Public trust is the foundation of every successful volunteer fire department. While the Maltese Cross firefighters wear symbolizes courage, service, and sacrifice, it also carries responsibility. Every action, every word, and every choice a firefighter makes reflects not only on the individual, but on the entire fire service family. Join presenter Tom Merrill for this webinar on how professionalism is critical in building and shaping trust, and how every member plays a vital role protecting the department’s reputation and upholding a tradition of excellence.

Grants can provide vital support for volunteer fire and EMS departments, helping to fund everything from training and equipment to community programs. However, finding the right opportunity and submitting a competitive application takes planning. In this NVFC Roundtable Talk, a panel of experts will share practical strategies, personal experiences, and lessons learned to help departments locate funding sources, understand requirements, and strengthen their overall grant approach. This roundtable talk is sponsored by Snap-tite Hose.

The holidays can be a difficult time for first responders, bringing added stress, loneliness, and emotional strain. Join the NVFC for a panel discussion on behavioral health during the holiday season, including myths about suicide rates, signs and symptoms to watch for, and practical coping strategies to stay healthy and resilient.

When a mayday is declared, every second counts. This webinar bridges the gap between cultivating a strong mayday culture in training and executing effective incident command strategies on the fireground. Participants will learn strategies to build a proactive culture that emphasizes prevention, readiness, and effective mayday response at both the individual and organizational level.

Volunteer firefighters face many of the same dangers as their career counterparts, yet due to limited research on volunteers little is known about the specific exposures they encounter that could impact their health. To help close this gap, the Firefighter Cancer Initiative (FCI) at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami completed a project using wristband sampling to characterize carcinogens in volunteer firefighter work environments. Join FCI researchers Madeleine Sayre and Dr. Alberto Caban-Martinez for this NVFC webinar to hear about the recent findings from the ECHOS Study (Environmental Characterization of Health hazards in Occupational Settings).

Veterans are a positive, reliable, and trusted resource for every community. A veteran never stops serving, and when called by their community, they will serve again. In honor of National Veterans and Military Families Month in November, the NVFC is hosting a webinar on how the volunteer emergency services can benefit by recruiting veterans onto their teams. Presenter Joe Danao, a veteran who serves as a firefighter/EMT, will provide background details on the veteran experience and how volunteer departments can actively engage with veterans and their families. With close to 8 million U.S. veterans between the ages of 20 and 59, there are ample opportunities to welcome and include veterans into the fire and emergency services.

Mentorship is a powerful tool to pass on knowledge, skills, and culture in the fire service. This NVFC Roundtable Talk will explore how mentorship programs can strengthen recruitment, retention, and leadership development in the fire service, creating stronger responders, teams, and departments. Panelists will share practical approaches for starting and sustaining mentor programs, lessons learned from their own departments, and ideas for creating a culture of support and growth.

Whether you are a brand new NVFC member, a longtime member looking for a refresher on your benefits, or a prospective member curious to see what the NVFC has to offer, we welcome you to this overview of NVFC membership! Join us for a walkthrough of the NVFC member portal, exclusive member benefits, and how to make the most of your membership.

Pipelines run through thousands of U.S. communities, yet many volunteer fire departments are not adequately trained on how to respond should a pipeline incident occur. Join the NVFC for this webinar to learn the critical reasons why comprehensive pipeline emergency response training is essential for every responder. We'll explore the unique risks and challenges associated with pipeline incidents, why traditional training isn't effective, and how proper training and access to information are critical factors in ensuring responder and public safety. This webinar is sponsored by Buxus.

You may be aware that the NVFC First Responder Helpline is available for assistance with a variety of work-life stresses. But do you know all the services that are available to you and your household family? Or that the corresponding MyBHS portal and app are filled with resources to support the health of you and your family, including webinars, articles, self-assessments, and other tools to help you focus on your wellbeing? This Info Session will go over the many services and resources available through the NVFC First Responder Helpline, portal, and app. This is a session you won’t want to miss!