacy).
• Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC): National-level Canadian association of fire chiefs with the same membership-based operating model as OAFC. Directly comparable in mission, services (training, advocacy, conferences), and revenue model — essentially the national counterpart the OAFC cannot extend into without geographic expansion.

Emerging players

• National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC): U.S.-based nonprofit advocating for volunteer firefighters, with similar training, grants, and advocacy offerings. Overlaps with the volunteer/composite department segment of OAFC's constituency (195 volunteer + 210 composite departments in Ontario).
• Ontario Fire Academy: Ontario-based fire service training provider that is a strategic co-development partner of OAFC. Overlaps in training delivery to the same fire service audience, though OAFC is more of a convener/aggregator while the Academy is a direct training provider.
• Fire Department Safety Officers Association (FDSOA): International association focused on safety officers within fire departments. Offers certification programs and training in a subset of the fire service leadership space where OAFC also operates (e.g., Humber Executive Management Certificate). Comparable revenue model (training, certification, conferences) but narrower scope.

Others

• Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE): International professional society for fire protection engineers. Adjacent rather than directly competing — serves engineering professionals rather than operational fire chiefs — but comparable in the association/membership/training revenue model and operates in the same broader fire safety ecosystem.
• Office of the Fire Marshal (Ontario): Government public safety counterpart in Ontario that OAFC partners with (Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council) on shared campaigns and the Section 21 advisory committee. Not a peer commercially but a strategic counterpart whose relationship with OAFC is central to the OAFC's advocacy value.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ONFireChiefs
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/Ontario-Association-of-Fire-Chiefs/570718659627505
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ontario-association-of-fire-chiefs
• Instagraminstagram.com/onfirechiefs/?igsh=dGF3eGQ1cWJncWhj#

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs