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.

Struck-by-vehicle incidents continue to be a serious hazard for firefighters and EMS providers. Emergency service operations on roads and highways put personnel at serious risk of being struck by vehicles and injured or killed. Making sure personnel are trained in proper traffic incident management techniques can prevent tragedy. Join the NVFC and presenter Jack Sullivan for this webinar that offers guidance on how to conduct various types of operations on rural roads and highways, with emphasis on how to protect emergency personnel, the victims they are responding to assist, and other motorists in the vicinity of the incident. Strategies and tactics, new technology, and apparatus innovations that can help improve incident scene protection will be presented.

In this webinar, presenter Hersch Wilson will discuss how firefighters can emotionally prepare for difficult calls and how we can “bounce back” from the bad ones. The webinar is interactive to encourage participants to share their own best practices. Learning objectives: • Understand the importance of mental health in firefighting • Learn the six factors for building resilience • Discuss ways to instill resilient practices in departments • Discuss ways to “bounce back” from difficult calls • Discuss the responsibilities of officers in helping firefighters manage through the short and long term implications • Remember the goal: Physically and mentally healthy firefighters

The application period for FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program is open from Nov. 8-Dec. 17. There are important changes with this year’s program that departments need to know about before applying. To help prepare departments to submit an application, the National Volunteer Fire Council is hosting a webinar to discuss the changes. Come learn what you need to know to help make your department successful in acquiring AFG funding to meet your department’s equipment needs. Presenter David Lewis will review the basic requirements for the AFG grant program, discuss the data that must be collected prior to applying for a grant project, and provide an overview of the application review process and how successful applications are considered.

To get the results you want, you need to get attention. But most people don’t know how to get it and keep it. People often see attention as a transaction, something to trade, but it’s much more than that. In this workshop presented by Neen James, learn how to leverage personal, professional, and global attention so you can be more deliberate about the choices you make and the actions you take so you can get the results you want in your department, at work, or in your personal life. Discover what makes attention valuable, and why paying attention in very specific ways drives profitability, productivity, and accountability. This webinar series is brought to you by Josh Cellars. Please visit their web site at joshcellars.com.

Compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles operate daily throughout the country, yet many firefighters have not received the essential training necessary to respond to fires and other incidents involving them. This one-hour webinar, hosted by Hexagon Agility and presented by Natural Gas Vehicle Institute, highlights the most critical information firefighters need to know when responding to CNG vehicle incidents. Learn how natural gas differs from gasoline and diesel, how to identify CNG vehicles, what to do and not do in an emergency, and proper response to a CNG vehicle fire.

Do the demographics of your fire or EMS department’s membership match the makeup of your community? For most U.S. fire departments, membership has historically been comprised of mainly white men. Departments that embrace the differences in their community and are inclusive in their beliefs and membership roles are headed in the right direction for strong recruitment and retention moving forward. This webinar, presented by Dave Denniston, Katie Niver, and Stephanie Rothery of ESIP, will examine how diversity and inclusion benefits the emergency services and quick and easy tips to enhance diversity and inclusion in your department.