National Volunteer Fire Council

NVFC Training Summit
2024-06-21 - 2024-06-22 | Hyatt Regency Buffalo Hotel and Conference Center, 2 Fountain Plaza, Buffalo, NY, 14202, United States
This signature NVFC conference provides an opportunity to participate in valuable classroom training, idea sharing, and networking. Sessions focus on responder health and safety, volunteer recruitment and retention, and emergency service leadership. Travel stipends are available.

Partners in Training Crew Training -- Sebastopol, CA
2024-06-15 - 2024-06-16 | Graton Fire Department, 3750 Gravenstein Hwy N, Sebastopol, CA, 95472, United States
The Partners in Training (PIT) Crew program provides free hazmat train-the-trainer courses to first responders to help them educate others in their departments and communities on hazmat safety and response.
When: June 15-16, 2024
Where: Graton Fire Department, 3750 Gravenstein Hwy N, Sebastopol, CA 95472
Hosted by: Graton Fire Protection District and the National Volunteer Fire Council
Courses being offered:

Teaching Hazmat Basics (7 hours)
Teaching Cargo Tank Awareness – MC 306 & DOT 406 (3 hours)
Instructor Training for Placards, Labels, and Markings (3 hours)

Day of Action: OSHA Proposed Standard
2024-06-12
This nationwide Day of Action, hosted by the NVFC, encourages members of the volunteer fire service to learn more about the proposed OSHA Emergency Response Standard and formulate comments on how the standard would impact your department. Special virtual events will take place throughout the day to help answer your questions, including:

10am ET – Q&A on Facebook with David Denniston, chair of the NVFC’s OSHA Task Force
1-2pm ET – Office Hours with Ryan Woodward, NVFC’s chief of legislative and regulatory affairs
Virtual comment-writing groups throughout the day on the NVFC’s member platform, Volunteer Voices (NVFC members can login and go to the “OSHA Day of Action – Comment Writing Group” to post questions and/or share advice on the comments you plan to share with OSHA)

Learn more at www.nvfc.org/day-of-action-on-proposed-osha-standard/.

Webinar: Moral Injury -- Peeling Back the Layers of PTSD
2024-06-11 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Instructor: Wendy Norris
First responders are routinely exposed to traumatic events, and many are still suffering from the psychological toll of frontline work during the pandemic. Experiencing these traumas and situations that go against a person’s deeply held beliefs and expectations can result in post-traumatic stress or a moral injury. In this webinar, presented by Wendy Norris, discover how moral distress and survivor guilt impact the mental well-being of first responders and learn practical strategies to overcome these challenges. This session will also offer insights into coping with traumatic events and reconnecting with our values. Register.

This webinar is sponsored by ESO.

Iowa Firefighters Memorial Service
2024-06-09 08:00 - 17:00 | Iowa Firefighters Memorial, 1 Russell Slade Boulevard, Coralville, IA, 52241, United States

Wildfire Home Assessment Training
2024-06-08 09:00 - 17:00 | Terra Du Lac Fire Department, 409 Champs Elysees, Bonne Terre, MO, 63628, United States
When: June 8, 9am-5pm CDT
Where: Terra Du Lac Fire Department, 40 Champs Elysees, Bonne Terre, MO 63628
What: Learn the fundamentals of assessing a home for wildfire and put your classroom knowledge into action with hands-on training
Register: https://bit.ly/WFAP-MO

Wildfire Home Assessment Training
2024-06-08 - 2024-06-09 | Milpitas Police Department Community Room, 1275 N. Milpitas Blvd, Milpitas, CA, 95035, United States
When: June 8, 8am-5pm PT; June 9, 8am-12pm PT
Where: Milpitas Police Department Community Room, 1275 N. Milpitas Blvd, Milpitas, CA 95035
What: Learn the fundamentals of assessing a home for wildfire and put your classroom knowledge into action with hands-on training
Register: https://bit.ly/WFAP-Milpitas

Webinar: Advancements in Utility-Scale Battery Energy Storage Safety Features, Standards, and Practices
2024-06-05 14:00 - 15:00
Utility-scale battery energy storage is a critical component to achieving decarbonization objectives while maintaining a reliable and resilient power grid. Deployment of utility-scale battery energy storage capacity is accelerating dramatically in the U.S. However, both local firefighters and people living near proposed energy storage project sites have questions about the safety of these facilities. This presentation by Mike Simpson of AES will address the characteristics of lithium-ion battery energy storage systems (BESS), potential hazards such as thermal runaway, and new approaches to mitigate those risks. These advancements encompass equipment safety approaches; a four-stage approach to effective protection against thermal runaway; advancements in enclosure design; monitoring systems; standardized testing; codes and standards; safety evaluation processes; and passive and active safety measures. The presentation will also provide examples of how clean energy project developers can work together most effectively with local fire departments on hazard mitigation analyses, project site design refinements, and emergency response planning to further enhance energy storage safety. Register.

This webinar is sponsored by AES.

Roundtable Talk: Safety Stand Down – Building the Foundation of a Successful Fire Department Training Program
2024-06-04 11:00 - 12:00
Presenters: Jim Barnhart (FDSOA), Sean DeCrane (IAFF), Bob Duval (NFPA), Tom Miller (NVFC), John Schmidt (IAFC), and Darin Wallentine (IAFC, moderator)
A solid training program that is built on relevancy and safety serves as the foundation of every successful fire department. That’s why the 2024 Safety Stand Down theme is “Fire Training: Back to Basics.” Get ready for Safety Stand Down with this Roundtable Talk on June 4 at 11am ET featuring a panel of experts from the NVFC, IAFC, IAFF, NFPA, and FDSOA. Discussion will delve into the following:

Why this year’s theme is important.
The daily focus areas of building the foundation of a training program, assessing the needs of the community and department, safety during training, physical and behavioral/mental health considerations, and the 12 Foundations of Fire Department Training.
How your department can participate in Safety Stand Down.

Register.

Webinar: Managing Combination Departments -- Leadership Challenges
2024-05-29 14:00 - 15:00
Instructor: Quentin Cash
Leading a combination department with both career and volunteer personnel can bring unique challenges for officers. This webinar will provide an overview of challenging issues and considerations facing emergency service leaders and chief officers in combination department settings. Topics covered will include administration, delegation, setting expectations, mentoring, and human resource issues, among others. Presenter Quentin Cash will also provide tips and tools to produce success around communications, leadership, and supervision. Register.

This webinar is sponsored by Amazon Business.

Roundtable Talk: Proposed OSHA Standard Update and Working with Local Government
2024-05-23 14:00 - 15:00
Panelists: Brett Mattson, Yucel (u-jel) Ors, and Ryan Woodward (moderator)
If adopted as written, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) proposed Emergency Response Standard would bring immense challenges to volunteer departments, and some may even be forced to shut down. This proposed rule could also have a significant broader impact on local governments. The NVFC will host a roundtable discussion with representatives from the National League of Cities and the National Association of Counties to highlight areas of mutual concerns and provide recommendations on how volunteer departments can collaborate with their local government to express these concerns to OSHA. Register.

Roundtable Talk: Answering the Call – Volunteer EMS Recruitment & Retention Strategies
2024-05-22 14:00 - 15:00
Panelists: Candice McDonald (moderator), Eric Quinney, Pam Rogers, and Jules Scadden
Emergency medical incidents make up the largest segment of emergency calls in most communities. Volunteer fire departments need a forward-thinking plan to maintain sufficient emergency medical services (EMS) staffing. Join the NVFC and an expert panel for a Roundtable Talk on May 22 to discuss volunteer recruitment and retention for EMS. As communities face increasing demands for emergency response, maintaining a robust volunteer force is essential. This discussion will highlight effective strategies and innovative approaches aimed at addressing this challenge, from targeted outreach programs to fostering a supportive volunteer culture. Register.

Partners in Training Crew Training -- Wenatchee, WA
2024-05-17 - 2024-05-18 | Wenatchee Convention Center, 121 N Wenatchee Ave, Wenatchee, WA, 98801, United States
The Partners in Training (PIT) Crew program provides hazmat train-the-trainer courses to first responders to help them educate others in their departments and communities on hazmat safety and response.
When: May 17-18, 2024
Where: Wenatchee Convention Center, 121 N Wenatchee Ave, Wenatchee, WA 98801
Hosted by: Washington State Firefighters’ Association 101st Annual Fire School and Conference / the National Volunteer Fire Council
Courses being offered:

Instructor Training for Flammable Liquids (3 hours)
Instructor Training for Flammable Gases (3 hours)

Roundtable Talk: Proposed OSHA Standard Update and What It Means for Volunteer Fire Departments
2024-05-16 13:00 - 14:00
Presenters: Dave Denniston, Bruce Lundegren, Ryan Woodward
On February 5, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published a proposed rule revising its emergency response standard. This is the first time OSHA revised this standard since 1980, and the public has until June 21 to provide comments. If enacted as is, this proposed rule would bring immense challenges to volunteer departments, and some may even be forced to shut down. It is important that the volunteer fire service understand how this rule would impact them and provide their comments to OSHA before June 21. This NVFC Roundtable Talk will highlight some of the biggest concerns with the proposed revised emergency standard, discuss which volunteers will be impacted, explain the NVFC’s strategy for addressing the proposed revision, and suggest best practices for departments wishing to comment on the revisions.
The text of the proposed revised OSHA emergency response standard, information on how to submit comments, and more can be found here.
Register.

Webinar: Responding to Warehouses and High Challenge Facilities – Considerations for Volunteer Departments
2024-05-15 14:00 - 15:00
Warehouses utilizing robotics and other high challenge facilities bring a set of difficulties for volunteer fire departments, who may not be used to dealing with these technologies. While responding to emergency incidents in these types of facilities is not common, when they do happen the risk is high. This webinar will introduce participants to some of the high challenge facilities that they may encounter. Join speaker Michael Spaziani of FM Global as he helps participants better understand the challenges and how to prepare for an emergency response to the facility. Register.

This webinar is sponsored by Stonehouse Media.

Webinar: Update from OSHA on the Proposed Emergency Response Standard
2024-05-09 14:00 - 15:00
On February 5, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published the proposed new Emergency Response Standard, and the public has until June 21 to provide comments. If adopted as is, this proposed standard would bring immense challenges to volunteer departments, and some may even be forced to shut down. It is important that the volunteer fire and emergency service understand how this rule would impact them and provide their comments to OSHA before June 21. This NVFC presentation will allow you to hear directly from OSHA staff about how volunteers would be impacted by this standard and what you can do to make your voice heard. Register.
Please note: Due to this being a pending federal rulemaking, the presenters from OSHA will not be able to take comments on the proposed standard. They will only be able to provide clarifications on the content of notice of proposed rulemaking or guidance on where and how to submit a public comment.

Webinar: Protecting Houses of Worship from Arson
2024-05-06 14:00 - 15:00
Presenters from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA): Joseph Larkin, section chief, Stakeholder Engagement Division; Victoria M. Rossi, supervisory intelligence specialist, CISA Intel – Analysis Branch; and Bob Winters, protective security advisor
Arson Awareness Week is May 5-11 and this year’s theme is “Protecting Houses of Worship – Fire as a Weapon.” The NVFC and USFA are holding a webinar to support this year’s theme with representatives from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Briefings will include a historical review of attacks on houses of worship using fire as the weapon; a threat and intelligence review of current threat actors, targets, and trends; and a discussion on preventing, protecting, mitigating, and response and recovery for arson events involving houses of worship. There will be a question and answer period following the briefings. Register.

Partners in Training Crew Training -- Marcy, NY
2024-05-04 - 2024-05-05 | Maynard FD Station 1, 9500 Maynard Drive, Marcy, NY, 13403, United States
The Partners in Training (PIT) Crew program provides free hazmat train-the-trainer courses to first responders to help them educate others in their departments and communities on hazmat safety and response.
When: May 4-5, 2024
Where: Maynard FD Station 1, 9500 Maynard Drive, Marcy, NY 13403
Hosted by: Maynard FD and the National Volunteer Fire Council
Courses being offered:

Teaching Scenario Based Hazmat
Instructor Training for Flammable Gases
Instructor Training for Ammonia

National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend
2024-05-04 - 2024-05-05 | National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Park, 16825 S Seton Ave, Emmitsburg, MD, 21727, United States

Webinar: Wildfire — It Knows No Boundaries
2024-05-01 14:00 - 15:00
Instructor: Bill Arsenault
Each year, the frequency and intensity of wildfires are growing. They are destroying land across the globe and are taking lives in communities and firefighting organizations of every size. In fact, the U.S. Fire Administration reports that between 1990 and 2020, there were 522 firefighters killed while involved in brush, grass, or wildland fire response. In this webinar, presenter Bill Arsenault will provide a look into the wildfire landscape of the past 30 years, what has changed for the fire service, and what we must do to be more effective in our preparedness and response. Register.

NVFC Spring Meeting
2024-04-25 - 2024-04-27 | Renaissance Arlington Capital View, 2800 South Potomac Ave., Arlington, VA, 22202, United States
Annual spring meeting of the NVFC board of directors.

National Fire & Emergency Services Dinner and Symposium
2024-04-24 - 2024-04-25 | Washington Hilton, DC, United States

Webinar: Pipeline Safety and Emergency Response
2024-04-17 14:00 - 15:00
Instructor: David Bullard, Columbia County Fire Rescue
In conjunction with National Safe Digging Month, join the NVFC and Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration for this webinar on how emergency service departments can best prepare for pipeline safety and response in your community. In this session, you’ll learn how to identify if your community has pipelines – and what’s in them – and how to identify transmission versus distribution and gathering lines. The session will also discuss working with pipeline operators, understanding your response capabilities, and how to train effectively for a pipeline event. Register.

This webinar is made possible by the USDOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

FDIC International
2024-04-15 - 2024-04-20 | Indiana Convention Center & Lucas Oil Stadium, 100 South Capitol Avenue, Indianapolis, IN, 46225, United States

Webinar: Fire Service Legislation -- Your Role in Advocacy
2024-04-10 14:00 - 15:00
Instructor: Ryan Woodward
This Congress, the NVFC is supporting funding for Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG), Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants, the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), Volunteer Fire Assistance Grants (VFA), National Firefighter Registry (NFR) for Cancer, and Rural EMS Training (SIREN) Grants. The NVFC is also advocating for the passage of legislation to reauthorize SAFER, AFG, and USFA, fund the renovation and construction of fire stations, improve mental health care for first responders, and expand the eligibility of federal housing benefits to volunteer first responders.
If enacted, each of these policy and funding priorities will greatly assist the volunteer fire service in keeping Americans safe. You, as an NVFC member and volunteer responder, have a valuable role to play in encouraging Congress to act on these initiatives. This webinar presented by Ryan Woodward, NVFC chief of legislative & regulatory affairs, will provide a primer on the current political climate in Washington, the NVFC’s policy priorities, and what you can do to encourage your Senators and Member of Congress to support these priorities. Register.

Iowa Firefighters Association Mid-year Meeting & Banquet
2024-04-06 | Hilton Garden Inn – Cedar Falls, 7213 Nordic Dr., Cedar Falls, IA, 50613, United States

Partners in Training Crew Training -- Edinburg, TX
2024-04-05 - 2024-04-06 | Edinburg Central Fire Station, 212 W McIntyre St, Edinburg, TX, 78541, United States
The Partners in Training (PIT) Crew program provides free hazmat train-the-trainer courses to first responders to help them educate others in their departments and communities on hazmat safety and response.
When: April 5-6, 2024
Where: Edinburg Central Fire Station, 212 W McIntyre St., Edinburg, Texas 78541
Hosted by: Texas A&M Engineering Extension Services (TEEX)
Courses being offered:

Teaching Hazmat Basics (8 hours)
Teaching Cargo Tank Awareness (3 hours)
Instructor Training for Placards, Labels, and Markings (3 hours)
Instructor Training for Ammonia (3 hours)
Instructor Training for Chlorine (3 hours)

Roundtable Talk: National Volunteer Week — 10 Ways to Recognize & Retain Your Volunteers
2024-04-03 14:00 - 15:00
National Volunteer Week is coming up on April 21-27. Join panelists Joel Cerny (moderator), Steven Roberson, and Joyce Shry for a discussion of turnkey ways to recognize your volunteers and enhance long-term volunteer retention during National Volunteer Week and beyond. Register.

This Roundtable Talk is sponsored by ESO.

R&R Coffee Talk: Five Key Strategies for Recruiting Volunteer Drone Operators in Emergency Response
2024-03-21 20:00 - 21:00
Join Chief Joel Cerny & Dr. Candice McDonald as they welcome drone expert Aaron Beckman to discuss strategies for recruiting volunteer drone operators to support your volunteer fire department’s emergency response operations. Register.

This R&R Coffee Talk is sponsored by Fire Dept. Coffee.

Roundtable Talk: Implementing Standards-Based Rescue Training
2024-03-20 14:00 - 15:00
Panelists: Kevin Shea, Kevin Reardon, David Rhodes, Ken Willette (moderator)
Dive into the essentials of implementing standards-based rescue training for fire service professionals in this Roundtable Talk. Led by industry experts, this session will cover key topics including understanding standards, curriculum development, safety protocols, hands-on training, progress monitoring, and fostering ongoing education. Whether you’re looking to enhance operational readiness or ensure compliance with industry standards, this Roundtable Talk will provide valuable insights to elevate your rescue training program. Register.
