Eligible departments can apply for five sets of Ricochet Wildland Gear, a lightweight, breathable system designed to reduce heat stress, improve mobility, and provide protection during wildland and WUI operations. Applications are due at noon ET on September 30.
Apply now
Join us on September 1 at 2pm ET for the NVFC Webinar - Building Local Training with Community Risk Reduction: A Five E's Approach
Register now
Protect the heart that protects others. Learn what you can do to support your heart health so you can keep doing the job you love.
Access Resources
The NVFC marks its 50th anniversary this year. Celebrate with us by taking a trip down memory lane through our retrospective timeline of milestones and highlights from the past 50 years.
View Timeline
Copyright 2026 National Volunteer Fire Council
Social Feed
🚒 Free training opportunity for firefighters and emergency responders in the Akron, OH, area! Ethanol-related incidents can present unique challenges for responders. Build your knowledge and preparedness at an upcoming Ethanol Emergency Response Seminar, featuring in-depth training on proper response techniques for ethanol-related emergencies. 📍 Akron Training Academy | Akron, OH 📅 Choose from September 16, 17, or 18 ⏰ 8:30am–2pm 💲 FREE to attend Register 👉 https://buff.ly/djYIQN8
As part of the NVFC's 50th anniversary celebration, we're continuing our State Association Spotlight series. This week, we're highlighting the Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY), representing more than 80,000 volunteer firefighters across New York State. FASNY supports the volunteer fire service through recruitment, training, advocacy, wellness initiatives, youth programming, and more. Its RecruitNY statewide open house and Fire in You campaigns alone have helped add more than 20,000 volunteers to the fire service. The association's commitment to its members also extends well beyond their active years of service. For more than 125 years, FASNY has maintained the Firemen's Home in Hudson, providing residential healthcare and support to former volunteer firefighters. FASNY also helps preserve the history and legacy of New York's fire service through the Museum of Firefighting in Hudson. FASNY is part of the NVFC’s nationwide network of state firefighter associations working together to strengthen, support, and advocate for the volunteer fire service. Join today for just $24/year and stand with volunteers across New York and nationwide 👉 nvfc.org/join
🚶♀️🚒 234 MILLION steps. 1,000+ participants. One month of moving for better health. Firefighters and EMS providers across the country stepped up during the NVFC’s second annual Step Strong Challenge, turning June into a month of movement, motivation, and a little friendly competition. Participants didn’t just rack up the steps. They built healthier habits, got their crews and families involved, and found new motivation to keep moving. And with the addition of team competition this year, departments had even more reason to step up together. 👟 Hear directly from participants about their Step Strong experience and see how 234+ million steps added up to a healthier fire and emergency services community. 👉 Read the article: https://buff.ly/sydAu3H
🔋 Charge into fire safety this Fire Prevention Week! Lithium-ion batteries power more of our everyday lives than ever, but how we charge and use them can make a big difference in preventing fires. Join the NVFC on September 10 for a Roundtable Talk featuring fire service and safety experts discussing practical ways departments can educate their communities about safer charging habits and help reduce the risk of lithium-ion battery fires. 📅 September 10 ⏰ 2pm ET 💻 Free to attend 👉 Register: https://buff.ly/lwf0la9 This discussion will help departments prepare for Fire Prevention Week, October 4-10, and this year’s theme, “Charge Into Fire Safety™. Safe Charging is a Superpower.”
🔥 Applications are now open for the Ricochet PPE Award Program! Eligible volunteer fire departments can apply for the opportunity to receive five sets of Ricochet Wildland Gear, a lightweight, breathable system designed to reduce heat stress, improve mobility, and provide protection during wildland and WUI operations. To be eligible, departments must: ✔️ Be more than 50% volunteer ✔️ Serve a population of 25,000 or less ✔️ Have at least one active NVFC member ✔️ Meet the program eligibility requirements Applications close September 30 at noon ET.👉 www.nvfc.org/ricochet
Join the NVFC, TOMORROW, September 2 at 2pm ET for Hometown Sound Off: Reaching Communities Served by Volunteer Fire Departments with Free Resources. Sound Off with the Home Fire Safety Patrol provides volunteer departments with free, professionally designed resources to deliver fire safety education, family activities, smoke alarm installations, and fire drill practice. 🔗 Register: https://buff.ly/VXb2Sb5
Every few seconds, a responder puts their life on the line to aid crash victims and quickly clear crashes that could otherwise result in a secondary crash. Proper training as well as public awareness are keys to keeping responders safe at roadway incidents. Crash Responder Safety Week (CRSW) takes place November 2-6, with the theme “Slow Down, Move Over. Lives are on the Line!” Start planning now: https://buff.ly/gqsT4kk
Meet Brené Ball, a fire and life safety educator and digital content specialist for the Pinecroft Sedgefield Fire District near Greensboro, North Carolina. During her 24 years as a volunteer in the fire service, she has shared her passion for technology and education not only across North Carolina but across the United States. Watch her NVFC Volunteer Spotlight at https://buff.ly/D4VY6xB
Join the NVFC TOMORROW at 2pm ET for the free webinar Building Local Training with Community Risk Reduction: A Five E’s Approach. Presenter Ken Brown will explore how departments can identify local hazards and priorities and use Community Risk Reduction principles to develop targeted training and public education. Learn how the five E’s can be applied at the local level: ✅ Education ✅ Engineering ✅ Enforcement ✅ Economic incentives ✅ Emergency response 📅 September 1 ⏰ 2pm ET 👉 Register: https://buff.ly/CRJb7if This webinar is sponsored by Vector Solutions
FirstNet is the only network built with and for first responders, because nothing should slow down life-saving calls. 🔗 https://buff.ly/XMlhPOR
📚 Missed a recent live NVFC training? Catch the replay! All of our recent webinars and roundtable talks are now available to watch on demand in the NVFC Virtual Classroom — completely free. ▶️ Watch now at: virtualclassroom.nvfc.org
For over 52 years, Fire News has been a trusted voice for the fire and EMS community. We’re proud to have Fire News as an NVFC media partner and thank them for their continued commitment to keeping the fire service informed, inspired, and connected. 🙌 #thankfulthursday 👉 FireNews.com
☕ Grab a cup and join us for the next NVFC R&R Coffee Talk! On September 2 at 7pm ET, Dr. Candice McDonald and Chief Joel Cerny will be joined by guests Sheri Nickel and Meredith Herman for a conversation on Fire Prevention Week & Recruitment. Learn how your department can use Fire Prevention Week as an opportunity to connect with your community and support your recruitment efforts. This interactive 30-minute session will also include time for audience Q&A. 🔗 Register: https://buff.ly/GV1pnbn
🚑 EMS professionals: NHTSA wants your input. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is seeking feedback from the EMS community on how motor vehicle crash records are linked with injury and hospital data through NEMSIS. Your practical, on-the-ground experience can help inform best practices and future guidance for how this data is connected and used. 📅 Comments are due October 6. 👉 Submit your comments: https://buff.ly/W3xuKlW
Help bring proven fire safety education to the children and families in your community. 🏠🔥 Join the NVFC on September 2 at 2pm ET for Hometown Sound Off: Reaching Communities Served by Volunteer Fire Departments with Free Resources. Sound Off with the Home Fire Safety Patrol provides volunteer departments with free, professionally designed resources to deliver fire safety education, family activities, smoke alarm installations, and fire drill practice. Learn how to bring Sound Off to your community using Community Risk Reduction best practices, including options for departments that may not have staff available for daytime classroom visits. 🔗 Register: https://buff.ly/VXb2Sb5
Congratulations to the latest recipients of the 2026 MSA Globe Gear Giveaway! The Andover Borough Fire Department (Andover, NJ) and the Goldbug Volunteer Fire Department (Williamsburg, KY) have each been awarded four sets of Globe® turnout gear and four MSA Cairns® helmets to help keep their volunteer firefighters protected on every call. A total of 13 volunteer fire departments will receive gear through this year's program, with additional recipients announced each month. Read more and see the latest recipients: https://buff.ly/G0k5Yz6
LAST CHANCE: Enter NOW until August 31 for a chance to receive a personalized MSA Cairns® 1836 Fire Helmet! 🔗 www.nvfc.org/helmet 🚒 Must be an NVFC member & active U.S. volunteer firefighter
🚒 Every community faces different risks. Is your department’s training tailored to yours? Join the NVFC on September 1 at 2pm ET for the free webinar Building Local Training with Community Risk Reduction: A Five E’s Approach. Presenter Ken Brown will explore how departments can identify local hazards and priorities and use Community Risk Reduction principles to develop targeted training and public education. Learn how the five E’s can be applied at the local level: ✅ Education ✅ Engineering ✅ Enforcement ✅ Economic incentives ✅ Emergency response 📅 September 1 ⏰ 2pm ET 👉 Register: https://buff.ly/CRJb7if This webinar is sponsored by Vector Solutions
Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facilities are one of the country’s fastest-growing energy infrastructure development trends. Join the NVFC and The AES Corporation on August 27 at 2pm ET for a Roundtable Talk exploring BESS infrastructure, fire safety standards, and what fire departments need to know as these facilities are developed and operated in their communities. Register: https://buff.ly/HP1OUXr
For Cheryl Pouletsos, the fire service has been part of her life since 1986. Her decades of service have included EMS, firefighting, fire police, and even wildfire response across the country. After stepping away from firefighting, Cheryl found her way back by taking Firefighter 1 alongside her daughter. Seven years later, they’re still fighting fires together. Read Cheryl’s story and learn more about her journey through the fire and emergency services: https://buff.ly/kdyAV8r
⏰ One week left to apply! There's still time for your department to apply for the opportunity to receive five sets of Ricochet Out Front™ Technical Rescue Gear through the Ricochet PPE Award Program. Help equip your responders with PPE designed specifically for the mobility, protection, and performance required during EMS and technical rescue operations. Applications close August 31 at noon ET. 👉 www.nvfc.org/ricochet
Looking to start or strengthen a junior firefighter program at your department? The NVFC’s Creating a Successful Junior Firefighter Program on-demand course provides the tools and knowledge you need to build a program that engages the next generation of the fire service. Learn about program structure, safe training options, activity ideas, community leadership, and more. Take advantage of free access for a limited time in the NVFC Virtual Classroom! 🔗 Take the course: https://buff.ly/eJ9jhj4
Why Firefighters Trust DripDrop: ➕ Developed by a humanitarian aid doctor ➕ Built on 60+ years of ORS science ➕ Used by 90% of top college and professional sports teams ➕ Relied on by all six branches of the U.S. military ➕ Award-winning taste Use code NVFC26 for 20% Off $30 or more on DripDrop.com
Firefighters in Michigan recently took part in the NVFC’s EV/AFV Incident Management: Safety and Response Techniques training, hosted by Marion Community Fire Department. 🚒⚡ Led by instructor Doug deBest, the training gave participants practical knowledge and strategies to help them safely and effectively respond to incidents involving electric and alternative fuel vehicles. Want to bring this training to your department? Request an in-person NVFC training for your crew at no cost. Learn more: https://buff.ly/z3tgqcO
☕ Grab a cup and join us for the next NVFC R&R Coffee Talk! On September 2 at 7pm ET, Dr. Candice McDonald and Chief Joel Cerny will be joined by guests Sheri Nickel and Meredith Herman for a conversation on Fire Prevention Week & Recruitment. Learn how your department can use Fire Prevention Week as an opportunity to connect with your community and support your recruitment efforts. This interactive 30-minute session will also include time for audience Q&A. 🔗 Register: https://buff.ly/GV1pnbn
Help make your community safer with free, proven fire prevention resources. 🏠🚒 Join the NVFC on September 2 at 2pm ET for Hometown Sound Off: Reaching Communities Served by Volunteer Fire Departments with Free Resources. Sound Off with the Home Fire Safety Patrol helps departments reach young children and their families through fire safety education, family activities, smoke alarm installations, and fire drill practice. With nearly 300 active local teams, almost 80,000 smoke alarms installed, and 17 lives saved, the program is making a measurable impact. Learn how your volunteer department can bring Sound Off to your community using free, professionally designed resources and Community Risk Reduction best practices, even if you don’t have staff available for daytime classroom visits. 🔗 Register: https://buff.ly/VXb2Sb5
We're grateful for our media partner, Firehouse.com, for their unwavering commitment to informing, educating, and supporting the fire and emergency services community. From delivering timely news and training to fostering connection across the fire service, Firehouse plays a vital role in helping responders do their jobs safer and more effectively. #thankfulthursday 🙏 Learn more at www.firehouse.com
As electric vehicles become more common on our roads, fire departments need the latest research and guidance to respond safely and effectively to EV fire incidents. 🚒🔋 Fire Safety Research Institute has released two new evidence-based resources to help firefighters understand EV fire behavior and make informed decisions on the fireground: 📘 Full-Scale Electric Vehicle Fire Experiments and Recommendations for Fire Incident Response: https://buff.ly/2VoBvlh 🚒 EV Fire Tactical Decision Aid: https://buff.ly/plNdQRc Use these resources to stay informed, prepare your department, and strengthen your response to EV incidents.
What do you know about🔋 Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)? Join the NVFC and The AES Corporation on August 27 at 2pm ET for a Roundtable Talk exploring BESS infrastructure, fire safety standards, and what fire departments need to know as these facilities are developed and operated in their communities. Panelists will share lessons learned from real-world projects and discuss how training, coordination, and communication can help departments prepare for potential incidents. Register: https://buff.ly/HP1OUXr
We’re grateful for Anheuser-Busch’s continued commitment to supporting the volunteer fire service. Through this longstanding partnership, emergency drinking water is helping departments across the country stay hydrated and ready to serve their communities. 👉 www.nvfc.org/water
It was great to connect with the fire service community at SAFRE 2026! 🚒 The NVFC attended the South Atlantic FIRE RESCUE Expo in Raleigh, NC, August 11-14, where we had the opportunity to meet firefighters and emergency responders, share NVFC resources and programs, and connect with others dedicated to strengthening the fire service. Thank you to everyone who stopped by the NVFC booth to say hello! We enjoyed connecting with you and being part of another great SAFRE. Learn more about SAFRE: https://www.southatlanticfirerescueexpo.com/
🚒 How can your department build training that addresses the risks in your own community? Join the NVFC on September 1 at 2pm ET for the free webinar Building Local Training with Community Risk Reduction: A Five E’s Approach. Presenter Ken Brown will explore how to identify local hazards and priorities and use the five E’s of Community Risk Reduction to develop targeted training and public education: ✅ Education ✅ Engineering ✅ Enforcement ✅ Economic incentives ✅ Emergency response 📅 September 1 ⏰ 2pm ET 👉 Register today: https://buff.ly/CRJb7if This webinar is sponsored by Vector Solutions
Not every call requires structural turnout gear, but every call deserves the right protection. Through the Ricochet PPE Award Program, five volunteer departments will each receive five sets of Ricochet Out Front™ Technical Rescue Gear built for EMS and technical rescue operations. If your department responds to EMS and/or rescue calls, don't miss this opportunity. Applications are open through August 31. Apply here: www.nvfc.org/ricochet
🚒 Congratulations to the 150 volunteer fire departments selected to receive a $10,000 Good Neighbor Firefighter Safety Program grant from State Farm®! As we celebrate Volunteer Firefighters Recognition Day, we're proud to recognize these departments and the dedicated volunteers who serve their communities every day. These grants will help purchase critical equipment that keeps firefighters safe and strengthens emergency response. A huge thank you to State Farm for continuing to invest in the volunteer fire service through this incredible program. 🔗 View the full list of recipients: https://buff.ly/akr9ZOw
Today is Volunteer Firefighters Recognition Day, and we're honoring the dedicated men and women who selflessly serve their communities. Volunteer firefighters respond to emergencies at all hours, train year-round, and sacrifice time with their families to help others when they're needed most. To every volunteer firefighter across the country: thank you for your courage, your commitment, and everything you do to keep your communities safe. Tag a volunteer firefighter who deserves a shoutout. ❤️🚒
🚒 What do you need to know about PFAS-free firefighting foam? Join us TOMORROW, August 18, at 2pm ET for a free webinar that breaks down the facts, challenges, and common misconceptions surrounding the new generation of PFAS-free Class B foams. You’ll learn: ✅ The differences between firefighting foams and wetting agents ✅ How PFAS-free Class B foams perform ✅ Common challenges and misconceptions ✅ Proper application percentages and techniques for effective fire suppression Register here: https://buff.ly/2wGBKFQ
Recruiting volunteers just got easier. 🚒 Since 2015, the NVFC’s Make Me A Firefighter campaign has helped volunteer and combination fire and EMS departments strengthen their recruitment and retention efforts. Now, the department portal has a fresh new look and improved navigation to make finding the tools you need even easier. Departments can access free recruitment resources, customize outreach materials, post volunteer opportunities, track prospective recruits, and more. Explore what’s new and see how the updated portal can support your department’s recruitment efforts: MakeMeAFirefighter.org
As part of the NVFC's 50th anniversary celebration, we're continuing our State Association Spotlight series. This week, we're highlighting the Tennessee Fire Chiefs' Association, which has been advancing the fire service across Tennessee since its founding in 1969. For decades, the association has led efforts to improve firefighter training, fire prevention, and public safety through legislation and statewide initiatives. Its accomplishments include helping establish mandatory firefighter and fire chief training requirements, creating the Statewide Fire Department Mutual Aid System, supporting statewide firefighter line-of-duty death benefits, advancing smoke alarm and fire sprinkler legislation, and helping establish the Tennessee Fire and Codes Academy and the Tennessee Fallen Firefighter Memorial. The Tennessee Fire Chiefs' Association continues to be a driving force for collaboration, education, and advocacy, helping strengthen Tennessee's fire service and the communities it protects. Join today for just $24/year and stand with volunteers across Tennessee and nationwide 👉 nvfc.org/join
Volunteer firefighters are everyday people who choose to serve their communities. Find your place in the fire service at MakeMeAFirefighter.org
🔋 Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are becoming increasingly common in communities across the country. Is your department prepared? Join the NVFC and The AES Corporation on August 27 at 2pm ET for a Roundtable Talk exploring BESS infrastructure, fire safety standards, and what fire departments need to know as these facilities are developed and operated in their communities. Panelists will share lessons learned from real-world projects and discuss how training, coordination, and communication can help departments prepare for potential incidents. Register: https://buff.ly/HP1OUXr
A new partnership between the NVFC and Championz Gin is raising a glass to America’s volunteer firefighters and emergency responders. 🚒 The new Championz Gin Hero Edition benefiting the National Volunteer Fire Council was created to recognize those who dedicate their time to protecting and serving their communities. For every bottle sold, Championz Gin will donate $12 directly to the NVFC to help support the volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue community. The Hero Edition will begin arriving at select retailers and hospitality partners in New York, New Jersey, and Washington, DC, in late August and is now available for pre-order online. Learn more: https://buff.ly/q7v6zq0
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2026 Nutella® Stacks for Giving Back grants! Thanks to the continued partnership between Nutella®, Pearl Milling Company®, and the NVFC, 10 volunteer fire departments have each been awarded a $5,000 grant to fund resources that will help keep their responders safer and better prepared to serve their communities. Plus, 350 departments received Pancake Breakfast Kits from Nutella® and the program’s official pancake partner, Pearl Milling Company®, to support local fundraising efforts. Thank you to Nutella and Pearl Milling Company for investing in volunteer fire departments across the country. ❤️ See the full list of grant recipients and learn more:https://buff.ly/X6D1S9u
How are your department’s members really doing? The free NIOSH Worker Well-Being Questionnaire can help fire and EMS departments look beyond what’s happening on the job to better understand the overall well-being of their personnel. The questionnaire covers quality of working life, physical and mental health, and circumstances outside of work. Departments can use the results to identify trends, compare groups, and better understand the factors impacting their members. Take a closer look at the well-being of your department. Learn more: https://buff.ly/Eb18VXM
Not only does LION supply structural fire personal protective clothing, but they also provide cutting-edge training products and facilities. This #thankfulthursday, we thank them for the high-quality products and services they offer, and for being an Advocate member of the NVFC! Learn more: https://buff.ly/BMKkeEZ
Many volunteer departments may not have a recruiting problem, but a communication problem. In this article, recruitment and retention strategist Walter A. Campbell explores key findings from the NVFC’s new research and how departments can better communicate opportunities, set clear expectations, and help prospective volunteers see where they fit in the fire service. 🔗 Read the article: https://buff.ly/4qB8UmB
As part of the NVFC's 50th anniversary celebration, we're continuing our State Association Spotlight series. This week, we're highlighting the Fire Fighters Association of Missouri, an organization dedicated to supporting firefighters and strengthening the fire service across the state. The association is the parent organization of the Missouri State Fair Fire Department, the only fully operational fire department in the United States that operates for just 11 days each year. Staffed by 75 dedicated volunteers, the department provides fire suppression and advanced life support EMS during the Missouri State Fair. Since its founding in 1954, the Fire Fighters Association of Missouri has grown to include several organizations under its umbrella, including the Fire Fighters Memorial Foundation of Missouri, the Fire Fighters Historical Preservation Foundation, the Missouri Fire Service Funeral Assistance Team, and the Missouri State Fair Fire Department. Together, these organizations preserve Missouri's fire service history, honor those who have served, and provide support to firefighters and their families when they need it most. Join today for just $24/year and stand with volunteers across Missouri and nationwide 👉 nvfc.org/join
What do you need to know about PFAS-free firefighting foam? 🚒 Join the NVFC on August 18 at 2pm ET for a free webinar that breaks down the facts, challenges, and common misconceptions surrounding the new generation of PFAS-free Class B foams. You’ll learn: ✅ The differences between firefighting foams and wetting agents ✅ How PFAS-free Class B foams perform ✅ Common challenges and misconceptions ✅ Proper application percentages and techniques for effective fire suppression Get the information you need to make informed decisions on the fireground. Register today: https://buff.ly/2wGBKFQ
👋 Meet the newest member of the NVFC team, Braden Horton! Braden joins the NVFC as our corporate relations manager, bringing experience in corporate partnerships, sponsorship strategy, fundraising, and relationship management. In his new role, Braden will work with our corporate partners to build meaningful relationships that help support the NVFC’s programs and mission. We’re excited to have Braden on the team! 🚒 Learn more about the NVFC staff: https://buff.ly/9RNdxkf
August 11 (8/11 Day) is a great time to recognize the importance of contacting 8-1-1 before you dig. 8-1-1 has been protecting our underground infrastructure, communities, and the firefighters and EMS personnel who respond when something goes wrong. Before your next dig, protect your team and your neighbors. Call 8-1-1 or visit 811beforeyoudig.com
🚨 Enter now for a chance to win an MSA Cairns® 1836 Fire Helmet! Thanks to MSA Safety, one lucky NVFC member will receive an MSA Cairns 1836 Fire Helmet during the August entry period. 🗓️ Enter by August 31 for your chance to win. Learn more and enter: https://buff.ly/iS0YJSp