Are you fit for the fight? Safety Stand Down is coming up on June 14-20, a time when firefighters and EMS providers focus on critical health and safety issues so they can perform at their best, reduce injuries, and prevent line-of-duty deaths. This year’s theme is Firefighter FITNESS: Fit to Serve, Fit for Life. Join the NVFC and a panel of experts for this Roundtable Talk to help you get ready. Learn more about this year’s theme and the FITNESS daily topics, why fitness is an important part of responder readiness, and how you and your department can take part in Safety Stand Down. You’ll also learn about resources available to help you and your crew become Fit to Serve, Fit for Life.

Many homeowners rely solely on the fire department to protect their property during a wildfire – but that expectation does not reflect the reality of wildfire preparedness and response. Join the NVFC for this panel discussion that will explore the shared responsibility between fire departments and the communities they serve when it comes to wildfire mitigation. Attendees will gain a better understanding of common misconceptions around wildfire response and learn practical steps they can take to help residents protect their properties using available mitigation tools and resources.

The National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) sunset on January 31, and the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) is now the nation’s primary system for collecting fire incident data. This webinar, presented by Tyler Gibbs of Alpine Software, will provide volunteer fire service leaders with a practical overview of the transition from NFIRS to NERIS and what it means for department reporting. We’ll cover why the change is happening, key differences in structure and validation requirements, and the increased emphasis on accurate timelines, actions taken, and personnel documentation. The webinar will also address common misconceptions and outline practical steps chiefs can take to prepare their departments for a smooth and compliant transition. This webinar is sponsored by Alpine Software and presented by Tyler Gibbs of Alpine Software.

Volunteer fire and EMS departments are facing a growing crisis. Many departments struggle to recruit and retain members while call volumes – especially for medical emergencies – continue to increase. This NVFC Roundtable Talk will bring together fire and EMS leaders to explore the key challenges driving EMS recruitment and retention struggles in volunteer departments, including the time and financial demands of training and recertification, work-life balance, economic pressures, leadership gaps, and the disconnect between community expectations and the realities of volunteering. Participants will also discuss practical strategies and best practices to help departments attract new members and retain experienced ones for the long term.

Volunteer fire departments face increasing challenges delivering effective training amid limited time, budgets, and growing operational demands. This Roundtable Talk will explore common training barriers, including balancing requirements with personal and professional commitments, securing resources, and ensuring training supports firefighter safety and operational readiness. Panelists will share practical strategies for improving training efficiency, using training as a retention tool, and maintaining quality without overburdening volunteers. This discussion is designed for volunteer fire service leaders and training officers seeking actionable ideas to strengthen their training programs. This Roundtable Talk is sponsored by Vector Solutions

Onboarding volunteer firefighters and EMS providers comes with unique challenges, including limited time, staffing, and resources. Without a structured process in place, departments risk losing new volunteers before they ever have the chance to make an impact. This webinar will cover practical strategies for building an effective onboarding program that welcomes new members, sets clear expectations, and connects them to the mission of their department from day one. Whether your department is building an onboarding process from scratch or looking to improve what you already have, you'll walk away with actionable tools and ideas you can put to work right away.

Are you making the most of your NVFC membership? Whether you are 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 on April 14 at 2 pm ET for a walkthrough of the NVFC member portal, an overview of exclusive member benefits, and practical tips for getting the most value from your membership.

When a serious motor vehicle crash occurs – especially on rural roadways – volunteer fire and EMS departments are the difference between life and death in the critical moments that follow. In this NVFC webinar, join Gamunu Wijetunge, director of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Office of EMS, to learn how advances in post-crash care are strengthening response in rural communities across the country. Hear real-world examples and lessons learned from departments implementing life-saving interventions – from evolving extrication practices to prehospital blood transfusion. The session will share how volunteer fire departments can partner with EMS and highway safety leaders to improve post-crash care and access new resources. Volunteer responders will find this discussion informative as they prepare applications for the upcoming Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) funding opportunity.

Effective team dynamics and leadership are critical to firefighter safety and operational success. This webinar explores how research-based teamwork principles and real-world experience – both in the U.S. and internationally – can strengthen fire service performance. Kevin Quinn, NVFC past chair and Africa Fire Mission (AFM) instructor, and Jose Ngunjiri, AFM Fire Safety Officer based in Kenya, will share lessons learned from training fire services across Africa, highlighting leadership, communication, and trust in high-risk, resource-limited environments. Amber Lynn Scott from the University of Kentucky will also share initial research on team dynamics and its relevance to volunteer and combination departments. Participants will also gain insight into how U.S. firefighters can engage in meaningful international training efforts while bringing practical leadership and teamwork lessons back to their home departments.

Social media is a powerful tool for connecting with your community and showcasing the value of volunteer service. This roundtable talk will explore strategies for using platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to enhance recruitment and retention efforts. Participants will learn how to highlight their department’s culture, share compelling stories, engage prospective volunteers, and build an online presence that supports long-term membership growth. Practical tips, examples, and best practices will be provided to help departments maximize their reach and strengthen their R&R initiatives.