National Volunteer Fire Council

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 (America/New_York) | CT
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
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
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
The conference is being held virtually in 2021.

Safety Stand Down
2021-06-20 - 2021-06-26
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.

Webinar: Social Fitness – Skills to Improve Community Relations for the Volunteer Firefighter
2021-06-15 14:00 - 15:00
The public appreciates good customer service when dealing with an organization, and the same is true for your volunteer fire department. While performing skillfully during calls is the trademark of competent firefighters, the public may judge you on other things, such as how you acted during a call and how they were treated. Join Tom Merrill for this free webinar to sharpen your social fitness skills and improve your department’s customer service reputation. In a field where many situations are out of your control, learn more about what is in your direct control – a caring attitude, timely responses, and true empathy.

Onboarding New Volunteers: Strategies for Long-Term Retention
2021-06-09 14:00 - 15:00
Volunteer fire departments are constantly recruiting new members into their ranks. One of the most important, but often overlooked, steps in the recruitment process is onboarding new firefighters. The long-term retention of firefighters begins with the onboarding process. Join Jason Decremer, PhD, director of certification for the Connecticut Commission on Fire Prevention and Control, for this free webinar that will examine the best practices for onboarding new firefighters by taking participants through a series of strategies that will help ensure your department has a properly managed onboarding process that leads to long-term retention of firefighters.

Safety Stand Down: Rebuild Rehab to Protect Your Firefighters
2021-06-08 15:00 - 16:00
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.
