California Hosts Second Annual BESS Safety Symposium
The Office of the State Fire Marshal hosted the Second Annual Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) Safety Symposium on August 20, 2026, in Orange County, California, in conjunction with the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) Fire Prevention and Safety Symposium. The event brought together fire service leaders, code officials, and industry experts to share insights and best practices in the rapidly evolving BESS landscape. As California leads the nation in battery storage deployment, with gigawatts of capacity operational and under construction, fire safety and emergency response protocols have become critical priorities.