National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) News

On June 29, a bi-partisan group of 36 U.S. Representatives, led by Representatives Cindy Axne (D-IA), French Hill (R-AR), and John Larson (D-CT), sent a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administrator Alex Azar and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma asking that they, “…allow fire departments and EMS agencies to receive payments for providing treatment-in-place to their patients as well as providing these agencies with dir...

The Small Town America Civic Volunteer Award will honor 100 extraordinary local government volunteers, including firefighters and EMS providers, in communities under 5,000 in population. All honorees will receive a CivicCMS web site for their local government, and the top three will receive a cash prize to help with local volunteer recruitment and retention efforts.

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is pleased to partner with TargetSolutions to provide additional operational training and education opportunities to the volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue community at no cost. TargetSolutions is offering a cadre of 10 online firefighter continuing education courses to all members of the NVFC. TargetSolutions features more than 450 hours of fire department training based on NFPA codes and standards. The training catalog includes awareness and refresher l...

In response to the continuing effects of the worldwide pandemic, the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has postponed its inaugural in-person Recruitment & Retention (R&R) Experience. This two-day, interactive conference focuses on volunteer fire department staffing issues and will now take place September 17-18, 2021, in Cleveland, OH. Those who have already registered for the 2020 event can choose to defer their registration to 2021 or receive a full refund. Registration for the 2...

On June 26-27, the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) held a virtual preview of the 2021 Training Summit. This two-day online training event featured keynote speakers and panel discussions, followed by breakout sessions to enable participants to ask questions and further discuss the themes that had been presented by that day’s speakers. In-Person Event postponed to 2021 The NVFC had originally planned to hold an in-person Training Summit in Orlando in 2020 but had to postpone the eve...

The spread of COVID-19 has more than just physical health implications. It also creates uncertainty and changes in lifestyle that can have an emotional impact. Firefighters, EMS providers, and rescue workers may be feeling the impact especially hard as they navigate the new realities of responding and maintaining operations during this crisis. NVFC invites all to join Jeff Dill, founder of the Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance, for this free NVFC webinar on May 20 to discuss strategies and...

The NVFC welcomes new Advocate Member DripDrop ORS (oral rehydration solution), producer of electrolyte powder sticks that provide dehydration relief fast. Invented by a doctor to save lives while serving on a humanitarian aid trip, it is used by medical professionals, elite athletes, firefighters, and every day people who suffer from dehydration due to heat exhaustion, illness, travel, and more.

Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) Emergency Services Training Institute, a Sustaining member of the National Volunteer Fire Council and provider in high-quality emergency response training and instruction, is offering free and low-cost online firefighting continuing education courses. With many firefighters looking for affordable online training opportunities during the pandemic, these courses are a great option to incorporate into department training. Emergency responders can...

In a typical year, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) encourages the public to only attend public fireworks displays put on by trained professionals, reflecting its’ long-standing position against consumer use of fireworks. However, with public fireworks events around the country being canceled in the year 2020, NFPA is vigorously discouraging individuals’ use of consumer fireworks, recognizing that the likelihood of such activities may increase in the absence of public...

On April 29, National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) Chair Steve Hirsch asked President Donald Trump to exercise various legal authorities to assist emergency services organizations in dealing with challenges associated with COVID-19 and social distancing. Specifically, the NVFC is asking the President to: Exercise his authority under the Defense Protection Act (DPA) to encourage manufacturers to produce more personal protective equipment, like respirators, gloves, gowns, and face shields, to...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has announced hosting a webinar titled ‘Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Preservation and N95 Respirator Decontamination and Reuse’, with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U. S. Fire Administration and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. PPE Preservation webinar The webinar will focus on the current research and best practices for preserving and decontaminating personal protective equipment and use of the Battelle Decon...

The NVFC recently hosted a Facebook Live discussion on creative fundraising ideas fire and EMS departments can consider to help bridge funding shortfalls caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent social distancing measures. If one has missed the live event, the recording can be watched on NVFC’s social media page.

The NVFC is running an ongoing survey to better understand the needs of volunteer and combination fire, EMS, and rescue departments dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing measures. Data collected helps inform the discussions with policymakers in Congress and federal agencies. NVFC asks volunteers to take the survey, and retake it each week so NVFC can track changes over time.    

NVFC chair Steve Hirsch sat down with Side Alpha podcast host Marc Bashoor in February to discuss volunteerism in the fire service, how to stem declining numbers, strategies for recruitment and retention efforts, and the future of the fire service. The podcast is now available for download. 

Anheuser-Busch and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) have been named a 2020 Silver Halo Award winner in the Disaster Prevention/Relief category for the Emergency Drinking Water for Wildland Firefighters program. Keeping firefighters hydrated during long incidents or disasters such as wildfires is a critical need for fire departments, yet many volunteer departments struggle with limited budget and resources. To help departments meet this need, Anheuser-Busch teamed up with the NVFC in 2...

The National Fire Protection Association has announced the theme of Fire Prevention Week 2020 is “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen.” Cooking is the major cause of home fires and home fire injuries in the U.S. NFPA urges to use the week of October 4-10 to educate one’s community on cooking hazards, the dangers of unattended cooking, and precautions one can take to prevent cooking-related fires.

Safety Stand Down is June 14-20, and departments are encouraged to suspend all non-emergency activities to focus on training relating to year 2020’s theme - protecting emergency responders at roadway incidents. Resources are available at the Safety Stand Down website, and webinar details would be posted soon. One can take the Safety Stand Down Quiz by June 17 for a chance to win one of 200 limited-edition challenge coins.

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), in partnership with the Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance (FBHA) and the American Psychological Association (APA), has released a new directory of behavioral health professionals that are equipped and ready to help firefighters, EMS providers, dispatchers, and rescue workers. Emergency responders are at risk of many behavioral health concerns, including anxiety, depression, burnout, post-traumatic and acute stress, addiction, relationship challen...

CivicCMS, part of the CivicPlus® platform of integrated technology for local governments, has announced a program to recognize small-town civic volunteers and volunteer organizations that are making a difference in their community. CivicCMS is launching the Small Town America Civic Volunteer Award program; local government representatives may nominate citizens or citizen organizations. The initiative will recognize 100 entries, helping to shine a spotlight on the growing need for local enga...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has announced that its members will receive a discount on entry passes for Interschutz USA 2020 event, which is slated to take place from October 13th to October 17th, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. NVFC stated that this would include free exhibit hall passes and savings on both three-day and one-day conference passes, as well as pre-conference workshops and hands-on training. In addition, early bird tickets’ discount rates have been ex...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has announced that Firehouse Expo has been rescheduled to take place from October 30th to November 1st, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. National Volunteer Fire Council members can take advantage of free exhibit hall admission and US$ 50 off the three-day conference package.

On June 17, Marc Warren will complete a one-day, 150-mile bicycle ride through the Great Allegheny Passage to raise awareness about the importance of firefighter/EMS behavioral health. Inspired by his daughter, Ali Rothrock’s work for first responder mental health, Warren is hoping to raise US$ 2,500 to support the NVFC’s Share the Load program. As a lifelong athlete, Marc Warren is no stranger to physically grueling endeavors. But this time he is using his skills to raise money for...

On May 15, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 6800, the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act, which would provide approximately US$ 3 trillion in assistance, to help the nation deal with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The bill includes a number of provisions to assist fire, EMS, and rescue departments, including: Provides US$ 500 million through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program, for the purchase of personal protective equipm...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) created a survey to better understand the experiences of volunteers and combination fire, EMS, and rescue departments in dealing with the outbreak of COVID-19 and related social distancing measures. Fire/EMS survey The NVFC asked individuals to take a few minutes to complete the COVID-19 Impact on Fire/EMS Survey and is also encouraging re-taking the survey periodically (no more than once per week), so that the company can track changes in the respons...

As of April 2020, there were 301,960 miles of natural gas transmission lines in the United States along with 17,414 miles of gathering and 1,328,271 miles of distribution lines. There is an additional 218,851 miles of liquid transport lines in service in the U.S. The footprint touches all 50 states and poses a response consideration for approximately 85 percent of the nation’s fire service. Natural gas incidents Most natural gas incidents involve either motor vehicle crashes where a serv...

Homes for Heroes and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) have announced a partnership to help volunteer firefighters, EMS providers, and rescue workers save when purchasing, selling, or refinancing a home. NVFC members, their families, and their first responder friends will be eligible to take advantage of the Hero Rewards program, which provides discounts, savings, and rewards on real estate transactions. Through the Hero Rewards program, first responders and other eligible heroes maxim...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) joined with other major national fire service organizations in asking Congress to provide full funding, $750 million each, for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant programs in FY 2021. The letter also asks Congress to waive local matching funds requirements under AFG and SAFER and to increase flexibility for using SAFER funds to retain personnel in FY 2020, FY 2021, and for any s...

To help support the firefighters, EMS providers, and medical workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic and provide protection and peace of mind to their families, Wiser Estate Plan is offering a Family Protection Plan free to front-line responders. This is a savings of up to $5,000 on the creation of a trust and healthcare/financial powers of attorney. This offer will save thousands of dollars in fees and help families avoid probate if something should happen to one of the front-line...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) created a survey to better understand the experiences of volunteer and combination fire, EMS, and rescue departments dealing with the outbreak of COVID-19 and related social distancing measures. NVFC asks that all take a few minutes to complete the survey here and that one re-takes the survey once a week so that NVFC can track changes over time. The more responses the survey receives the more robust and useful the data are, keeping NVFC informed about...

Steve Hirsch, Chair of the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), has been named as an advisor to the Small Town America Civic Volunteer Award (STACVA) program. This new national award, scheduled to launch June 1, will honor extraordinary public service volunteers in small localities (under 5,000) nationwide and help shine a spotlight on a growing national problem: a decline in the availability of citizens to fill important public safety and service roles. Advisory team members will help desig...