National Volunteer Fire Council

Virtual Training: Leadership for the Fire and Emergency Services
2021-02-25 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | MO
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 | MO
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 | MO
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 | MO
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 | MO
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 | MO
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 | MO
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 | MO
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 | MO
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 | MO
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 | MO
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 | MO
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 | MO
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 | MO
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.

Fire-Rescue Med
2020-10-19 | MO
This virtual conference focuses on fire-based EMS education and issues.

Webinar: Professional Development for the Volunteer Fire Officer
2020-10-14 18:00 - 19:00 | MO
Officers have an important role and immense responsibility in taking care of their organization. New volunteer fire officers face unique challenges on both the operations and administrative sides of the organization as they try to navigate their new position. Join Tom Merrill for this free webinar to understand how aspiring, newly promoted, and veteran officers alike can help bring members home safely, earn credibility and respect, and competently handle the numerous tasks and details needed to keep the department operationally ready and organizationally compliant. The presentation will also discuss leadership traits that all fire department members can use to create and maintain more unified and harmonious operations.

NVFC Fall Meeting
2020-10-14 - 2020-10-16 | MO
Annual fall meeting of the NVFC board of directors. This meeting will be held virtually.

Fire Prevention Week: Engaging Audiences During a Pandemic
2020-09-22 14:00 - 15:00 | MO
Sponsored by California Casualty. Learn more about insurance options for firefighters and EMS providers at www.calcas.com/firefighters.
Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 4-10) is typically a time for fire departments to connect with their communities, hold open houses, and distribute fire prevention and recruitment messages. So how do you engage with the community 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.

Webinar: Staffing the Fire Station: A Data-Driven Approach to Recruiting Millennials
2020-09-16 14:00 - 15:00 | MO
Fire department leaders have a long history of following practices handed down through generations, but when it comes to recruiting millennials, a data-driven approach may prove to be more successful. Join Scott Wilber of the Bronson (MI) Fire Department for this free webinar that will offer suggestions for recruiting the next generation based on research about millennials and current practices in fire departments. Attendees will identify what motivates young adults, what they find most rewarding about serving in the fire service, and how this information can be used effectively to revitalize recruitment efforts.

Webinar: It Could Never Happen Here: Suicide and the Volunteer Fire Department
2020-09-10 14:00 - 15:00 | MO
We lose more firefighters each year to suicide than in the line of duty. Yet while every fire department’s calendar is full of training for safety on the fireground, how much time is focused on mental and emotional health? In this free webinar, Hersch Wilson, volunteer firefighter/EMT with the Hondo Fire Department in Santa Fe County, NM, will discuss the impact of the firefighter’s world on mental and emotional health and the risk of suicide among first responders. Attendees will be given ideas and advice to help build a more resilient culture within their department and learn why ignoring mental health is not an option.

Webinar: Grants Program Update: What's Changing and What Do I Need to Know?
2020-09-02 14:00 - 15:00 | MO
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently released updates related to the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG), Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant, and Fire Prevention & Safety (FP&S) grant programs. In this free webinar, David Lewis, the NVFC’s Maryland Director and the NVFC representative to the AFG, SAFER, and FP&S criteria development process, will discuss these updates in detail. Attendees will also learn about FEMA’s plan for rolling out the FY 2020 grant application periods, the second round of AFG-S funding for volunteer and combination fire departments, frequently asked questions related to the FEMA GO grants management system, and FEMA’s decision to extend the period of performance for FY 2018 AFG and other grants.

Webinar: Fundraising Strategies for Fire and EMS Departments
2020-08-27 14:00 - 15:00 | MO
Creative and strategic fundraising for volunteer fire and EMS organizations has never been more important. Having a clear plan, specific goals, and precise execution are keys to ensuring you make the most of those valuable hours donated by your members. Join David Denniston of McNeil & Co. for this free webinar on how to achieve success with your fundraising efforts, especially in these unusual times. Whether you have been fundraising for decades or just started to feel the pinch, this webinar will explore how to determine your fundraising needs, what options are available, and how to maximize your results.

Fire-Rescue International: Virtual Experience
2020-08-19 - 2020-08-21 | MO
In place of the usual FRI conference this year, the IAFC will hold a virtual event for the fire service.

NVFC Virtual Leadership Symposium
2020-08-14 13:00 - 17:30 | MO
The NVFC is pleased to announce an afternoon of live, virtual training providing a condensed version of our popular in-person full-day course offerings focused on leading successful departments. This free training event, sponsored by the Motorola Solutions Foundation, is composed of two courses: Leadership for the Fire and Emergency Services (1-3pm ET) and Volunteer Fire Service Culture: Essential Strategies for Success (3:30-5:30pm ET). Attendees can chose to attend one or both courses, and registration is required.

Webinar: Surviving the Job - Cancer from a Survivor's Perspective
2020-08-11 14:00 - 15:00 | MO
Hear about the impact of cancer from the perspective of a survivor, and learn about the importance of prevention and early detection. This is one of a six-part cancer risk reduction webinar series from the IAFC-VCOS and NVFC. Register here.

Webinar: Leadership for the Fire and Emergency Services
2020-07-16 14:00 - 15:00 | MO
Quality leadership is essential for the fire and emergency services to accomplish your mission and improve your department. Join Steve Hirsch, NVFC Chair, for this free webinar that will examine leadership styles, qualities, and best practices to help your department function at a high level and avoid fire and emergency services leadership pitfalls. Register here.

Webinar: Public Safety Solutions for First Responders Using Mobile Devices
2020-07-09 14:00 - 15:00 | MO
Verizon recognizes the critical role first responders play in emergencies. Access to quality applications and the ability to use your personal device to communicate are paramount to the success and outcome of any mission. Join the NVFC and Verizon for this free webinar that will review two of Verizon’s first responder priority services for personal wireless devices, at no additional cost: Verizon Mobile Broadband Priority and Wireless Priority Service. The presenters will also highlight available apps that first responders can use to assist in response activities.

NVFC Training Summit: Virtual Preview
2020-06-26 - 2020-06-27 | Embassy Suites by Hilton Lake Buena Vista Resort, 8100 Lake St, Orlando, FL, 32836, United States
This virtual preview of the 2021 in-person conference will feature webinars on critical fire service issues.

Webinar: COVID-19 Cost Recovery for Fire and EMS
2020-06-25 11:00 - 12:00 | MO
Join the NVFC and Federal Emergency Management Agency for this free webinar that will review the delivery of the Public Assistance (PA) Grant Program to support fire and EMS departments in their response to COVID-19.

Webinar: Fire Chief Authority Under NFPA Standards
2020-06-10 14:00 - 15:00 | MO
Many volunteer and small-town fire chiefs often find it challenging to fully implement NFPA standards in their departments. What you may not realize is that fire chiefs have the power to decide which NFPA standards to use and how to use them (except when state law requires otherwise). Join Chief Joe Maruca of West Barnstable (MA) Fire Department for this free NVFC webinar to learn how small-town fire chiefs can use their power to modify and adapt NFPA standards to fit your situation and provide the most benefit to your department. Register here.
