Known as "Mr. Fire Prevention," Percy Bugbee is recognized as one of America's pioneers in fire safety and prevention, with nearly 70 years of service in the fire industry. As the National Fire Protection Association's chief administrative officer and general manager for more than 30 years, Bugbee grew what had been a fledgling organization with a small, focused group of 5,000 members into a dynamic, diversified association whose membership more than quadrupled under his leadership. He was a man of vision and action who not only inspired his peers around the nation, but actively reached out to international organizations to improve fire safety worldwide.

After graduating from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1920, Bugbee was hired in 1921 as nfpa's first field engineer. "Perk," as he was called by friends, identified the 50 U.S. cities with the worst fire records and set out to talk to their fire chiefs. Many people thought he was selling fire insurance when, in truth, he was working to promote the adoption of codes and standards to reduce fire's burden on the public. He searched for ways to enhance fire safety in various types of occupancies, such as hospital operating rooms, industrial plants and offices. In the end, Bugbee's persistence persuaded communities throughout the country to form fire protection committees and implement fire codes.

By 1939, Bugbee became nfpa's general manager and chief administrative officer, a position he held until his retirement in 1969. During his tenure, Bugbee initiated and participated in numerous advances in fire protection worldwide. He acted as counselor on fire safety to the nation's leaders in times of war and peace, earning a Merit Citation from the Secretary of the Navy for his World War ii service.

In the early 1960s, Bugbee organized the Confederation of Fire Protection Associations International. As the group's first honorary president, he helped unify and strengthen global approaches to fire protection. Today, cfpa-i includes organizations representing 22 countries.

As a member of the National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control, Bugbee was a critical contributor to the 1973 report "America Burning," which was largely responsible for the establishment of the U.S. Fire Administration and National Fire Academy. In addition, Bugbee authored several other publications, including "Men Against Fire" and "A Brief History of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers." In 1978, he wrote "Principles of Fire Protection," which served as the leading fire science textbook in the United States, and continues to be updated and valued as an indispensable resource.

Bugbee's commitment to the adoption of codes and standards and the establishment of fire prevention bureaus began the conversion of the U.S. fire service from the reactive, suppression-only force he observed, to the proactive, education, inspection, prevention and suppression service it is today.