National Volunteer Fire Council

Webinar: What You Need to Know Before Testifying at OSHA’s Emergency Response Public Hearing
2024-11-07 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | NC
So, you’ve reserved a spot to testify at OSHA’s upcoming public hearing regarding the proposed Emergency Response Standard. Have questions about what to say? The hearing procedure? How to answer questions from the OSHA panel and the audience? This session will cover the answers to these questions and allow time for audience Q&A so that you’re prepared for your testimony. Register.

Volunteer Voices Live: Volunteer Performance Evaluations and Expectations
2024-10-30 15:00 - 16:15 | NC
Recruiting volunteers is not easy, so it can be difficult to evaluate the ones you do have. However, when done regularly and efficiently, volunteer evaluations can benefit both the department and the volunteer by highlighting strengths, showing areas in need of improvement, and offering an opportunity for one-on-one interactions between leadership and volunteers. This live interactive discussion will focus on methods for evaluating volunteer performance, how to reward top performing volunteers, and how to help those who do not meet expectations to improve their performance. Come prepared to share and learn from one another. This discussion will not be recorded. Register.

Roundtable Talk: The Role of Fire Department Chaplains
2024-10-24 14:00 - 15:00 | NC
What is the role of a fire department chaplain? How can your department enlist a chaplain and help them succeed? What do newly-appointed chaplains need to know? Join Chaplains Dick Brown, Jim Cook, Jimmie Duncan, and John F. Long, Jr. for a panel discussion on what a fire service chaplain does and why a fire department should consider having a trained chaplain as part of their operational command structure. Attendees will also learn about the role chaplains play in providing behavioral health support to help a department thrive. Register.

Wildland Fire Assessment Program Training
2024-10-19 09:00 - 2024-10-20 14:00 | Martha’s Vineyard Transit Authority, 11 A Street, Edgartown, MA, 02539, United States
This free two-day course will teach the fundamentals of assessing a home and working with residents to make their property more resilient to wildfires. There is a classroom session and a hands-on training included. Register by October 6. Learn more. This course is brought to you by the Edgartown (MA) Fire Department.
The Wildland Fire Assessment Program is a joint initiative between the National Volunteer Fire Council and U.S. Forest Service to prepare fire department members to conduct home safety assessments and make homes more fire adapted in the wildland-urban interface.

Roundtable Talk: Planning for Fire Prevention Week
2024-09-26 14:00 - 15:00 | NC
Fire Prevention Week (FPW) will take place October 6-12, 2024, with the theme “Smoke alarms: Make them work for you!™” Join the NVFC for a live panel discussion that will focus on the importance of this year’s theme, how your department can participate in FPW, and tips and ideas you can use for public education throughout the year. Register.

FireShowsWest
2024-09-23 - 2024-09-25 | Grand Sierra Resort Hotel, 2500 E 2nd St., Reno, NV, 89595, United States
The NVFC will be presenting the following sessions:

Wildland Fire Assessment Program – Sept. 23
Collaborative Programs: Pipeline Safety and Response – Sept. 24
Creating a Psychologically Healthy Fire Department – Sept. 25

View the full program here.

NVFC Fall Meeting
2024-09-18 - 2024-09-20 | Kansas City Marriott Country Club Plaza, 4445 Main Street, Kansas City, MO, 64111, United States
Annual fall meeting of the NVFC board of directors.

Webinar: Safe Roads, Safe Responders - Educating Communities on Roadway Incident Safety
2024-09-17 13:00 - 14:00 | NC
Engaging the community in roadway safety is a key part of reducing first responder injuries and death in traffic incident management. Just in time for your fall open house, this webinar presented by Todd Leiss and Jack Sullivan will discuss ways to incorporate key topics such as “move over,” preventing distracted driving, and how to pass an emergency scene safely in your community education initiatives. Register.

Webinar: Collective Impact — Collaborative Strategies for Fire and Life Safety Education
2024-09-10 14:00 - 15:00 | NC
Instructor: Angela Potter
Community education is a key part of the fire service, but departments don’t always have funding or resources to implement these programs. Presenter Angela Potter will cover how she connected with other fire and life safety educators, found resources, and developed a regional program to increase knowledge in her own community and beyond. Key topics will include finding free and low-cost resources that you can utilize for your program; building effective outreach plans; and collaborating with other educators to increase your collective impact. Register.

Partners in Training Crew Training -- Las Vegas, NV
2024-09-09 | Las Vegas Convention Center, 3150 Paradise Road, West Hall, Las Vegas, NV, 89109, 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: September 9, 2024
Where: Las Vegas Convention Center, 3150 Paradise Road, West Hall, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Hosted by: EMS World Expo and the National Volunteer Fire Council
Course being offered: I have a HAZMAT Patient – Now What?: Scenario-Based Hazmat Training

Webinar: OSHA's Proposed Emergency Response Standard Update: What Comes Next?
2024-09-05 14:00 - 15:00 | NC
The public comment period for OSHA’s proposed Emergency Response Standard has closed, and a public hearing is scheduled. So what happens now? In this session, presenter David Denniston will provide a brief overview of the proposed standard, what it could mean for your organization, where we are in the process, and what comes next. Attendees will hear a summary of the public comments published to date and how you can take action by testifying at the informal hearing and communicating with your elected officials. The session will conclude with time for Q&A. Register.

Iowa Firefighters Association Convention
2024-09-04 - 2024-09-07 | NC

NVFC Roundtable Talk: Hazmat Response Training -- Zooming In from National to Local
2024-09-03 14:00 - 15:00 | NC
Join NVFC Hazmat Partners in Training (PIT Crew) lead subject matter experts and trainers Tom Miller, David Bullard, and Bill Offerman, along with moderator Rachel Buczynski, NVFC chief of training and education, for a discussion on lessons learned from a year of offering hazmat trainings nationwide. They’ll share how your department or agency can utilize national resources for practical use in your own community’s hazmat training programs. Register.

Roundtable Talk: The Virtual Fireground — Evaluating Immersive Learning for Fire Service Training
2024-08-29 14:00 - 15:00 | NC
Is immersive learning, including augmented reality and virtual reality, the future of fire service training? These tools are already used in many other disciplines, including military and medicine, and the industry for fire service immersive learning technology is thriving. This Roundtable Talk will feature discussion on how immersive learning can be used for the fire service and special implications and considerations for volunteers. Register.

Webinar: Preparing Your Public Hearing Testimony on the Proposed OSHA Emergency Response Standard
2024-08-20 14:00 - 15:00 | NC
The public comment period has ended for OSHA’s proposed Emergency Response Standard, so what happens now? Join Ryan Woodward, NVFC chief of legislative and regulatory affairs, for an overview of OSHA’s upcoming virtual public hearing regarding the proposed standard. The hearing will begin on November 12, and anyone who submits a written request by September 27 can testify. This webinar will focus on how the hearing will be structured, how to testify, and what witnesses may want to focus on in their testimony. Register.

Fire-Rescue International
2024-08-14 - 2024-08-16 | Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, 650 S Griffin St., Dallas, TX, 75202, United States
Visit the NVFC at Booth #4050!

Webinar: Finding Future Firefighters — Recruiting and Retaining Gen Z
2024-08-07 14:00 - 15:00 | NC
Instructor: Walter Campbell
Move over millennials, there’s a new kid in town. Generation Z – those born between 1997-2012 – are becoming young adults. Harnessing the energy and potential of Gen Z volunteers is crucial for organizational success. This session will explore the unique characteristics, motivations, and communication preferences of Gen Z individuals to equip you with the tools necessary to attract and retain this dynamic demographic. From leveraging social media platforms to understanding their passion for purpose-driven initiatives, participants will explore innovative strategies tailored to effectively recruit and empower Gen Z volunteers. Register.

South Atlantic Fire Rescue Expo
2024-08-07 - 2024-08-10 | Raleigh Convention Center, 500 S Salisbury St, Raleigh, NC, 27601, United States
Visit the NVFC at Booth #308!

Roundtable Talk: Prioritizing Behavioral Health in the Fire & Emergency Services
2024-07-24 14:00 - 15:00 | NC
Fire and EMS personnel regularly put others before themselves. However, as would be said on any standard flight, you have to put on your own air mask before you can help others. Join a panel of experts on July 24 at 2pm ET to learn what self-care looks like, why it’s so important, and how it impacts first responders’ behavioral health. The discussion will equip responders with the tools needed to take care of themselves both now and in the future, and provide practical tips for implementing self-care in everyday life, after a difficult call, and following a disaster.
Panelists include: Dick Brown, California State Firefighters’ Association Chaplain; Jeff Dill, Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance; and Wendy Norris, Texas LODD Task Force
Register.

R&R Coffee Talk: Volunteer Retention
2024-07-18 19:00 - 20:00 | NC
Join Chief Joel Cerny and Dr. Candice McDonald for an R&R Coffee Talk as they welcome Chief Rick Lasky to discuss strategies for volunteer retention! Chief Lasky is a nationally known speaker and author. He is a 40-plus-year veteran of the fire service and proudly serves as the Fire Chief for the Estes Valley (CO) Fire Protection District. Register.

This R&R Coffee Talk is sponsored by Fire Dept. Coffee and Wendell’s Mint.

Volunteer Voices Live: Grant Writing
2024-07-17 15:00 - 16:15 | NC
Grants can be an important source of funding for volunteer and combination fire and EMS departments. They can also be a source of headaches! Many departments lack a trained grant writer familiar with sometimes complicated application processes. If your department has questions about writing applications for any type of grant – whether from federal, state, local, nonprofit, or corporate entities – come chat with fellow volunteers on Wednesday, July 17, from 3-4:15pm ET. We’ll discuss your questions about grant writing, as well as tips and tricks you might have learned from applying for grants in the past.
This is a live interactive discussion via Zoom. Come prepared to share and learn from one another. We’d love to hear your voice and see your face during the discussion, so if possible, please turn on your camera and be ready to turn on your microphone when you have something to share. The discussion will not be recorded, but notes will be shared in the Volunteer Voices forum after the session. Register.

Partners in Training Crew Training -- Concord, NH
2024-07-12 - 2024-07-13 | NC
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: July 12-13, 2024
Where: Concord, NH (exact address TBA)
Hosted by: Concord Fire Department and the National Volunteer Fire Council
Courses being offered:

Teaching Basic Hazmat (7 hours)
Risk-Based Hazmat Training (7 hours)
Instructor Training for Flammable Gases (3 hours)

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 | NC
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 | NC
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 | NC
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.
