National Volunteer Fire Council

Webinar - Maximize Your NVFC Member Experience: Portal, Benefits, and More
2026-04-14 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | TN
Are you making the most of your NVFC membership? Whether you are a new member, a longtime member looking for a refresher, or a prospective member interested in learning more, this webinar will help you take full advantage of all the NVFC has to offer. Join us on April 14 at 2 pm ET for a walkthrough of the NVFC member portal, an overview of exclusive member benefits, and practical tips for getting the most value from your membership.
Presenters: Alyssa Dara and Laura Towers

In-Person - Wildland Fire Assessment Program (WFAP)
2026-04-18 08:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Battalion 1 Station – Pinedale, 130 S Fremont Ave, Pinedale, WY, 82941, United States
The NVFC, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, offers an in-person training course to teach fire service volunteers how to properly conduct safety assessments for homes located in the wildland-urban interface and provide recommendations to residents to protect their property from wildfires.
Instructor: Mark Howell

In-Person - Wildland Fire Assessment Program (WFAP)
2026-04-18 08:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Ogden Dunes Fire Department, 111 Hillcrest Rd, Ogden Dunes, IN, 46368, United States
The NVFC, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, offers an in-person training course to teach fire service volunteers how to properly conduct safety assessments for homes located in the wildland-urban interface and provide recommendations to residents to protect their property from wildfires.
Instructor: Charlie Kludt and Jeff Romines

In-Person - Incident Safety Officer Training & Leadership for the Fire and Emergency Services
2026-04-18 08:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | Vermont Fire Academy, 93 Davison Drive, Pittsford, VT, 05763, United States
Incident Safety Officer Training: The NVFC’s Incident Safety Officer (ISO) training will give students an overview of the role of an ISO and cover communications and safety, as well as the practical application of this information. Please note, this is not an ISO certification program.
Leadership for the Fire and Emergency Services: Quality leadership is essential for the fire and emergency services to accomplish the mission, improve member satisfaction, and best serve the community. This course examines leadership styles, qualities, ethics, and best practices to help your department function at a high level and avoid fire and emergency services leadership pitfalls. Retention research will also be discussed to help leaders understand retention concerns and identify solutions.
Instructor: Kevin Quinn
To register email Robert Kilpeck at rjkilpeck@aol.com

In-Person - Leadership for the Fire and Emergency Services
2026-04-21 18:30 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Wyoming County Fire Training Center, 3651 Wethersfield Road, Warsaw, NY, 14569, United States
Leadership for the Fire and Emergency Services: Quality leadership is essential for the fire and emergency services to accomplish the mission, improve member satisfaction, and best serve the community. This course examines leadership styles, qualities, ethics, and best practices to help your department function at a high level and avoid fire and emergency services leadership pitfalls. Retention research will also be discussed to help leaders understand retention concerns and identify solutions.
Instructor: Tiger Schmittendorf

In-Person - Instructor Training for Flammable Gases
2026-04-29 18:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | MAAC Foundation, 4203 Montdale Drive, Valparaiso, IN, 46383, United States
This course focuses on the specific techniques and knowledge required to teach others about flammable gases hazmat response. After completing the course, attendees will be able to relate the specific regional applications of the product and key response considerations; describe specific chemical properties of the product to their students; and transfer key strategies and tactics to students for dealing with an incident involving the product. Safety is a focus, and the course will stress teaching others the key safety considerations for application when dealing with an incident involving the product.
Instructor: William Offerman

In-Person - EV/AFV Incident Management: Safety and Response Techniques
2026-05-02 09:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Keystone Church, 655 Spaulding Ave, Ada, MI, 49301, United States
As the number of electric vehicles on the roadways increases, it is important for first responders to understand how a response involving these types of vehicles is different than those with an internal combustion engine. This awareness and fundamentals course will introduce first responders to hybrid and electric vehicles, share data and resources, and equip first responders with the knowledge and tools to respond more safely when a hybrid or electric vehicle is involved in an incident. This training will require space outside for a hands-on component with an electric vehicle.
Instructor: Doug deBest

Roundtable Talk - Training Under Pressure — Addressing Volunteer Firefighter Training Challenges
2026-05-07 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | TN
Volunteer fire departments face increasing challenges delivering effective training amid limited time, budgets, and growing operational demands. This Roundtable Talk will explore common training barriers, including balancing requirements with personal and professional commitments, securing resources, and ensuring training supports firefighter safety and operational readiness. Panelists will share practical strategies for improving training efficiency, using training as a retention tool, and maintaining quality without overburdening volunteers. This discussion is designed for volunteer fire service leaders and training officers seeking actionable ideas to strengthen their training programs. This Roundtable Talk is sponsored by Vector Solutions.
Presenters: Robbi King and Matt Shronts

In-Person - EV/AFV Incident Management: Safety and Response Techniques
2026-05-09 08:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | New Fairview Fire Rescue, 1015 FM 407, Rhome, TX, 76078, United States
As the number of electric vehicles on the roadways increases, it is important for first responders to understand how a response involving these types of vehicles is different than those with an internal combustion engine. This awareness and fundamentals course will introduce first responders to hybrid and electric vehicles, share data and resources, and equip first responders with the knowledge and tools to respond more safely when a hybrid or electric vehicle is involved in an incident. This training will require space outside for a hands-on component with an electric vehicle.
Instructor: Rob Ingram

Webinar - NFIRS to NERIS: What Volunteer Departments Need to Know Now
2026-05-13 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | TN
The National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) sunset on January 31, and the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) is now the nation’s primary system for collecting fire incident data. This webinar, presented by Tyler Gibbs of Alpine Software, will provide volunteer fire service leaders with a practical overview of the transition from NFIRS to NERIS and what it means for department reporting. We’ll cover why the change is happening, key differences in structure and validation requirements, and the increased emphasis on accurate timelines, actions taken, and personnel documentation. The webinar will also address common misconceptions and outline practical steps chiefs can take to prepare their departments for a smooth and compliant transition. This webinar is sponsored by Alpine Software and presented by Tyler Gibbs of Alpine Software.

In-Person - Wildland Fire Assessment Program (WFAP)
2026-05-15 08:00 - 17:00, 2026-05-16 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Wenatchee Convention Center, 121 N Wenatchee Ave, Wenatchee, WA, 98801, United States
The NVFC, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, offers an in-person training course to teach fire service volunteers how to properly conduct safety assessments for homes located in the wildland-urban interface and provide recommendations to residents to protect their property from wildfires.
This course is being held at the 103rd Annual Fire School & Conference in Wenatchee, WA.
Available Sessions (choose one):
• Fri, May 15 | 8:00 AM–12:00 PM PT
• Fri, May 15 | 1:00 PM–5:00 PM PT
• Sat, May 16 | 8:00 AM–12:00 PM PT
• Sat, May 16 | 1:00 PM–5:00 PM PT
Instructor: Steve McClintock

In-Person - Teaching Hazmat Basics
2026-05-30 08:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Lanesborough Fire Department, 180 S Main Street, Lanesborough, MA, 01237, United States
This course covers the foundations of teaching hazmat response and safety. Attendees will learn how to connect their hazmat training to the risks faced by the student audience. They will walk away able to take a limited hazmat resource list and develop at least three practical skills trainings of direct benefit to their students. Finally, attendees will be able to develop training drills and/or exercises that meet the needs of their jurisdiction in accordance with recognized national standards.
Instructors: David Bullard and Freddie Bell

In-Person - EV/AFV Incident Management: Safety and Response Techniques
2026-06-10 08:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Ashland City Fire Department – Station 1, 402 N. Main Street, Ashland City, TN, 37015, United States
As the number of electric vehicles on the roadways increases, it is important for first responders to understand how a response involving these types of vehicles is different than those with an internal combustion engine. This awareness and fundamentals course will introduce first responders to hybrid and electric vehicles, share data and resources, and equip first responders with the knowledge and tools to respond more safely when a hybrid or electric vehicle is involved in an incident. This training will require space outside for a hands-on component with an electric vehicle.
Instructor: Ralph McNemar

In-Person – EV/AFV Incident Management: Safety and Response Techniques
2026-06-20 08:00 - 12:00 (America/Phoenix) | Shepherd VFD Station 1, 5453 Carey Ave, Shepherd, MT, 59079, United States
As the number of electric vehicles on the roadways increases, it is important for first responders to understand how a response involving these types of vehicles is different than those with an internal combustion engine. This awareness and fundamentals course will introduce first responders to hybrid and electric vehicles, share data and resources, and equip first responders with the knowledge and tools to respond more safely when a hybrid or electric vehicle is involved in an incident. This training will require space outside for a hands-on component with an electric vehicle.
Instructor: Matt Courson

NVFC Training Summit
2026-06-26 - 2026-06-27 | Renaissance Arlington Capital View, 2800 South Potomac Ave., Arlington, VA, 22202, United States
The NVFC’s annual conference, the NVFC Training Summit, focuses on volunteer responder health, safety, recruitment, retention, and leadership. Participate in valuable classroom training and share ideas and best practices with emergency responders from across the U.S.

In-Person - EV/AFV Incident Management: Safety and Response Techniques
2026-07-18 08:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Carroll County Civic Center, 201 Mustang Dr., Huntingdon, TN, 38344, United States
As the number of electric vehicles on the roadways increases, it is important for first responders to understand how a response involving these types of vehicles is different than those with an internal combustion engine. This awareness and fundamentals course will introduce first responders to hybrid and electric vehicles, share data and resources, and equip first responders with the knowledge and tools to respond more safely when a hybrid or electric vehicle is involved in an incident. This training will require space outside for a hands-on component with an electric vehicle.
Instructor: Tom Miller

In-Person - Scenario-Based Hazmat Training
2026-08-09 09:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | North East Fire Company, Inc., 210 South Mauldin Ave., North East, MD, 21901, United States
This course focuses on the different types and scopes of scenarios that can be used in hazmat training. Attendees will learn the various student learning styles and how to use scenarios to bridge gaps in learning retention. The course will cover the concept of all hazards planning and how to engage key response stakeholders in scenario planning, training, and exercises.
Presenters: Corey McCartney and Tom Miller

In-Person - Building a Healthy and High-Performing Fire Department
2026-09-03 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Oktibbeha County 911 Dispatch Building, 106 E Main Street, Starkville, MS, 39759, United States
This course from the National Volunteer Fire Council and the American Psychological Association’s Center for Organizational Excellence is designed to empower fire department leadership to promote and support healthy, high-performing fire/EMS departments. Based on the framework from the Psychologically Healthy Fire Departments initiative, this course focuses on six key practices – member involvement, health and safety, member growth and development, work-life-volunteer balance, member recognition, and effective communication – to facilitate member well-being and department functioning.
Instructor: Dave Lewis

In-Person - EV/AFV Incident Management: Safety and Response Techniques
2026-12-15 18:30 - 22:30 (America/New_York) | Cheesequake Volunteer Fire Company, 113 Route 34, Matawan, NJ, 07747, United States
As the number of electric vehicles on the roadways increases, it is important for first responders to understand how a response involving these types of vehicles is different than those with an internal combustion engine. This awareness and fundamentals course will introduce first responders to hybrid and electric vehicles, share data and resources, and equip first responders with the knowledge and tools to respond more safely when a hybrid or electric vehicle is involved in an incident. This training will require space outside for a hands-on component with an electric vehicle.
Instructor: Brian Focht
