National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) News

Proper hydration is critical to help firefighters perform at their best and avoid health consequences that the combination of intense heat, physical exertion, and loss of fluids can cause. However, with so many demands on budget and resources, many volunteer fire departments struggle to obtain the water they need to keep their firefighters hydrated during long incidents or disasters such as wildfires. Anheuser-Busch and NVFC partnership To help departments meet this need, Anheuser-Busch partn...

The ability, or lack thereof, to purchase adequate personal protective equipment is a well-known struggle for many volunteer fire departments across the U.S.  To help combat this problem and keep first responders safe while they protect the communities, MSA Safety, DuPont Personal Protection, and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) have partnered for the 12th year to award volunteer fire departments in need with state-of-the-art turnout gear and helmets through MSA and DuPont’...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is excited to announce that the 2023 Training Summit will feature tracks focusing both on first responder health and safety topics as well as volunteer recruitment and retention. Training Summit venue Taking place June 23-24 in Oklahoma City, OK, this signature conference provides an opportunity for firefighters and EMS providers to participate in valuable classroom training, idea sharing, and networking. This expanded Training Summit incorporates th...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is excited to announce that the 2023 NVFC Training Summit will feature tracks focusing both on first responder health and safety topics, as well as volunteer recruitment and retention. Taking place from June 23 to June 24, 2023, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (OK), USA, this signature conference provides an opportunity for firefighters and EMS providers to participate in valuable classroom training, idea sharing, and networking. Expanded NVFC Training Sum...

The U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control Executive Summary is now available. This report provides highlights from the Summit that took place on October 11, 2022, and brought together government officials, fire service leaders, and scientists to address America’s fire problem. Included in the report are fact sheets detailing the recommendations covered in the Fire Service National Strategy.

Fentanyl is killing Americans all across the country at unprecedented rates. As the heroin and fentanyl epidemic continues to grow, emergency responders who come in accidental contact with these dangerous drugs are at great personal risk. PH&S Products, LLC (PH&S) is committed to providing the highest quality gloves for the safety and well-being of these responders, which is why they are offering a 10 percent discount and free shipping on GET-A-GRIP Gloves in 2023. GET-A-GRIP Gloves G...

Thirteen fire departments received much-needed new personal protective equipment in 2022 due to MSA and DuPont’s Globe Gear Giveaway, in partnership with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC). To keep first responders safe and protected, the giveaway awarded four sets of state-of-the-art turnout gear and four new helmets to selected departments. In addition, the first 500 applicants received a complimentary membership to the NVFC, courtesy of MSA. annual giveaway Too often, volunte...

Cierra Orlyk, communications coordinator, joined the NVFC in September. She assists with the NVFC’s messaging and public outreach, including managing the NVFC’s social media accounts, writing newsletter and eblast content, and facilitating live panel discussions. Cierra developed a deep respect and admiration for emergency responders growing up with a firefighter as her dad, and gained valuable association management experience before coming to the NVFC. She received her bachelor&rs...

Cancer is one of the biggest health threats facing firefighters, but there are actions that people can take to protect themselves and their crew. January is Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month, a time to learn about what service members and the fire department can do to lessen exposure risks and prevent job-related cancer. Here are some resources and tools to help: Lavender Ribbon Reports – The Lavender Ribbon Report details 11 specific actions firefighters can take to reduce exposure...

The application period is now open for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG), which provides funding to fire and EMS departments for necessities, such as gear, equipment, vehicles, and training. Find the Notice of Funding Opportunity, the application workshop schedule, and other tools to help with the grant application on the AFG web site. Interested individuals can also take the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) course Grant Writing for the Fire and Emergency Services to get tips for...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) will host its inaugural Regional Wildland Symposium on March 17-18 in Box Elder, SD. This wildland fire-focused event will bring together fire and EMS personnel from across the region and country to participate in valuable classroom training and idea exchange. interactive classroom training The symposium will provide an opportunity to learn from interactive classroom training and share ideas and best practices with wildland firefighters and other stak...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) course - Grant Writing for the Fire & Emergency Services educates fire and emergency services personnel on how to write a successful grant narrative in an effort to secure funding for their local fire/EMS department. new NVFC course Students will also be introduced to a variety of funding opportunities, including government and private grants. Interested individuals can take this course free for a limited time in the NVFC Virtual Classroom. This...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), International Association of Fire Chiefs’ Volunteer and Combination Officers Section (VCOS), and the International Society of Fire Service Instructors (ISFSI) joined together to release a new operational training guide for firefighters. The new operational training guide – ‘Training Volunteer Firefighters to Be Combat Ready’ is designed to help fire departments develop a training program that meets the needs of the community an...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is excited to announce that it has received a US$ 125,000 grant from General Motors to help increase the safety of emergency personnel, as they respond to the more than 14,000 roadway incidents that occur in the U.S.A. (United States of America) each day. This is the second year that General Motors has awarded a grant to the NVFC to positively impact the safety of responders and the general public on the roadways. NVFC receives grant from General Moto...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is now accepting nominations for its Annual Fire Service Achievement Awards. NVFC recognizes the contributions of a lifetime volunteer firefighter, a leader in health and wellness, an outstanding junior firefighter, or a successful junior firefighter program.  Nominations are due by 5 pm EST on January 20, 2023 for the following awards: Lifetime Achievement Award - Sponsored by Lincoln Financial Group This award recognizes a volunteer firef...

Too many volunteer fire departments struggle with an inadequate amount of turnout gear or worn-out, non-compliant gear they can’t afford to replace. That’s why, the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has partnered with MSA Safety Incorporated and Dupont Personal Protection since 2012, in order to give away state-of-the-art new gear to fire departments in need. New turnout gear and helmets for fire departments A total of 13 fire departments will be awarded with four new sets of...

Congratulations to the third and final recipient of the 2022 MSA Cairns® XF1 Fire Helmet Giveaway, Chief Carl Ennis. Ennis serves his community at the Pitman (NJ) Fire Department. Integrated light module The MSA Cairns® XF1 Fire Helmet Giveaway, in partnership with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), provides state-of-the-art helmets each year to members of the NVFC. The jet-style design of the helmet reduces snag hazards, provides a personalized fit, and houses its own integra...

For Fire Prevention Month this October 2022, the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), part of the non-profit safety science organization - UL Research Institutes, has released new videos combining more than 10 years of data with custom 3D modeling and real-world footage from the organization’s full-scale fire experiments. The first video in the series shows how a home fire grows and spreads, underscores the dangers of smoke, and encourages everyone to have and practice a fire escape pla...

Shortages in personal protective equipment (PPE) are a widespread issue for many volunteer fire departments. To address this need, MSA Safety Incorporated, DuPont Personal Protection, and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) have been partnering since 2012 to give away state-of-the-art gear to volunteer fire departments in need. In 2022, a total of 13 fire departments will be awarded with four new sets of turnouts and four new helmets. Additionally, the first 500 applicants received a one...

Regarding fire safety, being prepared is the first line of defense. Having the proper fire safety equipment installed in a home and knowing how to operate it is crucial to help protect individual and their family. online whole-home safety training course First Alert and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) have collaborated on an online whole-home safety training course designed for volunteer fire departments nationwide, complemented by a fire extinguisher donation program for community...

Firefighting and emergency response are stressful jobs with high levels of risk and unpredictability. In addition, volunteer responders are often juggling their fire service responsibilities with full time jobs and family commitments. All these factors can have an impact on the well-being of responders and their families. While many companies offer employee assistance programs (EAPs) to deal with work-life issues, such services are usually not available for volunteer firefighters and EMS provid...

A recent survey conducted by the NVFC found that 86% of volunteer fire departments have been adversely impacted by inflation and high gas prices. When asked what might help, over 41% said cooperative buying agreements with negotiated lower rates for equipment, gear, and technology. That is what National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) partner NPPGov provides. public safety agreements NPPGov is a cooperative purchasing organization that offers one of the largest selections of public safety agree...

When tragedies like Hurricane Ian strike, first responders are there to help their community. But they are also the victims of the same disaster. To help volunteer firefighters and EMS providers in the wake of a large-scale disaster or home fire, the NVFC provides the Volunteer Firefighter Support Fund. Stipend to assist first responders  Eligible volunteer responders whose homes have been damaged or destroyed by a state- or federally-declared disaster or home fire can apply for a stipend...

Given the fire service’s mission to fight fires, it is sadly ironic that there are arsonists in our midst. Admittedly, it’s a small number when compared to the multitude of firefighters who work tirelessly to achieve their mission. However, firefighter arsonists can have a huge negative impact on the credibility of the fire service, the public perception of firefighters, and even on morale in the ranks. In reality, hundreds of arrests each year in the United States of firefighters a...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) started accepting proposals from qualified instructors and speakers to present at the inaugural NVFC Regional Wildland Symposium, which will take place March 17-18, 2023, in Rapid City, SD. wildland fire-focused event This wildland fire-focused event will be an opportunity for fire and EMS personnel from across the region and country to participate in valuable classroom training as well as exchange ideas and best practices with their peers. The confe...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) announces that the inaugural NVFC Regional Wildland Symposium will take place March 17-18, 2023, in Rapid City, SD. The conference theme is Wildfires: From Mountain Peaks to Plains. This wildfire-focused event is an opportunity for first responders and other stakeholders to participate in valuable classroom training as well as exchange ideas and best practices with their peers. The conference The conference is open to all first responders nationwide...

Proper personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential to the health and safety of first responders. That’s why MSA Safety, DuPont Personal Protection, and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) are working together to provide volunteer fire departments with much-needed turnout gear through MSA Safety and DuPont’s Globe Gear Giveaway. In 2022, 13 departments will each receive four new sets of turnouts and four new helmets. Additionally, the first 500 applicants also received a...

In August 2022, the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) conducted a survey to determine the impact that high gas prices and inflation are having on local volunteer emergency service organizations. In total, 608 respondents completed the survey. The following provides an overview of the survey results. Respondents The majority of respondents were fire chiefs (40.36%), followed by officers (16.47%), firefighters (14%) and firefighter/EMS (13.51%). They represented every U.S. state except for...

PH&S Products, LLC (PH&S), in partnership with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), provided 100 NVFC members with GET-A-GRIP Gloves for their volunteer fire departments through the 2022 ‘Glove On!’ Giveaway. This giveaway provided each department with two dispenser boxes (up to 50 pairs of gloves per box) to enhance responder health and safety. Gloves are an important part of a responder’s personal protective gear as they provide hand protection against substan...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is pleased to announce that it will host its signature health and safety focused educational conference, the NVFC Training Summit 2023, from June 23 to June 24, 2023, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA. The NVFC is now accepting proposals from qualified instructors and speakers for presentations to educate first responders about critical issues in the fire and emergency services. Submit proposal by September 30, 2022. NVFC Training Summit 2023 The theme...