National Volunteer Fire Council

Webinar: Mentoring Volunteer Firefighters and Leaders - Why You Should Care
2023-04-06 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.

Firehouse Expo
2022-09-26 - 2022-09-30 | Greater Columbus Convention Center, 400 North High Street, Columbus, OH, 43215, United States
Come visit the NVFC at booth #1537!

2022 NVFC Recruitment & Retention Experience
2022-09-16 - 2022-09-17 | Delta Hotels Phoenix Mesa, 200 North Centennial Way, Mesa, AZ, 85201, United States
The NVFC Recruitment and Retention (R&R) Experience brings together fire and EMS personnel from across the country to participate in valuable classroom training and idea exchange relating to volunteer emergency service staffing issues.

Live Discussion: Getting Your Department and Community Ready for Fire Prevention Week
2022-09-15 14:00 - 15:00
Fire Prevention Week (FPW) is October 9-15, 2022. This year’s theme is, “Fire won’t wait. Plan your escape™” and marks the 100th anniversary of FPW. On September 15 at 2pm ET, join the NVFC and Michael McLeieer of the Michigan State Firemen’s Association, Andrea Vastis of the National Fire Protection Association, and Bruce Bouch of the U.S. Fire Administration for a live discussion on the importance of this year’s theme, how your department can participate in FPW, and ideas for enhancing fire prevention efforts in your community. Watch the event on the NVFC’s page on Facebook or register to attend on Zoom.
This live discussion is sponsored by First Alert. 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.

Webinar: How to Embrace Immersive Learning Technology
2022-09-07 14:00 - 15:00
Technology and change do not need to be dirty words in the fire service. There are limitless applications of using technology, like virtual reality, to address the most pressing and potentially catastrophic challenges facing the fire service today. From recruiting the next generation of firefighters to dealing with the unknowns of mental health, this webinar highlights how technology companies are using creative ways to better prepare your personnel and better protect your communities.
This webinar is sponsored by Darley. Founded in 1908, W.S. Darley & Co. (Darley) provides the highest quality pump, technology, and equipment solutions for first responders around the world. Darley has a complete line of unmanned systems, immersive training technology, equipment, and pumps.

Volunteer Voices Live: Face-to-Face Virtual Connections - Volunteer Incentives
2022-08-31 17:00 - 18:00
Calls, drills, training, duty crew – a volunteer’s time can add up quickly. Is there any incentive you can offer to ensure they feel appreciated and continue showing up? From LOSAP to loan assistance to good old-fashioned gift cards, there are many incentives that departments across the country offer volunteers. Which ones are right for your crew? Join fellow volunteers to discuss volunteer incentives on Wednesday, August 31 at 5pm ET.
This discussion will not be recorded. Notes on the incentives you discuss will be shared in Volunteer Voices after the session.

Fire-Rescue International 2022
2022-08-24 - 2022-08-26 | San Antonio, Texas, San Antonio, TX, 78205, United States
Come visit the NVFC at booth #950. Also, attend the NVFC’s course “Creating a Psychologically Healthy Fire Department: Recognize, Mitigate, and Support Behavioral Health for Your Members” on August 26 at 11:30am CT.

Webinar – Cellular Data: The Crucial Link in Department and Operation Management
2022-08-18 14:00 - 15:00
Advancing technology has changed the way firefighters and emergency responders do their jobs. Cellular service has become imperative to effectively respond to and mitigate emergency incidents. Likewise, fire service officials and first responders can use tools available from providers to better handle the administrative and business functions that impact departments. Today departments have access to FirstNet and its priority and preemption to meet these needs and more effectively deal with existing and emerging threats. Join the NVFC and presenter Reid Vaughan for this webinar that discusses how technology influences our work in the field and factors impacting the use of technology on the job, with a special focus on FirstNet.
The NVFC has partnered with FirstNet®, Built with AT&T to bring this webinar topic to you. 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.

Live Discussion - Electric and Hybrid Vehicles: Safety Concerns and Implications for Emergency Responders
2022-08-11 11:00 - 12:00
Hybrid vehicles are already commonplace, while electric vehicles are becoming more and more common. Make sure you and your department members are prepared. Mitch Petterson of General Motors, NVFC West Virginia director Tom Miller, and Joseph Tebo of the Federal Highway Administration for a live discussion on electric and hybrid vehicle safety for emergency responders. This discussion will be broadcast on the NVFC’s Facebook page and on Zoom.

Firefighters Association of the State of New York Annual Convention
2022-08-10 - 2022-08-13 | Tarrytown House Estate, 49 East Sunnyside Lane, Tarrytown, NY, 10591, United States
Come visit the NVFC at booth #14!

South Atlantic Fire Rescue Expo
2022-08-10 - 2022-08-13
Come visit the NVFC at booth #308!
