Our webinars feature subject matter experts providing in-depth insights on key topics relevant to the fire and emergency services. These sessions offer valuable knowledge, practical strategies, and expert guidance in a convenient, virtual format. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from industry leaders and ask questions during a live Q&A.

Our webinars feature subject matter experts providing in-depth insights on key topics relevant to the fire and emergency services. These sessions offer valuable knowledge, practical strategies, and expert guidance in a convenient, virtual format. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from industry leaders and ask questions during a live Q&A.

Our webinars feature subject matter experts providing in-depth insights on key topics relevant to the fire and emergency services. These sessions offer valuable knowledge, practical strategies, and expert guidance in a convenient, virtual format. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from industry leaders and ask questions during a live Q&A.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.