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!

Fire Prevention Week (FPW) will take place October 5-11, 2025, with the theme “Charge into Fire Safety™: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home.” Join the NVFC for a live panel discussion to learn more about this year’s theme, how your department can participate in FPW, and tips and ideas you can use for public education throughout the year.

Today’s fire service teams include everyone from fresh-faced recruits to seasoned veterans – and that’s a good thing. But with different generations come different communication styles, work habits, and expectations. So how do you make it all run smoothly? Join the NVFC for this interactive webinar to explore how to build stronger, more cohesive crews by understanding and valuing the unique strengths each generation brings to the table. Whether you're a new firefighter, a long-time leader, or somewhere in between, you’ll walk away with practical tools to improve communication, boost team morale, and bridge generational gaps in the station and on the fireground. This down-to-earth conversation will include what it really takes to create a culture of respect, learning, and collaboration – no matter what year you joined the service or when you were born.

In today's challenging recruitment landscape, volunteer fire departments face unprecedented hurdles in attracting and retaining dedicated volunteers. In this webinar, presenter Katie Bulla will discuss a variety of free and cheap online tools that can significantly simplify recruitment efforts and the application process. Harness the technology of today to overcome the recruitment challenges of our times, ensuring your department continues to serve the community effectively. Learn how these digital solutions can help you bridge the gap between potential volunteers and your department's needs, ultimately strengthening your team and ensuring the safety of your community.

Following up on the December 2024 Roundtable Talk on big-box fires, this session will further explore how volunteer fire departments can prepare for emergency responses to big-box facilities. In small towns, where land is less expensive and highway/interstate access is convenient, big box facilities such as distribution centers, warehouses, and industrial spaces continue to absorb land. Often these facilities are in the coverage area of volunteer fire departments that have limited resource. To respond efficiently and safely, it is important to prepare for the challenges ahead. While sprinklers contain the fire, firefighters still have search, rescue, extinguishment, salvage, and overhaul. Join the NVFC and a panel of experts for this Roundtable Talk to dive deeper into big-box fire and non-fire emergency response.

As the deployment of utility-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) in the U.S. accelerates, it’s critical for project developers, owners, and operators to engage with local firefighters to provide detailed information about advances in BESS technology, codes and standards, safety systems, and facility design to support effective emergency planning, hazard mitigation, and incident response. This presentation by AES’ leading engineer in BESS technology will provide volunteer firefighters with critical knowledge about today’s BESS systems so that firefighters have a stronger understanding of BESS installations and the safety systems now in place, if they ever have to respond to an event at one of these facilities. This webinar is sponsored by AES. The AES Corporation is a Fortune 500 global energy company accelerating the future of energy. Together with our many stakeholders, we’re improving lives by delivering the greener, smarter energy solutions the world needs. In the U.S., AES is a leading developer, owner, and operator of innovative clean energy solutions, including utility-scale and community solar, wind, battery energy storage, and now green hydrogen. We also put safety first every minute of every day – for our people, contractors, and communities. Our commitment to safety first aligns with the NVFC’s mission and we are proud to support and collaborate with volunteer fire/EMS organizations across the nation. For more information, visit www.aes.com.

This year’s Safety Stand Down takes place June 15-21 with the theme “Break the Stigma: Behavioral Health RESET.” Fire and emergency service departments are asked to focus their training and education that week on the mental well-being of their crew and the daily topics of Recognize, Educate, Strategies, Empower, and Training. What does all this mean, and how can your department participate? Find out in this informative panel discussion! Learn why this year’s theme is so critical, resources and tools available, and what your department can do during Safety Stand Down and beyond. Safety Stand Down is a joint initiative of the IAFC, NVFC, IAFF, NFPA, and FDSOA.