Lithium-ion batteries are increasingly linked to fires across communities nationwide, especially in the waste and recycling system. To address the risk of improperly discarded batteries, the National Waste & Recycling Foundation (NWRF), in partnership with industry leaders and with the USDA Forest Service’s Woodsy Owl, launched the “Skip the Bin! Turn Your Batteries In!” public service announcement (PSA) campaign. This webinar highlights early results from the campaign, community engagement efforts, and how education and prevention can help reduce battery-related fire risks nationwide. Learn how to leverage consistent messaging, trusted messengers, and local partnerships to help reduce battery-related fires before they start – and how the campaign is scaling nationally in 2026.

Fire departments often rely on modern fire dynamics research to guide training and operations, yet this same information is often underused in community education. This webinar will help volunteers translate research-based fireground knowledge into clear, actionable public safety messages. Participants will learn how to update outdated outreach, explain modern fire behavior in simple terms, and teach residents practical steps that reduce risk, slow fire growth, and support firefighter safety. This session is ideal for firefighters, officers, instructors, and anyone involved in public education. This webinar is sponsored by UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute.

Firefighters face a heightened risk of occupational cancer due to repeated exposure to carcinogens on the fireground, in apparatus, and within the station. This roundtable talk will raise awareness of these risks and provide practical strategies to reduce exposure through effective decontamination practices. The discussion will cover how carcinogens enter the body, where contamination commonly occurs, and what immediate and long-term steps departments can take to protect their members. Designed for firefighters, officers, safety personnel, and department leaders, this session will offer clear, actionable guidance to help reduce cancer risks and support a healthier fire service.

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.