1979

March 2, 2026

The Federal Emergency Management Agency purchased land in Emmitsburg, MD, to house the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and the new National Fire Academy, which held its first on-campus courses in 1980. Also in 1979, the Stonebridge Conference was held to spell out the needs of volunteer responders to the USFA. For all of its 50-year existence, the NVFC has advocated for the volunteers on the national stage. Photo: The NVFC has testified before Congress on behalf of the volunteer fire service many times, including in this undated photo of E. James Monihan speaking at a Congressional hearing.