As responders are summoned to a greater number of roadway incidents, we must be better prepared for the circumstances and the consequences. In advance of Crash Responder Safety Week (Nov. 14-18), join us for this free webinar. Presenter T.J. Nedrow will take a closer look at traffic incident management considerations, tools, and improving the outcome so that responders stay safe on the roadways. This webinar is sponsored by California Casualty, a 10-year plus partner of the NVFC and provider of the $10,000 Camping Giveaway. Learn more about insurance options for firefighters and EMS providers at www.calcas.com/nvfc.

This webinar will provide an overview of actions for an Initial Attack IC to consider when responding to an emerging, potentially large wildfire. Local, state, and national mobilization processes and responsibilities will also be discussed. The NVFC has partnered with FirstNet®, Built with AT&T to bring this webinar topic to you. FirstNet is the only network built with and for America's first responders—including volunteer firefighters. With the nation's largest coverage footprint, first responders get prioritized access to the network, never competing with commercial traffic. Learn more at FirstNet.com/fire This webinar is sponsored by Aladtec. Powered by TCP Software, Aladtec is an online employee scheduling system created specifically to meet the challenging 24/7 shift rotations of mission-critical public safety agencies. Easily accessible anywhere at any time, Aladtec allows you to quickly schedule simple to complex shift rotations, track licenses/certifications, and communicate instantly with individuals or groups. Learn more.

In this first workshop in the series, you will learn introductory concepts and definitions of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and discover why diversity in fire and emergency services builds safer workplaces and communities. Together, we will reframe DEI as a critical component of your fire department’s health and safety program, and use evidence-based research, interactive exercises, and real-life stories to increase your own self-awareness and understanding of DEI while exploring what you can do to help build and sustain healthy, resilient, and inclusive workplaces.

This webinar will address the hot topic of the emergence and prevalence of Lithium Ion batteries across their many application - from small and hand-held devices, to tool applications, to recreational devices, and vehicle applications - passenger to commercial. Key concepts such as risk assessment and effective tactics will be addressed in this information packed webinar. The NVFC will allow for follow-up questions that will be answered by subject matter experts.

Fire and emergency services have encountered a downturn in staffing in recent years. Although recruitment and retention issues are present in many industries around the world, fire and emergency services agencies seem to be especially hard hit in the last few decades, putting communities at risk. Join the NVFC for this free webinar presented by Chief Debbie Carpenter to learn what has changed and what can be done to turn things around. This webinar will address issues relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), including what factors make recruits want to join and stay with a department and what fire service administrators can do to address those needs. This webinar is sponsored by Lincoln Financial Group. Lincoln Financial Group provides advice and solutions that help and empower people to take charge of their financial lives with confidence and optimism. Today, more than 17 million customers trust their retirement, insurance, and wealth protection expertise to help address lifestyle, savings, and income goals, as well as to guard against long-term care expenses. Learn more at www.lincolnfinancial.com.

Over the last few decades, the world has adopted new methods of communication through the use of technology. Many industries have utilized social media to amplify their messaging and marketing, and the fire and emergency services can reap these same benefits. Yet many small and mid-sized departments don’t leverage social media to its fullest potential. Join Dave Denniston, Michael McLeieer, and Curt Varone for a panel discussion moderated by NVFC’s chief of communications, Kimberly Quiros, on the benefits social media can have for emergency service departments, the organizational framework for building a department’s social media presence, and legal implications and considerations to protect the department from unanticipated consequences. Whether you are a social media novice or are looking to grow your department’s existing social media program, learn key takeaways you can utilize to build and strengthen your department’s communications with the public.

Arson Awareness Week is May 1-7, and this year’s theme focuses on arson in homeless communities. In response to the increasing challenges and firefighter risk presented by vacant structures fires in areas with homeless populations, the Indianapolis Fire Investigation Section has partnered with various community stakeholders to help mitigate this growing and critical issue. In this presentation hosted by the National Volunteer Fire Council and U.S. Fire Administration, learn about this program’s successes and failures, including strategies that have been implemented to combat the issue of vacant residence fires, the difficulties in effectively prosecuting these cases, the complex nature of the growing homeless problem, and how to identify resources and develop fire prevention programs within the homeless community.

There are many challenges for firefighters and EMTs in developing nations. For instance, community members may not know how to contact fire or EMS services, so the first responders often arrive after devastating loss. There is also the danger of firefighters and EMS providers being assaulted when arriving on fire scenes. Despite these challenges, firefighters and EMTs in these countries are dedicated to supporting their communities through service. Firefighters in the U.S. can volunteer to train responders in developing nations like Kenya or Malawi to help them offer the best services possible to their communities. This webinar will provide an overview of the unique challenges facing first responders in developing nations, opportunities available to volunteer to train these responders, and how training focused on utilizing locally available resources can help to improve the fire service both abroad and at home.

Firefighters’ exposure to toxic contaminants during fire suppression activities has been one of the major research interests over the last decade. NFPA 1851 washing procedures have shown to have limited efficacy in removing certain contaminants from turnout gear. One new technique that shows promise is the use of liquid carbon dioxide (liquid CO2) due to its efficacy, limited effect on the material, and environmentally benign nature. This webinar presented by Bryan Ormond will discuss the basics of liquid CO2 cleaning, its efficacy in removing difficult contaminants, and its impact on material durability compared to a conventional washer extractor process.

This free webinar explores issues that challenge fire service leadership in their quest to offer comprehensive health and fitness programming to their members and offers solutions to these leadership obstacles. Presenter Richard Kline will also provide a roadmap for effective program design, obtaining support, and benchmarking success. This webinar is geared towards the combination and volunteer fire service sector and their leaders, and compliments the NVFC Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program in that it supports many of the findings and recommendations of this firefighter wellness initiative.