Sound Off with the Home Fire Safety Patrol is a proven fire safety education and risk reduction program for young children and their families. Funded through a series of Fire Prevention & Safety Grants since 2014, Sound Off combines fun, video-based classroom lessons for students in grades 2 and 3, caregiver and family activities, free smoke alarm installation, and fire drill practice. The program now has state-level teams established in 34 states and nearly 300 active local teams, with documented results including a nearly 50% increase in student knowledge, 17 lives saved to date, and almost 80,000 smoke alarms installed. Join this NVFC webinar to learn how your department can bring Sound Off to your community, including how the program uses Community Risk Reduction (CRR) best practices to achieve measurable results, an overview of its free, professionally designed resources for reaching students and families, and ideas for delivering Sound Off through volunteer fire departments, with or without staff available to visit classrooms during the day.

Join this NVFC webinar to learn how fire departments can build training and lesson plans tailored to their own communities using Community Risk Reduction (CRR) principles. This session will cover how to identify local hazards and priorities, and how to develop targeted public education using the five E's — education, engineering, enforcement, economic incentives, and emergency response. Attendees will also hear how Virginia has successfully applied this model, offering a real-world example of CRR in action. This webinar is sponsored by Vector Solutions.

Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facilities have become one of the fastest-growing energy infrastructure development trends across the country. Many of these systems are operating or will be built in communities served by volunteer fire districts, bringing new opportunities and considerations to safely engage these facilities. This Roundtable Talk explores BESS infrastructure and development processes regulated by NFPA 855, and how fire safety standards shape developer responsibility and first responder engagement, from project design through operation. Panelists will share lessons learned from real-world projects and address common concerns about planning and responding to potential fire incidents. The discussion will highlight training, coordination, and communication as the key investments for building readiness around these facilities.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are found in many environments firefighters encounter – including past firefighting foam products. However, with health and environmental concerns related to PFAS, there is now a lot of attention on the new generation of Class B (flammable/combustible liquids) PFAS free synthetic firefighting foams. This webinar provides answers to many common questions about PFAS free firefighting foams and their effectiveness. Attendees will learn about the types of foams used in fire response, including wetting agents, and gain a better understanding of the challenges and concerns surrounding their use. In addition, it will dispel the myth that foam doesn't work and explain how with the proper application percentage and correct technique, foam can be an effective tool in your response. This webinar will help attendees gain a clearer understanding about firefighting foams so they can make informed decisions on the fireground.

As solar power systems become more common in homes and businesses, volunteer firefighters need to be ready for the unique challenges they present. This roundtable takes a practical, myth-busting approach to solar fire response — covering the three primary types of solar systems, Tesla battery classifications, and available suppression tools and tactics including PV extinguishers, tarps, and blankets. Panelists will explore what works, what doesn't, and what every department needs to know before arriving on scene at a solar-involved incident.

In today's fast-paced and high-pressure emergency services environment, emotional intelligence is an essential leadership skill. Effective leaders must be able to recognize and understand their own leadership styles, emotional responses, and decision-making tendencies in order to positively influence not only emergency scenes, but also the most valued resource – their personnel. This webinar explores the critical role emotional intelligence plays in fire and emergency services leadership. Participants will gain insight into the importance of self-awareness, relationship management, and leadership practices that foster trust, resilience, and professional excellence. Through practical discussion and real-world application, attendees will learn how emotionally intelligent leadership supports stronger teams, healthier volunteer cultures, and improved service delivery.

We train for emergencies every day, but preventing them starts before the sirens. Just as we go into schools to teach kids about fire safety, we can teach them about distracted driving. Join this NVFC webinar to learn about K-12 programs you can immediately implement in your community — from reading programs for K-1 students to classroom lessons, middle and high school presentations, and train-the-trainer resources. These programs have been evaluated by the U.S. Department of Transportation and found to be effective in changing attitudes and behaviors surrounding distracted driving. Let's stop talking about the problem and start doing something about it.

The transition from NFIRS to the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) is complete — volunteer departments are now required to use the new platform. So what comes next? In this webinar, the NERIS team will provide a live update on the platform's ongoing development, recent changes, lessons learned from departments already in the system, and strategies to help your department get the most out of NERIS. This is your opportunity to ask questions and stay ahead of what's coming.

Pipeline incidents can put responders and community members at risk as well as cause disruptions to needed services. Join this NVFC Roundtable Talk to hear from federal, fire service, and industry experts about steps your department can take to both prepare for and prevent pipeline emergencies. Learn about available training programs and resources to promote first responder readiness and help departments with creating and adopting policies and procedures to mitigate pipeline emergencies in their communities. The panelists will also discuss resources fire departments can use for public awareness campaigns, including updated PHMSA guidance to prevent emergencies by encouraging the public to contact 811 before they dig.

Firefighters are trained to use the right tool for every job, but that principle doesn't always carry over to PPE. Structural turnout gear is routinely used for EMS calls, MVAs, and technical rescues, leading to increased health risks, unnecessary wear on expensive equipment, and higher long-term costs. This webinar explores why alternative PPE – including wildland, technical rescue, and EMS-specific gear – is a critical strategy for today's volunteer fire service, and how matching the right gear to the right response can improve safety, reduce PFAS exposure, and lower costs for your department.