National Volunteer Fire Council

Understanding and Mitigating Firesetting Youth Issues – A Guide to Success
2023-05-08 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | MT
Youth firesetting is an ongoing problem throughout the United States and around the world. Fire misuse behaviors in children may be attributed to curiosity or experimentation. Children observe adults using matches/lighters but may not be taught about important fire safety practices. They may also observe unsafe uses of fire in media, videos, and gaming. The fire misuse may be motivated by other things in a child’s life, such as underlying struggles with impulse control, emotional regulation, social/interpersonal skills, childhood trauma, or other behavioral/mental health conditions. This webinar, presented by Karla S. Klas, will share current best practices and tips to prevent and mitigate firesetting youth in communities across the country. Register.

Move Over/Distracted Driving Conference
2023-05-08 - 2023-05-10 | Maritime Conference Center, 692 Maritime Blvd., Linthicum Heights, MD, 21090, United States
NVFC representatives will be among the conference speakers. It will be a hybrid event.

National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend
2023-05-06 - 2023-05-07 | National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Park, 16825 S Seton Ave, Emmitsburg, MD, 21727, United States

International Firefighters Day
2023-05-04 | MT

R&R Coffee Talk with the Doc
2023-04-29 11:30 - 12:00 | MT
Join Dr. Candice “Retention” McDonald and special guest Tiger “Recruitment” Schmittendorf for a live 30-minute discussion via Zoom to connect with others and brainstorm on issues facing today’s volunteer fire service. Join the event on April 29 at 11:30am ET here: bit.ly/NVFCZoom

FDIC
2023-04-24 - 2023-04-29 | Indiana Convention Center & Lucas Oil Stadium, 100 South Capitol Avenue, Indianapolis, IN, 46225, United States
Come visit the NVFC at booth #13016! Also, attend Successful Strategies for Recruiting, Training, and Utilizing Volunteers on April 25, 8am-12pm, presented by the NVFC’s deputy CEO Dr. Candice McDonald.

Webinar: Roadway Safety – Beyond the Basic Traffic Incident Management Class
2023-04-20 14:00 - 15:00 | MT
Many of us have taken the basic four-hour National Traffic Incident Management (TIM) Training Course, but now what? Since 2019, 33 fire and EMS providers have been struck and killed in the United States along with another 173 law enforcement, tow truck operators, and DOT workers. This webinar presented by Todd Leiss will look at next steps for you and your agency including developing an SOP/SOG for roadway safety, additional training, implementing an ongoing training plan, and preparing our personnel, apparatus, and equipment for a safer roadway response. Register.

Roundtable Talk: How to Recruit and Retain Volunteers Despite Challenges
2023-04-18 16:00 - 17:00 | MT
Many volunteer fire and EMS departments struggle to maintain sufficient staffing. Major factors contributing to recruitment challenges include increased time demands, more rigorous training requirements, and the proliferation of two-income families whose members do not have time to volunteer. So, how can departments attract volunteers and encourage them to stick around, despite these challenges? This Roundtable Talk, taking place during National Volunteer Week, will feature a panel of subject matter experts to discuss recruitment and retention strategies that will make volunteering with your fire or EMS department an attractive option. Learn why and how to implement both tangible and non-wage benefits, the value of live-in programs, and how to foster a positive department culture people want to be a part of.
Watch the event live on the NVFC’s Facebook page or register to attend on Zoom.

Webinar: Fire Service Legislation -- Your Role in Advocacy
2023-04-13 14:00 - 15:00 | MT
This Congress, the NVFC will be supporting funding for Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG), Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants (SAFER), the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), Volunteer Fire Assistance Grants (VFA), National Firefighter [Cancer] Registry (NFR), and Rural EMS Training (SIREN) Grants. The NVFC will also be 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 Senator and Member of Congress to support these priorities.
Register.

Volunteer Voices Live: Improving Your Department -- How to Obtain (And Use!) Effective Feedback from Volunteers
2023-04-12 17:00 - 18:15 | MT
An important aspect of recruitment and retention is asking volunteers how they feel about their experiences and using their feedback to make improvements in the department. But how do you narrow down the right questions, how do you ask them, and perhaps most importantly, what do you do with the answers you get? And if you’re not in a leadership position, how can you make sure that your department is listening to your concerns?
This conversation is for all volunteers, whether you serve in a leadership position, as a firefighter or EMS/rescue personnel, or as an administrator. Let’s talk about ways you’ve communicated about what is and isn’t working in your department. How have you shared your thoughts in the past? What methods have you used to gauge volunteers’ experiences? Did you obtain helpful feedback? How did you use the feedback you got to make changes in your department? What about volunteers’ family members…have you asked for their opinions?
This discussion will not be recorded. Discussion notes will be shared in Volunteer Voices after the session.
Moderators:
Tiger Schmittendorf, First Arriving
Dave Denniston, ESIP
Staff:
Rachel Buczynski
Maggie Mojab
Laura Towers
Register here.
See conversation at https://volunteervoices.nvfc.org/discussion/internal-volunteer-firefighter-survey

Webinar: Mentoring Volunteer Firefighters and Leaders - Why You Should Care
2023-04-06 14:00 - 15:00 | MT
Recruiting and retaining volunteers in your department is an important and exciting part of your job as a leader. Understanding why volunteers decide to stay at your department requires individualized relationships and conversations with each person. Mentorship offers a significant return on investment for both the department and the volunteer, and it asks leaders to consider the needs of others on a deeper level. This webinar, presented by NVFC Director (MA) Joe Maruca, will focus on how department leaders can utilize mentorship as a volunteer firefighter recruitment and retention tool. Register.

Roundtable Talk: Protection for All -- Preparing for & Responding to Emergencies Involving Individuals With Developmental Disabilities
2023-03-27 14:00 - 15:00 | MT
First responders are responsible for protecting everyone in their community, and to best do this means adapting to different communication needs to reach all segments of the population. This Roundtable Talk, taking place during Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, will help responders better communicate fire and life safety messages to individuals living with developmental disabilities, better respond to emergencies involving this at-risk population, and learn how to use this knowledge to overcome communication barriers with any demographic in your community. Join the NVFC and a panel of subject matter experts for an informed conversation about this important topic, so you can ensure your community risk reduction and training plans best serve all members of your community.
Panelists include: Meri-K Appy, director of strategic partnerships at Vision 20/20 and national project manager of Sound Off with the Home Fire Safety Patrol; Monica Colby, fire and life safety specialist at Rapid City (SD) Fire Department; Tom Felter, founder of The Emily Talk and longtime first responder; and Brian Focht, fire service veteran and advocate for fire safety involving those with autism.
Watch the event on the NVFC’s Facebook page or register to attend on Zoom.
This Roundtable Talk is sponsored by First Alert. First Alert is the most trusted brand in home safety. For more than 60 years, First Alert has been committed to providing innovative home safety technologies and products to help protect what matters most. For more information, visit www.firstalert.com.

2023 Illinois Fire Inspectors Association Annual Fire and Life Safety Conference
2023-03-22 - 2023-03-24 | Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino, 21 Blackjack Blvd, East Peoria, IL, 61611, United States
The NVFC’s deputy CEO, Dr. Candice McDonald, will give two presentations:

Change YOUR Mindset, Change YOUR Community on March 22, 8:30-10am
Communicating With Candor and NOT Chaos on March 22, 10:30am-12pm

NVFC Regional Wildland Symposium
2023-03-17 - 2023-03-18 | Black Hills State University – Rapid City, 4300 Cheyenne Boulevard, Box Elder, SD, 57719, United States
This wildland fire focused event will be an opportunity for fire and EMS personnel from across the region and country to participate in valuable classroom training as well as exchange ideas and best practices with their peers. The conference is focused on the Plains region, but open to department personnel nationwide.

NVFC Annual Membership Meeting
2023-03-08 13:00 - 14:00 | MT
The Annual Membership Meeting of the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) will be conducted via Zoom on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at 1:00 pm Eastern. This meeting is open to all state, individual, and corporate members of the NVFC. Attendees will hear reports on the NVFC’s business and financial operations. State member representatives may vote on matters raised at the meeting. To attend this meeting, register here.

Webinar -- Putting Out Fires: Verbal De-escalation Tips for the Fire Service
2023-02-23 14:00 - 15:00 | MT
When encountering an upset or angry person in your fire or EMS department, it can be difficult to know what to do. Most de-escalation trainings encourage you to apply logical solutions to emotional situations, which does not work. In this highly interactive webinar presented by Kerry Mensior, you’ll learn effective communication and de-escalation skills that are easy to understand, easy to remember, and even easier to implement in your department. Register.

International Firefighter Cancer Symposium
2023-02-23 - 2023-02-24 | Fire Tower Ballroom, 8000 NW 21st Street, Doral, FL, 33122, United States

Live Discussion: Serve Strong -- The Importance of Firefighter Physicals
2023-02-21 14:00 - 15:00 | MT
February is American Heart Month, and this is a great time for firefighters and EMS providers to focus on their health. Join the NVFC and subject matter experts to learn why it is important for responders to get an annual medical evaluation, how firefighter physicals are different from regular physicals, how departments can implement a physicals programs, and options for firefighters who don’t have a department-wide program.
Panelists include: Kevin D. Quinn, first vice chair and RI director of the NVFC; Dan Kerrigan, director-at-large of the International Association of Fire Chiefs Safety, Health, and Survival Section and author of the bestselling book Firefighter Functional Fitness; Brittany Hollerbach, Ph.D., associate scientist & deputy director of the Center for Fire, Rescue & EMS Health Research; and Richard Kline, retired fire chief and national speaker on firefighter health & safety.
Watch the event on the NVFC’s Facebook page or register to attend on Zoom.

Virginia Fire & Rescue Conference
2023-02-20 - 2023-02-25 | Virginia Beach Convention Center, 1000 19th St, Virginia Beach, VA, 23451, United States
The NVFC’s deputy CEO, Dr. Candice McDonald, will present Engaging Limited Resource Community Members in the Fire Service on Saturday, February 25.

Ohio New Officer Symposium
2023-02-11 - 2023-02-12 | Ohio Fire Academy, 8895 E Main St, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States

Live Discussion: Firefighter Cancer Awareness & Prevention
2023-01-25 14:00 - 15:00 | MT
January is Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month. Join the NVFC and expert panelists to learn more about what types of cancer most commonly affect firefighters, why firefighters face an increased risk of cancer, and what actions you and your department can take to reduce risks and prevent job-related cancer. Panelists include: Brian McQueen, NVFC board member and co-author of the Lavender Ribbon Report; Joe Schumacher, chief operations officer of the Firefighter Cancer Support Network; Rick Markley, former editor-in-chief of FireRescue1 and advocate for the National Firefighter Registry; and Racquel Cesnalis, deputy director of the Health, Safety & Medicine Division of the International Association of Fire Fighters.
Watch the event on the NVFC’s Facebook page or register to attend on Zoom.

Webinar – Lithium-Ion Batteries & Energy Storage Systems Series, Part 1: Rising to the Challenge
2023-01-09 14:00 - 15:00 | MT
The use of modern energy storage system (ESS) technology, including lithium-ion batteries, has exponentially increased over the last decade and is now in almost every facet of our daily lives. These ESSs pose new, and sometimes complex, challenges for first responders in terms of emergency planning and response. Their deployment and use directly impacts the entire emergency response spectrum from SOP/SOG development, to preplanning, to training, to response, to inspections, to public education, to cause and origin determination. This multi-part webinar series from the NVFC will help emergency response agencies plan for, train, and effectively respond to emergencies involving ESSs. Register.

Webinar - NVFC First Responder Helpline: Assistance When You Need It Most
2022-12-14 14:00 - 15:00 | MT
While many workplaces offer an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to provide a range of support for mental health and work-life concerns, volunteer fire departments typically do not. That’s why the NVFC and Provident teamed up to offer the NVFC First Responder Helpline for NVFC members and their household family. The helpline provides immediate assistance in a crisis moment as well as confidential counseling, resources, and referrals to assistance for a range of work-life stresses. In this webinar, join representatives from the NVFC, Business Health Services, and Provident for a conversation about the NVFC First Responder Helpline, including why it is needed, what it offers, how to access it, and resources available for a range of issues from stress management to financial counseling to child or elder care. Your questions will also be answered – ask live during the session or submit your questions anonymously in advance here. Register.
The NVFC First Responder Helpline is supported by Josh Cellars and Lincoln Financial Group.

Webinar - Emergency Responder Stress: Consequences and Coping Mechanisms
2022-12-08 14:00 - 15:00 | MT
It is common for emergency responders to experience stress, but often we fail to recognize its impact on our performance both on the job and at home. In this webinar presented by Derrick Edwards, participants will learn the physiological and psychological responses to accumulated stress and explore the various ways responders have attempted to cope. Avoidant coping, including the use of drugs and alcohol, will be critically evaluated as a contributing factor to the adverse reactions to accumulated stress. Finally, learn more helpful ways of coping which support a more stable and productive emergency response career. Register.
This webinar is sponsored by ESO, the largest software and data solutions provider to fire departments and EMS agencies. ESO offers an integrated suite of software products for EMS agencies, fire departments, and hospitals that are transforming the way first responders collect, share, report, and analyze critical information to improve community health and safety.
Learn more at eso.com/fire.

IAFC-VCOS Symposium in the Sun
2022-11-10 - 2022-11-13 | Hilton Clearwater Beach, 400 Mandalay Ave., Clearwater, FL, 33767, United States
Visit the NVFC at booth #46.

Webinar: Traffic Incident Management and Lithium Ion Batteries
2022-11-02 14:00 - 15:00 | MT
As more electric vehicles take to the road, responders need to be prepared for the special considerations of responding to a vehicle crash involving lithium-ion batteries. In advance of Crash Responder Safety Week in November, this webinar presented by T.J. Nedrow will take a closer look at traffic incident management considerations when there is a car with a lithium-ion battery involved. Register. This webinar is sponsored by California Casualty.

Webinar: Natural Gas Incidents - The Non-Routine Response
2022-10-31 14:00 - 15:00 | MT
The rise of people switching to natural gas in their homes and businesses has corresponded to an increase in natural gas emergencies. For too long, first responders have treated natural gas incidents as regular calls, but they are anything but that. This webinar, presented by Brian Focht, will review case studies to highlight what can go wrong on gas responses, best practices to protect responders, tools that will set you up for success, and how to develop a response plan that will get your personnel home at the end of the run. Additional training opportunities will also be highlighted. Register.
This webinar is sponsored by FireCraft Safety Products.

NVFC Fall Meeting
2022-10-26 - 2022-10-28 | Wilmington Convention Center, 515 Nutt St., Wilmington, NC, 28401, United States
Annual fall meeting of the NVFC board of directors.

Webinar: New Developments for Public Safety Drones
2022-10-20 14:00 - 15:00 | MT
The use of drones has become more prevalent in many industries in recent years, including the fire service. Fire departments and other public safety agencies can utilize drones to increase efficiency and help protect personnel and the public. In this free webinar, Chief Charles Werner (ret.), the director of DRONERESPONDERS, will describe the ways drones can benefit public safety and examine case studies from local agencies. Participants will then take a deep dive into how to implement a public safety drone program, including important considerations and guidelines. Register.
This webinar is sponsored by Aladtec. Powered by TCP Software, Aladtec is an online employee scheduling system created specifically to meet the challenging 24/7 shift rotations of mission-critical public safety agencies. Easily accessible anywhere at any time, Aladtec allows you to quickly schedule simple to complex shift rotations, track licenses/certifications, and communicate instantly with individuals or groups. Learn more.

Initial Steps for Organizing an Emerging Wildfire Incident Response
2022-10-13 14:00 - 15:00 | MT
This webinar, presented by Mark Goeller, state forester/director for the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry Services, will provide an overview of actions for an Initial Attack Incident Commander to consider when responding to an emerging, potentially large wildfire. Local, state, and national mobilization processes and responsibilities will also be discussed. Register.
This webinar is sponsored by FirstNet®, Built with AT&T. FirstNet is the only network built with and for America’s first responders — including volunteer firefighters. With the nation’s largest coverage footprint, first responders get prioritized access to the network, never competing with commercial traffic. Learn more at FirstNet.com/fire.
