National Volunteer Fire Council

Webinar: Changes to the Assistance to Firefighters Grant
2021-12-01 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | AL
The application period for FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program is open from Nov. 8-Dec. 17. There are important changes with this year’s program that departments need to know about before applying. To help prepare departments to submit an application, the National Volunteer Fire Council is hosting a webinar to discuss the changes. Come learn what you need to know to help make your department successful in acquiring AFG funding to meet your department’s equipment needs. Presenter David Lewis will review the basic requirements for the AFG grant program, discuss the data that must be collected prior to applying for a grant project, and provide an overview of the application review process and how successful applications are considered.

Facebook Live Discussion - Winter Fire Safety: Preparing Your Department & Community
2021-11-18 15:00 - 16:00 | AL
Winter is just around the corner, along with new challenges to public safety. Now is the time to prepare your department and community for the threats fire poses during the winter months. Join us for this Facebook Live discussion on the NVFC’s page: National Volunteer Fire Council. Lt. Michael O. McLeieer, current president of E.S.C.A.P.E., Inc. and 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 and Teresa Neal, fire program specialist at the U.S. Fire Administration.
Registration is not required. The event will be broadcast live on the NVFC’s Facebook page on November 18 at 3pm ET. If you are not able to attend live, the discussion will be recorded and available to watch at a later time. You can also attend via Zoom using this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83749365670.

Wildland Fire Assessment Program Training
2021-11-13 - 2021-11-14 | Mountain Ranch Community Club, 8049 Washington Street, Mountain Ranch, CA, United States
The Wildland Fire Assessment Program (WFAP) teaches fire service volunteers how to work-side-by-side with homeowners to identify threats around their property that may be susceptible to wildfires. The WFAP is a joint effort between the NVFC and the U.S. Forest Service to prepare fire department members with the necessary information, skills, and resources to conduct home safety assessments and provide residents with recommendations as to how to make their homes more fire adapted in the wildland-urban interface. Registration deadline is Oct. 31. View flyer for more details.

Symposium in the Sun
2021-11-11 - 2021-11-14 | Hilton Clearwater Beach, 400 Mandalay Ave., Clearwater, FL, 33767, United States
Visit NVFC booth #46.

Webinar - Systems Thinking: Drive Productivity, Profitability, and Accountability
2021-11-10 14:00 - 15:00 | AL
Members of the fire and emergency services wear many hats, and it is easy to be constantly distracted, overwhelmed, and not achieving the results we want in different aspects of our lives. By developing a system to increase and streamline productivity, we can leverage time and get more done. This webinar presented by Neen James will help attendees create a prioritization process for everyday application, learn how to focus on what’s most important daily, and create a productive personal action plan for implementation.
This webinar series is brought to you by Josh Cellars. Please visit their web site at joshcellars.com.

Crash Responder Safety Week
2021-11-08 - 2021-11-14 | AL

Webinar - Attention Pays™: Drive Profitability, Productivity, and Accountability
2021-11-03 14:00 - 15:00 | AL
To get the results you want, you need to get attention. But most people don’t know how to get it and keep it. People often see attention as a transaction, something to trade, but it’s much more than that. In this workshop presented by Neen James, learn how to leverage personal, professional, and global attention so you can be more deliberate about the choices you make and the actions you take so you can get the results you want in your department, at work, or in your personal life. Discover what makes attention valuable, and why paying attention in very specific ways drives profitability, productivity, and accountability.
This webinar series is brought to you by Josh Cellars. Please visit their web site at joshcellars.com.

Webinar - Compressed Natural Gas Vehicles: Fundamentals for Firefighters
2021-10-28 14:00 - 15:00 | AL
Compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles operate daily throughout the country, yet many firefighters have not received the essential training necessary to respond to fires and other incidents involving them. This one-hour webinar, hosted by Hexagon Agility and presented by Natural Gas Vehicle Institute, highlights the most critical information firefighters need to know when responding to CNG vehicle incidents. Learn how natural gas differs from gasoline and diesel, how to identify CNG vehicles, what to do and not do in an emergency, and proper response to a CNG vehicle fire.
This webinar is sponsored by Hexagon Agility. Hexagon is the leading global provider of highly-engineered and cost-effective alternative fuels for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles.

Webinar - Folding Time: How to Achieve Twice as Much in Half the Time
2021-10-27 14:00 - 15:00 | AL
You don’t have time to do everything; you only have time to do what matters! As leaders we are constantly being asked to do more with less. If we can get clear about those activities that make the biggest difference to our productivity, we can get twice as much done in half the time and free ourselves up to get on with whatever else we choose. In this practical and entertaining workshop presented by Neen James, learn how to achieve more in your volunteer department, at work, and in your personal life by managing your time, focusing your attention, and managing your energy.
This webinar series is brought to you by Josh Cellars. Please visit their web site at joshcellars.com.

Facebook Live Discussion: Getting Ready for Crash Responder Safety Week
2021-10-20 14:00 - 15:00 | AL
Crash Responder Safety Week, formerly known as National Traffic Incident Response Awareness Week, is November 8-14. Make sure you and your department are prepared to engage with your community during this critical week by joining NVFC directors David Lewis and Judy Thill from Maryland and Minnesota, respectively, and director of training at the Emergency Responder Safety Institute Jack Sullivan for this free live discussion. Panelists will discuss safety challenges posed to emergency responders while responding to and at the scene of traffic incidents, strategies for engaging with your community to raise awareness, and best practices to keep responders safe at crash incident scenes. If you are unable to attend live, the discussion will be recorded and available to watch later.

NVFC Fall Meeting
2021-10-13 - 2021-10-15 | Snow King Resort, 400 E Snow King Avenue, Jackson, WY, 83001, United States
Annual fall meeting of the NVFC board of directors.

Webinar - Science to the Street: Research-Based Public Education and Firefighter Training
2021-10-07 14:00 - 15:00 | AL
Join UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) for this free webinar focused on FSRI’s education and training resources for fire departments. Senior content specialist Jennifer Williams will discuss FSRI’s Close Before You Doze and Smoke Alarm Friendship Stories public fire safety programs and share ways to spread the word in your community. Instructional design manager Angela Bennett will then walk participants through the FSRI Fire Safety Academy and how to freely access FSRI’s cutting edge, practical fire service training aimed at helping firefighters stay safe while more effectively protecting people and property.
This webinar is sponsored by UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI). FSRI is dedicated to addressing the world’s unresolved fire safety risks and emerging dangers. Click here to learn more about FSRI.

Facebook Live: Engaging the Public During Fire Prevention Week
2021-09-21 14:00 - 15:00 | AL
The theme of this year’s Fire Prevention Week, taking place October 3-9, is “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety” and focuses on educating the public on the different sounds smoke and carbon monoxide alarms make. 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, and Teresa Neal, fire program specialist at the U.S. Fire Administration, for a discussion on the importance of this year’s theme and how departments can engage with their communities during Fire Prevention Week while taking COVID-19 related restrictions and precautions into account. This event is free to attend and registration is not required. The discussion will be broadcast to the NVFC’s Facebook page @nvfc1 on September 21 at 2pm ET.

NVFC Recruitment & Retention Experience
2021-09-17 - 2021-09-18 | Hyatt Regency Cleveland at the Arcade, 420 Superior Avenue East, Cleveland, OH, 44114, United States
The NVFC R&R Experience is a new interactive education and networking conference that will bring 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.

Facebook Live: First Look at the Lavender Ribbon Report Update
2021-09-14 13:00 - 14:00 | AL
Studies have shown that firefighters have an increased risk of developing several types of cancers due to the occupational hazards they face. The NVFC and International Association of Fire Chiefs Volunteer and Combination Officers Section (IAFC-VCOS) developed the Lavender Ribbon Report to detail 11 specific actions firefighters need to take to lessen those risks. An update to this report is about to be released to better help firefighters improve their health and safety and reduce occupational cancer risks. Join NVFC New York director Brian McQueen, Charles Flynn, fire chief of the Suffield (CT) Fire Department and chair of the IAFC-VCOS board, Frank Leeb, deputy assistant chief of the Fire Department of New York and 35-year member of the East Farmingdale (NY) Fire Department, and Chief John Buckman (ret.), past president of the IAFC and co-founder of the IAFC-VCOS, for a discussion on the importance of the Lavender Ribbon Report and an overview of the new supplemental report.
Attendees will have the chance to enter to win a GORE Particulate Hood in Nomex blend. The link to enter will be shared during the live broadcast.
This event is free to attend and registration is not required. The discussion will be broadcast to the NVFC’s Facebook page @nvfc1 on September 14 at 1pm ET.

Firehouse Expo
2021-09-14 - 2021-09-18 | Greater Columbus Convention Center, 400 North High Street, Columbus, OH, 43215, United States
Visit the NVFC at booth #932 and attend the NVFC course “Creating a Psychologically Healthy Fire Department” on September 18 at 8am, taught by David Ballard.

Webinar - Effective Public Education: Connecting with your Community
2021-09-09 14:00 - 15:00 | AL
Your fire department is in an excellent position to increase community awareness and provide age-appropriate education about preventing home fires and addressing other life safety issues. At the same time, it’s essential to build rapport with the local news media to incorporate fire and life safety messaging into relevant news stories. This webinar, presented by fire prevention education expert Michael McLeieer, will discuss strategic ways to develop a positive relationship with citizens, other stakeholders, and local media outlets to connect with the community, as well as existing resources and lesson plans available to enhance your fire prevention initiatives.

What It's Like - An Informational Session on Joining a Volunteer Fire Department
2021-08-18 15:00 - 16:00 | AL
This information session is designed for members of the public who are considering volunteering with their local fire department. Attendees will learn about requirements and expectations, a “day in the life,” different types of volunteer roles, how to handle the work-life-volunteer balance, and benefits of volunteering. Share this webinar with prospective volunteers who want to learn more about life as a fire service volunteer. This webinar is possible thanks to support from the Motorola Solutions Foundation.

Webinar: Firefighter Wellness: How to Outfit for Injury Prevention with Brooks Running
2021-08-11 14:00 - 15:00 | AL
The team at Brooks Running is passionate about keeping their athletes safe, active, and Run Happy. In this webinar, Chris Collier and Tatiana Medina from Brooks will use the research, knowledge, and science that is put into creating their shoes and apparel to provide information that can help firefighters and EMS providers perform at their best. Learn how to dress for injury prevention whether it is day to day on the job, on the run, or in the gym.

Optimizing Your Department’s Application for AFG and SAFER Grant Funding
2021-08-11 13:00 - 14:00 | AL
The application periods for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant programs are expected to open this fall. To help departments get ready, the NVFC is hosting a Facebook Live discussion on tips and best practices for a successful grant application. Join NVFC chief of legislative and regulatory affairs David Finger, NVFC first vice chair Kevin Quinn, and NVFC director from Maryland David Lewis to learn about the importance of the AFG and SAFER grants and what you can do to optimize your grant application to improve your department’s chances of being awarded funding. Registration for this event is not required. The discussion will be broadcast live on the NVFC’s Facebook page (@nvfc1) on August 11 at 1pm ET.

Volunteer VIP Tour
2021-08-06 11:30 - 12:15 | Indiana Convention Center & Lucas Oil Stadium, 100 South Capitol Avenue, Indianapolis, IN, 46225, United States
This free event takes place at FDIC at the IDEX booth 1823. For volunteers that are specing a truck, meet IDEX leadership along with an up-close, hands-on presentation to look at new technology that can help volunteer fire departments. To celebrate IDEX’s partnership with the NVFC, the first 20 people that sign up will also get a year membership with NVFC.

Challenges & Opportunities Volunteer Fire Departments Face
2021-08-05 14:00 - 15:00 | Indiana Convention Center & Lucas Oil Stadium, 100 South Capitol Avenue, Indianapolis, IN, 46225, United States
This free session takes place at FDIC at the IDEX booth 1823. A panel discussion will focus on unique challenges and opportunities that are specific to volunteer departments as well as best practices for volunteer departments in the areas of recruiting, automation and technology, funding, and fireground safety.

FDIC International
2021-08-02 - 2021-08-07 | Indiana Convention Center & Lucas Oil Stadium, 100 South Capitol Avenue, Indianapolis, IN, 46225, United States
Visit the NVFC at booth #13070.

Fire-Rescue International
2021-07-28 00:00 - 2021-07-30 00:00 | Charlotte, NC
Visit the NVFC at booth #7117.

Webinar: The Role of Chaplains in the Fire Service
2021-07-22 13:00 - 14:00 | AL
This presentation by Chaplain John F. Long, Jr. will outline what a fire service chaplain does and why a fire department should consider having a trained chaplain as part of their operational command structure. Trained chaplains do more than just give invocations and benedictions – they play an important role in providing behavioral health support to a department. Chaplains keep a thumb on the pulse of members and are often the first to recognize when someone is in need of help. They alleviate responsibilities that would otherwise fall to the chief, who may not have the capacity to identify signs of distress in their members. Chaplains are also the point person that spouses can reach out to when they have confidential concerns about their loved one. This webinar will describe the role the chaplain plays and how one can support your department – and help it thrive.

Webinar - Junior Firefighters and the COVID-19 Vaccine: A Strategy to Increase Uptake in Departments and their Communities
2021-07-07 14:00 - 15:00 | AL
The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is available to those aged 12 and older. Fire department leaders can advocate for their junior members to get the vaccine for the same reasons as adult members, including a return to normal and ending the pandemic, keeping family members and peers safe and healthy, and improving their ability to stay healthy and ready during first responder activities. In addition, vaccinated junior firefighters can serve as trusted messengers and vaccine advocates by providing encouragement to others in their departments and communities. This presentation by Dr. Wesley Attwood, CDC Public Health Advisor, will discuss vaccination among adolescents, communication strategies for fire management, and resources offered by the CDC that highlight vaccine science, benefits, and facts.

Webinar: COVID-19 Recovery Funds & Emergency Response Districts – Accessing Aid for Special Districts
2021-06-30 14:00 - 15:00 | AL
In this webinar, the National Special Districts Coalition and the National Association of Emergency and Fire Officials will present on key programs available to fire protection and emergency services districts for COVID-19 relief, and how fire protection and emergency services districts should advocate for access to State & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. Attendees will learn the details of the American Rescue Plan Act’s Coronavirus Fiscal Recovery Funds and the pending interim rule from the U.S. Department of Treasury on the $350 billion State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. Counties and cities have guaranteed access to these funds while fire protection and emergency services districts must request the funding from their states, counties, or cities.

Biking for First Responder's Mental Health
2021-06-30 | AL
Marc Warren will embark on a one-day, 100 percent human-powered bicycle ride through the 150-mile Great Allegheny Passage to raise awareness about the importance of firefighter/EMS behavioral health and raise funds for the NVFC’s Share the Load program. The ride is in honor of NVFC CEO Heather Schafer, who passed away in March.

International Hazardous Materials Response Teams Conference
2021-06-22 - 2021-06-24 | AL
The conference is being held virtually in 2021.

Safety Stand Down
2021-06-20 - 2021-06-26 | AL
The theme of the 2021 Safety Stand Down is “Rebuild Rehab.” Departments are encouraged to suspend non-emergency activities that week to focus on training and education related to this year’s theme.
