National Volunteer Fire Council

Roundtable Talk: Proposed OSHA Standard Update and What It Means for Volunteer Fire Departments
2024-05-16 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
Presenters: Dave Denniston, Bruce Lundegren, Ryan Woodward
On February 5, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published a proposed rule revising its emergency response standard. This is the first time OSHA revised this standard since 1980, and the public has until June 21 to provide comments. If enacted as is, this proposed rule would bring immense challenges to volunteer departments, and some may even be forced to shut down. It is important that the volunteer fire service understand how this rule would impact them and provide their comments to OSHA before June 21. This NVFC Roundtable Talk will highlight some of the biggest concerns with the proposed revised emergency standard, discuss which volunteers will be impacted, explain the NVFC’s strategy for addressing the proposed revision, and suggest best practices for departments wishing to comment on the revisions.
The text of the proposed revised OSHA emergency response standard, information on how to submit comments, and more can be found here.
Register.

Partners in Training Crew Training -- Wenatchee, WA
2024-05-17 - 2024-05-18 | Wenatchee Convention Center, 121 N Wenatchee Ave, Wenatchee, WA, 98801, 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: May 17-18, 2024
Where: Wenatchee Convention Center, 121 N Wenatchee Ave, Wenatchee, WA 98801
Hosted by: Washington State Firefighters’ Association 101st Annual Fire School and Conference / the National Volunteer Fire Council
Courses being offered:

Instructor Training for Flammable Liquids (3 hours)
Instructor Training for Flammable Gases (3 hours)

Roundtable Talk: Answering the Call – Volunteer EMS Recruitment & Retention Strategies
2024-05-22 14:00 - 15:00
Panelists: Candice McDonald (moderator), Eric Quinney, Pam Rogers, and Jules Scadden
Emergency medical incidents make up the largest segment of emergency calls in most communities. Volunteer fire departments need a forward-thinking plan to maintain sufficient emergency medical services (EMS) staffing. Join the NVFC and an expert panel for a Roundtable Talk on May 22 to discuss volunteer recruitment and retention for EMS. As communities face increasing demands for emergency response, maintaining a robust volunteer force is essential. This discussion will highlight effective strategies and innovative approaches aimed at addressing this challenge, from targeted outreach programs to fostering a supportive volunteer culture. Register.

Roundtable Talk: Proposed OSHA Standard Update and Working with Local Government
2024-05-23 14:00 - 15:00
Panelists: Brett Mattson, Yucel (u-jel) Ors, and Ryan Woodward (moderator)
If adopted as written, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) proposed Emergency Response Standard would bring immense challenges to volunteer departments, and some may even be forced to shut down. This proposed rule could also have a significant broader impact on local governments. The NVFC will host a roundtable discussion with representatives from the National League of Cities and the National Association of Counties to highlight areas of mutual concerns and provide recommendations on how volunteer departments can collaborate with their local government to express these concerns to OSHA. Register.

Webinar: Managing Combination Departments -- Leadership Challenges
2024-05-29 14:00 - 15:00
Instructor: Quentin Cash
Leading a combination department with both career and volunteer personnel can bring unique challenges for officers. This webinar will provide an overview of challenging issues and considerations facing emergency service leaders and chief officers in combination department settings. Topics covered will include administration, delegation, setting expectations, mentoring, and human resource issues, among others. Presenter Quentin Cash will also provide tips and tools to produce success around communications, leadership, and supervision. Register.

This webinar is sponsored by Amazon Business.

Roundtable Talk: Safety Stand Down – Building the Foundation of a Successful Fire Department Training Program
2024-06-04 11:00 - 12:00
Presenters: Jim Barnhart (FDSOA), Sean DeCrane (IAFF), Bob Duval (NFPA), Tom Miller (NVFC), John Schmidt (IAFC), and Darin Wallentine (IAFC, moderator)
A solid training program that is built on relevancy and safety serves as the foundation of every successful fire department. That’s why the 2024 Safety Stand Down theme is “Fire Training: Back to Basics.” Get ready for Safety Stand Down with this Roundtable Talk on June 4 at 11am ET featuring a panel of experts from the NVFC, IAFC, IAFF, NFPA, and FDSOA. Discussion will delve into the following:

Why this year’s theme is important.
The daily focus areas of building the foundation of a training program, assessing the needs of the community and department, safety during training, physical and behavioral/mental health considerations, and the 12 Foundations of Fire Department Training.
How your department can participate in Safety Stand Down.

Register.

Webinar: Advancements in Utility-Scale Battery Energy Storage Safety Features, Standards, and Practices
2024-06-05 14:00 - 15:00
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.

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

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

Iowa Firefighters Memorial Service
2024-06-09 08:00 - 17:00 | Iowa Firefighters Memorial, 1 Russell Slade Boulevard, Coralville, IA, 52241, United States

Webinar: Moral Injury -- Peeling Back the Layers of PTSD
2024-06-11 14:00 - 15:00
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.

Day of Action: OSHA Proposed Standard
2024-06-12
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/.

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)

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 -- Concord, NH
2024-07-12 - 2024-07-13
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)

Volunteer Voices Live: Grant Writing
2024-07-17 15:00 - 16:15
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.

R&R Coffee Talk: Volunteer Retention
2024-07-18 19:00 - 20:00
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.

Roundtable Talk: Prioritizing Behavioral Health in the Fire & Emergency Services
2024-07-24 14:00 - 15:00
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.

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!

Webinar: Finding Future Firefighters — Recruiting and Retaining Gen Z
2024-08-07 14:00 - 15:00
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.

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: Preparing Your Public Hearing Testimony on the Proposed OSHA Emergency Response Standard
2024-08-20 14:00 - 15:00
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.

Roundtable Talk: The Virtual Fireground — Evaluating Immersive Learning for Fire Service Training
2024-08-29 14:00 - 15:00
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.

NVFC Roundtable Talk: Hazmat Response Training -- Zooming In from National to Local
2024-09-03 14:00 - 15:00
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.

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

Webinar: OSHA's Proposed Emergency Response Standard Update: What Comes Next?
2024-09-05 14:00 - 15:00
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.

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: Collective Impact — Collaborative Strategies for Fire and Life Safety Education
2024-09-10 14:00 - 15:00
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.

Webinar: Safe Roads, Safe Responders - Educating Communities on Roadway Incident Safety
2024-09-17 13:00 - 14:00
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.

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.
