NVFC Live Online Trainings

The NVFC offers the following live, virtual training opportunities, all of which are presented on Zoom:

Below are upcoming events. This page is updated as more trainings are added. If you miss a live webinar or Roundtable Talk, you can watch the recording in the NVFC Virtual Classroom. R&R Coffee Talks and Volunteer Voices Live events are not recorded.

To watch a recorded event, you will need to login to the NVFC Virtual Classroom. Don’t have an account? Click here and select “Set up an account.” It’s free to set up an account and gives you access to all the training you take through the NVFC. View a tutorial here.

Webinar – Learn How to Maximize Your NVFC Member Experience
September 15 @ 2pm ET
Presenters: Alyssa Dara, Callie Fry, and Laura Towers
Are you making the most of your NVFC membership? Whether you’re a new member, a longtime member looking for a refresher, or a prospective member interested in learning more, this webinar will help you take full advantage of all the NVFC has to offer. Join us September 15 at 2 pm ET for a walkthrough of the NVFC member portal; an overview of exclusive member benefits, including a detailed look at the First Responder Helpline from Business Health Services (BHS) staff; and practical tips for getting the most value from your membership.

Train-the-Trainer Webinar – How to Effectively Give a Distracted Driving Presentation to Teens
October 7 @ 2pm ET
Presenter: Joel Feldman
We know that distracted driving is an epidemic. As emergency responders, we see firsthand the devastating effects of distracted driving in terms of lives lost and injuries to the public, especially teens. Distracted driving also affects us, with struck-by incidents increasing every year. Accordingly, many departments are adding distracted driving education to their community risk reduction plans. In this train-the-trainer webinar, learn how to effectively educate teens about the dangers of distracted driving. The session is taught by Joel Feldman, founder of EndDD.org and a retired attorney from Philadelphia. Since his daughter Casey was killed by a distracted driver, Joel has worked tirelessly to educate the public about the dangers of distracted driving. His teen presentation has been given to more than 500,000 students across the country by volunteer speakers from a wide range of professions, including firefighters. We all complain about distracted drivers. Isn’t it time to do something about it? When firefighters talk, people listen. Your community, especially teens, need your help to end distracted driving.

Webinar – Preventing Fatalities and Serious Injuries from Fires and Explosions in Silos
October 13 @ 2pm ET
Presenters: Wesley Attwood, Travis Martin, and Eric Rickenbach
On May 15, 2026, two volunteer firefighters died following an explosion of an oxygen-limiting silo that occurred at a lumber mill. The incident was investigated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program (FFFIPP) so that the fire service can learn from this incident and prevent future tragedies. In the first part of this presentation, senior investigator Wesley R. Attwood will share the incident details, contributing factors that led to the fatalities, and prevention actions to help fire departments prevent future incidents involving silo fire response. In the second part of the presentation, Eric Rickenbach and Travis Martin of RescueTechs, LLC will provide a discussion of initial strategy and tactics fire departments can use for silo fire response.

Webinar – Behind the 8 Ball: The First 15 Minutes on the Fireground
October 21 @ 2pm ET
Presenter: Timothy Cowan
Does the term “do more with less” sound familiar? For many volunteer and combination departments, that’s a daily reality – and it matters most in the critical first minutes of an incident. This webinar will review incident priorities and how staffing levels can make all the difference between winning and losing on the fireground. We’ll discuss staffing studies that have been completed and how departments can use that data to their advantage. We’ll also review NFPA 1710 and 1720, along with the OSHA standard for 2-in/2-out, and what these mean for departments working with limited staffing.

Roundtable Talk – Is NFPA Standard Adoption Really All or Nothing?
October 28 @ 2pm ET
Presenters: John Buckman (moderator), Doug Cline, Joe Maruca, and Robin Zevotek
NFPA standards are meant to establish a baseline of safety and operational performance, but many departments assume adoption is an all-or-nothing decision – and that’s one of the most misunderstood aspects of how these standards actually work. This NVFC Roundtable Talk brings together subject matter experts to unpack where the line really falls between what’s required, what’s recommended, and what’s realistically achievable for individual departments. Panelists will discuss how standards can be modified to fit local needs and resources unless mandated by law, what departments should weigh when new or merged standards come with real cost implications, and how fire and emergency service organizations can move from confusion to confident implementation.

Roundtable Talk – Reducing Risk: An Insurance Industry Perspective on Fire Service Claims and Prevention
November 3 @ 2pm ET
Presenters: Quentin Cash (Moderator), Cherryville Fire Department; Roxanne Dean, California Casualty Management Company; Daren D’Ippolito, Provident; Scott Harkins, VFIS; Patrick Quinn, McNeil & Company
Every fire and emergency service department has a level of risk to contend with, but there are steps leaders and individuals can take to help mitigate risks and better protect both the department and personnel from negative outcomes. This NVFC Roundtable Talk brings together insurance industry experts to explore what claims data reveal about risk in the fire service, from the leading causes of injury to the legal and litigation trends shaping the industry today. Panelists will share perspectives from both the department and personal-insurance sides, covering the claims they see most often, where prevention can have the biggest impact, and why catching health issues early — and building everyday safety habits — can save both lives and costs. Join us for a candid look at how understanding claims data can help fire and emergency service departments reduce risk and better protect their members.

Webinar – New Ways Volunteer Fire Organizations Can Use Drones
November 4 @ 2pm ET
Presenters: Chief Charles L. Werner, EFO (Ret., Emeritus)
Drones can enhance fire department operations, and recent changes add even more ways that departments can incorporate drone usage. Join the NVFC for this free webinar with Chief Charles Werner (ret.), the director of DRONERESPONDERS, to learn ways drones can benefit public safety and how regulatory changes now allow volunteer drone operations that were previously prohibited. Participants will then take a deep dive into how to implement a public safety drone program, including important considerations and guidelines.

Roundtable Talk – Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late: Develop Future Leaders Now
November 18 @ 2pm ET
Presenters: John Alston, Jeff Cash, Denis Onieal, Ken Willette (Moderator)
Effective, informed, and consistent leadership is one of the keys to a successful fire or EMS department. However, succession planning often gets put off until a chief is nearing retirement – and by then, it’s already too late to cultivate the next generation of leaders. Join this one-hour NVFC Roundtable Talk to learn how volunteer fire departments can identify and develop future leaders early, preserve institutional knowledge before it walks out the door, and turn succession planning into an actual practice rather than an afterthought. A department with prepared leaders is a safer, more resilient one.

Roundtable Talk – Think Smaller, Win Bigger: Crafting Winning Grant Narratives
December 3 @ 2pm ET
Presenters: Breanna Adams, Walter Campbell (Moderator), Dave Lewis, Kait Meeker
Finding funding opportunities is only half the battle – telling your department’s story in a way that resonates with reviewers is what turns an application into an award. In this Roundtable Talk, a panel of experts will shift the focus beyond federal grants to the smaller, private funding opportunities that are often overlooked. Panelists will share real succ8ess stories, practical tips for writing a compelling narrative, and how to make the most of the grant resources and guidance available through your NVFC membership.

Webinar – Supporting Behavioral Health Through the Holidays: Resilience in the Fire and Emergency Services
December 8 @ 2pm ET
Presenters: Jeff Dill
The holidays can be a difficult time for first responders, often bringing strained relationships, added stress, and emotional weight. Join the NVFC for a webinar on behavioral health during the holiday season, covering moral injury, depression, and the toll the season can take on relationships, along with practical strategies to stay healthy and resilient.

Check out additional on-demand courses in the NVFC Virtual Classroom.