Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) News

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) joins with other national fire service organizations to strongly oppose proposed cuts to the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants programs provide critical funding to help fire departments secure needed equipment, training, and staffing to adequately protect their communi...

Homeland Security Secretary, Alejandro N. Mayorkas and U.S. Fire Administrator, Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell delivered remarks during the 42nd National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) Memorial Weekend on May 7, 2023, in Emmitsburg, Maryland, USA. The Homeland Security Secretary and the U.S. Fire Administrator paid tribute to the 79 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2022 and 65 firefighters who died in previous years.  Paying tribute to fallen firefighters The emergencies to wh...

Two grant programs designed to address staffing, equipment, training, and health and safety needs of firefighters are scheduled to ‘sunset’ in 2024 unless Congress reauthorizes the grant programs, and funding for the programs will run out unless Congress endows them for another year. Legislation to extend the programs has already passed the U.S. Senate. The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program provides funding to hire additional personnel to mainta...

The Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) is announcing an official Call for Proposals for the 2021 National Fire and Emergency Services Symposium. The Symposium is scheduled for April 28th and 29th in conjunction with the 32nd Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner. Seminar proposals must meet the following criteria to be considered: Topic: Seminars should focus on topics related to federal government policies and programs, or other topics that are national in scope, mean...

Since 1922, the National Fire Protection Association has sponsored the public observance of Fire Prevention Week. It is a week in which they renew their commitment to fire safety and educate the public about safeguarding their communities and homes against the threat of fire. With Fire Prevention Week taking place this week, the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) would like to take the opportunity to recognize individuals and organizations for their dedication and commitment to the na...

The Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) takes this opportunity during National EMS Week to honor the men and women serving in fire and emergency services departments across the nation who deliver pre-hospital 9-1-1 emergency medical care. The fire service has a rich history of protecting the health and safety of the communities through an ‘all hazards’ response model that includes the delivery of pre-hospital emergency medical care. Fire service-based EMS providers are loca...

April 30th is the day the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) was supposed to host the 32nd Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner, an event to have been attended by 1,500 fire and emergency services leaders across the country to pay tribute to the dedication and commitment of our nation’s firefighters and emergency services personnel. Back in the latter part of 2019, CFSI considered different themes for the 2020 program and selected “Recognizing Our Nation&rsqu...

Congressional Fire Services Institute’s Board of Directors regrets to announce that the 32nd Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Symposium and Dinner have been postponed until further notice. CFSI is taking this action based on the recommendations from local, state, and federal health agencies and task forces The health and safety of the guests outweighed every other consideration in the decision to postpone the event. Even though the program takes place in six weeks, CFSI is tak...

The Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) and Masimo will honor the San Antonio (TX) Fire Department (SAFD) and the Chesterfield County (VA) Fire and Emergency Medical Services with the Excellence in Fire Service-Based EMS Award. The award presentations will take place on April 30th at the 32nd Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner in Washington, DC. EMS awards program First presented in 2011, the Excellence in Fire Service-Based EMS Award has recognized fire departments fr...

Mr. Ed Comeau has been recognized by the International Fire Safety Training Association (IFSTA) and the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) as the recipient of the 2020 Dr. Anne W. Phillips Award for Leadership in Fire Safety Education. Campus fire safety For over 20 years, Comeau has been the leading advocate in the nation for campus fire safety. The genesis of his efforts began in 1999 when he published the first edition of Campus Firewatch, an electronic newsletter that has ra...

Dr. William F. Jenaway, President of the Congressional Fire Services Institute, announced that Chief Shane Ray has been appointed to the CFSI Board of Directors. Dr. William Jenaway made the announcement at the CFSI National Advisory Committee meeting on December 10th in Washington, DC. Chief Ray’s appointment is to a newly created board position. President of NFSA Chief Shane Ray currently serves as the President of the National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA), a role he has held sinc...

On April 29-30, 2020, the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) will host the 32nd Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Symposium and Dinner in Washington, DC. Once again, the annual tribute to the nation’s fire service is expected to draw over 1,500 fire and emergency services leaders from across the country. They will attend seminars, conduct meetings with their members of Congress, and network with their colleagues. At the conclusion of the two-day event, they will assem...

The Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) has announced the appointment of Michaela Campbell as the newest member of its staff. She has assumed the position of Director of Government Affairs, taking over for Sean Carroll, who left CFSI to become Associate Director of Government Relations with Kidde. New CFSI appointment Prior to joining the Congressional Fire Services Institute, Ms. Campbell served as a Legislative Assistant for Steptoe & Johnson LLP, where her portfolio included tr...

The Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) has announced that Sean Carroll, who served as Director of Government Affairs at the organization, has resigned from his position, after 17 years of dedicated service to the nation’s fire and emergency services. He recently accepted a position with Kidde, as its Associate Director of Government Relations. Advocate for the CFSI legislative agenda Sean’s work at CFSI has had a tremendous impact on the nation’s first responders an...

Oliver Holmes, Sr. once said, “It is the province of knowledge to speak and the privilege of wisdom to listen.” Each year, the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) conducts the National Fire and Emergency Services Symposium and Dinner program to provide opportunities for fire service leaders across the nation to both speak and listen. And, it was for this reason that the theme selected is ‘Exchanging Knowledge to Advance Our Mission’. There is much to learn about...

Anheuser-Busch announced the company is expanding its emergency drinking water program in partnership with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) to deliver critical hydration to volunteer firefighters across the country. The new partnership will kick off with a donation of one million cans of clean drinking water in support of volunteer fire departments in 2019, beginning this spring in advance of wildfire season. Critical Hydration For Firefighters As the country faces more natural disa...

The Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) and the International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA) at Fire Protection Publications, Oklahoma State University (IFSTA/FPP/OSU) are pleased to announce that Dr. Ernest Grant has been selected as the recipient of the 2019 Dr. Anne W. Phillips Award for Leadership in Fire Safety Education. Fire and Emergency Services Dr. Ernest Grant will be honored with the Award at the 31st Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner in Washing...

The Congressional Fire Services Institute’s Board of Directors has chosen Chief Russ Sanders to receive the 2019 CFSI/Motorola Solutions Mason Lankford Fire Service Leadership Award. The official award presentation will take place during the 31st Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner on April 25, 2019 in Washington, D.C. Public Safety And Prevention VFIS Executive Vice President Dr. Bill Jenaway noted, “Russ Sanders has distinguished himself on so many levels and in s...

Mike Weller is to be honored with the 2018 Dr. Anne W. Phillips Award for Leadership in Fire Safety Education at the 30th Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner in Washington, DC, Maryland, USA on April 19, 2018. The Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) and the International Fire Service Training Association at Fire Protection Publications, Oklahoma State University (IFSTA/FPP/OSU) together announced that Mike Weller has been selected as the recipient of the 2018 Dr. Anne W....

EMS award programme launhed by CFSI and MedicAlert will boost the morale of the professionals from the industry The Excellence in Fire Service-Based EMS Awards Programme recognised fire departments that have implemented best practices in EMS. The Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) and the MedicAlert Foundation have announced the establishment of a new awards programme to recognise fire departments from across the country for outstanding achievements in EMS services....