National Volunteer Fire Council

Safety Stand Down: Rebuild Rehab to Protect Your Firefighters
2021-06-08 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Safety Stand Down takes place on June 20-26. This year’s theme is “Rebuild Rehab” and focuses on the critical importance of a comprehensive rehab program to mitigate the physiological and mental impacts of firefighting. Join the NVFC’s first vice chair Kevin D. Quinn, Dr. Eduardo Dolhun, the founder of DripDrop ORS, NVFC director from New York Brian McQueen, and Ali Rothrock, CEO of On the Job and Off on June 8 at 3pm ET for a Facebook Live discussion on three critical aspects of this year’s Safety Stand Down theme: hydration, exposure risk reduction, and psychological wellbeing. Special thanks to DripDrop for sponsoring this event to help firefighters get ready for Safety Stand Down.

NVFC Training Summit
2021-05-21
This signature NVFC event features classroom training on topics critical to the fire and emergency services as well as an opportunity to share ideas and best practices with responders from across the U.S.

Webinar: Reaching Through the Screen with Social Media
2021-05-19 14:00 - 15:00
Social media is a cost-effective vehicle for fire departments to reach members, potential volunteers, and donors. However, engaging fire department stakeholders goes beyond just pushing out emails and posting on social media. Fostering relationships and building trust over technology requires a simple, yet strategic approach. Join Dr. Candice McDonald as she highlights strategies for you to elevate your fire department’s brand, boost your recruitment efforts, and accelerate fundraising. This webinar is intended for the busy department member juggling multiple duties on a small budget. It will introduce you to diverse social media platforms, help you identify your goals, and offer you an easy-to-follow foundation for developing your social media strategy.

Webinar: Investing in your Volunteers
2021-05-07 14:00 - 15:00
Today’s volunteers serve many roles in fire and EMS agencies. Those roles are helping to provide essential services in one of the most challenging and stressful times in our country. Providing resources and support to your department’s volunteers and showing them the value of what they are doing are critical to keeping them active. This webinar, presented by Chief Bill Gardner (Ret.), senior director of fire products at ESO, and Division Chief Ron Roy of Wenatchee, WA, will discuss how to re-invest in your volunteers to keep them motivated, involved, and healthy and increase the success of your department.
This webinar is sponsored by ESO. Learn more about ESO’s solutions for the fire and EMS services at www.eso.com.

Facebook Live Discussion: International Firefighters’ Day – Coming Together in Solidarity
2021-05-04 13:00 - 14:00
International Firefighters’ Day is observed annually on May 4 and is a time to recognize the contributions of firefighters not just within the United States, but worldwide. Join NVFC interim CEO Kevin D. Quinn and representatives from Ecuador, Greece, Italy, Japan, Malta, and the United States for a discussion on the importance of the volunteer fire service around the world, what brings us together, and how we can learn from each other. Learn how the volunteer fire service operates in other countries, the challenges they face, and how volunteer firefighters and departments in different countries can better coordinate. No registration is required to attend this event. The video will be broadcast directly to the NVFC’s Facebook page.

CFSI National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner & Symposium
2021-04-28 - 2021-04-29

Webinar - Folding Time: How to Achieve Twice as Much in Half the Time
2021-04-20 19:00 - 20:00
In your department, state association, at the national level, and even in your personal life, are you looking for a way to do more with less time? Understanding which activities make the biggest difference to our productivity can result in getting twice as much done in less time. This program presented by nationally-renowned speaker Neen James is perfect for the volunteer first responder, someone who has to manage multiple priorities while being tugged in many directions and who desires more control to better manage time, focus attention, and harness energy. Attendees will leave this practical and entertaining webinar with an understanding of how to better leverage time and get more done.

NVFC Spring Meeting
2021-04-19 - 2021-04-23
The annual spring meeting of the NVFC board of directors will be held virtually in 2021.

Leveraging Online Training at Your Volunteer Department: How to Make it Work
2021-04-15 14:00 - 15:00
The fire service is built on tradition and change can be difficult, but the need to maximize productivity, achieve compliance, and reduce expenses through training is becoming more critical. Join Vector Solutions for this free webinar on how to embrace the cultural shift to virtual learning and enhance your department’s training to ensure your members are knowledgeable and ready for the fireground. The webinar will also provide an overview of the online training offered by the NVFC as well as Vector Solutions’ computer-based system delivered through the TargetSolutions brand for continuing education.
This webinar is sponsored by Vector Solutions. To learn more about the TargetSolutions brand and Vector Solutions platform, visit click here.

Facebook Live Discussion: Getting Your Department Ready for Wildfire Community Preparedness Day
2021-04-14 14:00 - 15:00
Wildfire Community Preparedness Day is May 1. How can your department engage with your community on this important day while still ensuring the health and safety of your members and the public? Join the NVFC, wildfire division director at the National Fire Protection Association Michele Steinberg, NVFC director from Nevada Steve McClintock, and Chief Michael Johnson of the Ebbetts Pass Fire District (Arnold, CA) for a Facebook Live discussion on this topic, as well as the risk wildfire poses to the public, especially in areas served by volunteer departments.

Registration is not required. This discussion will be broadcast directly to the NVFC’s Facebook page.

NVFC Membership Meeting
2021-04-07 14:00 - 15:00
This online meeting is open to all state, individual, department, 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.

NVFC Awards Nomination Deadline
2021-03-26

Facebook Live: Fire Service Recruitment Solutions During COVID-19 and Beyond
2021-03-25 16:00 - 17:00
Many fire and EMS departments use National Volunteer Week in April to engage with their communities and recruit new volunteers. However, with COVID-19-related considerations making traditional recruitment methods difficult, how can departments take advantage of this annual event while still prioritizing the health and wellbeing of their members and the public? Also, what can departments do to help bolster recruitment as vaccines become more available and we look beyond the pandemic? Join the NVFC director from Massachusetts Joe Maruca, vice president of strategic recruitment & retention services at First Arriving Tiger Schmittendorf, and Chief Brandon Fletcher of the Gilt Edge (TN) Volunteer Fire Department on March 24 at 4pm ET for a Facebook Live discussion on the challenges posed to recruitment by the pandemic and strategies for overcoming them.
This event is sponsored by First Arriving, the leading marketing company powering success for volunteer fire, rescue, and EMS departments. Learn more at www.firstarriving.com.

Webinar: Reducing Occupational Cancer Risks in the Fire Service
2021-03-18 14:00 - 15:00
Understanding how and where firefighters are exposed to carcinogens is an important step towards mitigating occupational cancer risks. Join Dennis Wolf, fire management consultant with the University of Tennessee’s Municipal Technical Advisory Service, to learn more about exposures to carcinogens, the dangers of soot, contamination control activities, and risk reduction strategies for the fire station, firefighters, and the apparatus.
This webinar is sponsored by Ward Diesel Filter Systems. Learn more about their range of NO SMOKE Filter Systems at https://warddiesel.com.

Webinar: Laws That Matter to Fire and EMS Organizations
2021-03-03 14:00 - 15:00
The threat of a lawsuit places fire and EMS organizations in harm’s way when something goes wrong in emergency operations, policy adherence, or other organizational practices, but there are effective ways to mitigate potential litigation. Join John K. Murphy, retired deputy fire chief and licensed attorney, for this free webinar to help your department explore the relationship of the law and the fire service, and what you can do to reduce your risks of litigation when it comes to areas of personnel management, emergency response, customer service, interpersonal relationships, and potential COVID-19 related concerns.

Facebook Live: Updated Messaging for Communicating the Importance of Checking Smoke/CO Alarm Batteries
2021-02-25 14:00 - 15:00
Volunteer fire departments have traditionally used the beginning and end of daylight savings time to remind the public to change the batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms. However, with the prevalence of 10-year sealed battery alarms, this messaging is now outdated. Join First Alert, Michael McLeieer, past president of the Michigan State Firemen’s Association, and Monica Colby, fire and life safety educator and NVFC Fire Corps representative, for a Facebook Live discussion on February 25 at 2pm ET. They’ll discuss the danger CO poses, the importance of installing smoke and CO alarms, and updated messaging your department can use to remind the public to check their alarm batteries. This event is sponsored by First Alert.

Virtual Training: Leadership for the Fire and Emergency Services
2021-02-25 10:00 - 11:30
Quality leadership is essential for the fire and emergency services to accomplish the mission and improve your department. This course examines leadership styles, qualities, ethics, and best practices to help the department function at a high level and avoid fire and emergency services leadership pitfalls. New retention research will also be discussed to help leaders understand retention concerns and identify solutions.
The live event will take place 10:00am-11:30am ET and re-broadcast 7:30pm-9:00pm ET with a live instructor chat.

Webinar: Planning and Implementing a Training Program
2021-02-11 14:00 - 15:00
Running a training program in the fire service can be difficult, even in under the best circumstances. Join Jason Decremer, PhD, director of certification for the Connecticut Commission on Fire Prevention and Control, and Kenn Fontenot, NVFC Louisiana director, for this free webinar that will highlight important aspects of planning and implementing training programs. The session will include an open conversation with the audience to discuss how departments are managing training during the pandemic and best practices for training programs for departments of all budget sizes. Thanks to sponsor California Casualty, attendees of the live webinar will be entered into a drawing for one of two $100 Visa gift cards.

Live Discussion: Fostering a Healthy, High-Performing Fire Department
2021-01-19 14:00 - 15:00
The NVFC, in partnership with the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance (FBHA), launched the Psychologically Healthy Fire Departments initiative to support firefighters and EMS providers and create healthy, successful departments. Join us for a Facebook Live discussion with NVFC Louisiana director Kenn Fontenot, Jeff Dill of the FBHA, and David Ballard, PsyD, of the APA as they talk about the initiative, the resources available, and why it is so important for department leaders to focus on the health and wellbeing of their members.

Registration is not required. The discussion will be broadcast on the NVFC’s Facebook page.

Webinar - Tips for the New Training Officer: Bridging the Gap Between NFPA 1041 and the Real World
2021-01-14 13:00 - 14:00
You have just become the new training officer for your department, but have you been given enough instruction on how to actually lead the program? There is often a gap between what you learned in your fire instructor courses and NFPA 1041 and the reality of leading a volunteer fire department training program. Join Christopher LeDoux of the Iota (LA) Volunteer Fire Department for this free webinar to help you bridge this gap and learn tips and tools for the real world as a new training officer.

Facebook Live: Hope, Resilience, and Camaraderie – Wrapping up 2020 on a Positive Note
2020-12-18 13:00 - 14:00
2020 has not been easy, especially for the volunteer fire and emergency services. Yet as we reflect on the past year and begin the next, it’s important to focus on the positive. Join NVFC chair Steve Hirsch, NVFC vice chair Kevin Quinn, NVFC chaplain John Long, Chief Joe Maruca of the West Barnstable (MA) Fire Department, and Dr. Candice McDonald for a Facebook Live discussion on Friday, December 18, at 1pm ET. They’ll focus on messages of hope, positivity, resilience, and camaraderie as we prepare to celebrate the holidays and begin 2021.

Webinar: Leadership Sets the Example for Cancer Prevention
2020-12-08 14:00 - 15:00
In this free webinar, Chief Brian McQueen and Chief John Buckman will discuss the role leaders play in protecting personnel from occupational cancer risks and creating change in the fire department. This is one of a six-part cancer risk reduction webinar series from the IAFC-VCOS and NVFC. Register here.

Firehouse Expo
2020-12-08 - 2020-12-09
Firehouse Expo is virtual in 2020 and free to attend.

Facebook Live Discussion: Managing Stress During the Holiday Season
2020-12-03 15:00 - 16:00
The holiday season can be a difficult time for firefighters, EMS providers, and their families, and this year brings the additional stress of the pandemic. What can you do to manage stress and focus on behavioral health this holiday season? Join us for this Facebook Live discussion on the NVFC’s Facebook page: National Volunteer Fire Council. Panelists include Ali Rothrock, CEO of On the Job and Off, Jeff Dill, founder of the Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance, and Hersch Wilson, author, speaker, consultant, and 30-year fire service veteran.
Registration is not required. The event will be broadcast live on the NVFC’s Facebook page (@nvfc1) on December 3 at 3pm ET.

Winter Fire Safety: Engaging & Educating Your Community During COVID-19
2020-11-16 14:00 - 15:00
With winter approaching, fire poses new threats to public safety. The holidays have traditionally been a time for departments to engage with the communities they serve regarding fire safety, but how do you do so during a pandemic? Join us for this Facebook Live discussion on the NVFC’s page: National Volunteer Fire Council. Lt. Michael O. McLeieer, past president of the Michigan State Firemen’s Association, will be joined by Andrea Vastis, senior director of public education at the National Fire Protection Association, Teresa Neal, fire program specialist at the U.S. Fire Administration, and Blaise Harris, fire and life safety educator at the Rocky Mount (NC) Fire Department. Registration is not required. The event will be broadcast live on the NVFC’s Facebook page (@nvfc1) on November 16 at 2pm ET

Webinar: Recruiting Exceptional Crew Members in Competitive Times
2020-11-12 14:00 - 15:00
Using data driven tactics to draw in and keep qualified candidates is essential to the future of the fire service. Join ESO for this free webinar to discuss current recruitment trends and how to change recruitment tactics using risk reduction impacts in the community and a data-driven development program. This session will provide tools and information that can be used in fire departments across the nation to recruit and retain qualified candidates.

Webinar - Hostile Events: Preparing Your Emergency Services Organization for an ASHER Incident
2020-11-05 14:00 - 15:00
As active shooter incidents become more prevalent, fire and EMS departments need to be ready so they can respond in the safest and most effective way. Join the National Volunteer Fire Council and International Association of Fire Chiefs for this free webinar on best practices to plan and prepare for an active shooter/hostile event response (ASHER) incident. Attendees will learn key principles from NFPA 3000 and the IAFC’s Active Shooter Toolkit, the steps to conduct a risk assessment, and resources and guidance available to develop a plan of action in your community.

Wildland Urban Interface Conference
2020-11-04 - 2020-11-05
This virtual conference focuses on education and resources for preparing communities in the wildland-urban interface before the next wildfire strikes.

Protecting the Protectors: Emergency Responders & Traffic Incident Response
2020-10-27 14:00 - 15:00
Every day, firefighters and EMS providers nationwide respond to thousands of traffic incidents. Yet while they’re working to save lives, their own safety is often put at risk. National Traffic Incident Response Awareness Week (November 9-15) aims to raise awareness of this issue and reduce responder fatalities, and every emergency responder, driver, and passenger has a role to play. Join NVFC Maryland director David Lewis, Joseph Tebo of the Federal Highway Administration, and Stephen Austin of the Emergency Responder Safety Institute for a Facebook Live discussion on October 27 at 2pm ET that will focus on raising awareness of the threats posed to emergency responders during roadway incident response, the role firefighters and EMS providers play in roadway incident scene safety, and available training opportunities.

ReIGNITE Virtual Conference
2020-10-20 - 2020-10-22
In place of Fire-Rescue International this year, the IAFC is holding this virtual conference focused on training, education, and best practices, as well as new technologies, apparatus, and equipment.
