National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) News

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is pleased to announce that the fifth NVFC Training Summit will take place June 14-15, 2019, in Portland, OR. Attendance is limited; pre-register today to secure your space. In addition, applications are now being accepted for a travel stipend. NVFC Training Summit 2019 This two-day seminar will provide an opportunity to participate in valuable classroom training as well as exchange ideas and best practices with attendees from across the country. The...

Each spring, the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) honors a firefighter who has provided a lifetime of service, an outstanding junior firefighter, and an exemplary junior firefighter program. With the addition of a new award, the NVFC will also honor a firefighter who has demonstrated leadership in the area of firefighter health and wellness. All recipients receive a personalized award and national recognition. The nomination period for the NVFC’s four annual awards is now open, with...

Globe, DuPont Protection Solutions (DuPont), and the National Volunteer Fire Council teamed up once again in 2018 to distribute 52 sets of turnout gear to 13 volunteer or mostly-volunteer fire departments. This annual program began in 2012 to provide departments in need with new turnouts to better protect their personnel. Shinbone Valley Fire and Rescue (Delta, AL) and the Barnsdall (OK) Rural Fire Department are the final 2018 gear recipients. Shinbone Valley Fire and Rescue has 16 volunteer f...

Globe, DuPont Protection Solutions (DuPont), and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) have been working together since 2012 to provide new, state-of-the-art turnout gear to volunteer fire departments in need through the Globe Gear Giveaway program. In 2018, 52 sets of gear will be awarded to 13 departments to help better protect their responders. Providence (NC) Fire & Rescue and the Strong Volunteer Fire Company (Mount Carmel Township, PA) are the latest gear recipients. Providence F...

Fire and emergency service volunteers donate countless hours to serve and protect their communities. One's selfless contributions are critical to making their community a safer, stronger place. With this in mind, the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is pleased to partner with Cabot Creamery Co-operative to promote volunteerism and reward those who serve. In conjunction with Points of Light, National Cooperative Bank, and Create the Good, Cabot created Reward Volunteers, a free, easy way t...

ADT Inc., the provider of monitored security and interactive home and business automation solutions in the United States and Canada, announced a $100,000 contribution to the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) to help raise awareness for recruitment of volunteer firefighters. “Emergency calls have more than tripled over the past few decades and volunteer firefighters are needed to meet the increasing call volume and demand,” said Heather Schafer, CEO, NVFC. “We are grateful...

Emergency Reporting (ER), the cloud-based reporting and records management software solutions provider for Fire and EMS agencies, has teamed up with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), to release a comprehensive guide, which shows fire service leaders how to increase their fire department’s volunteer base. NVFC’s recruitment guide The guide, ‘How to Build a Smart Recruitment Program: Your Guide to Getting More Volunteer Firefighters’, is available for download f...

The Lavender Ribbon Report provides 11 actions that can be taken to mitigate the risk of cancer for firefighters The International Association of Fire Chiefs’ (IAFC) Volunteer and Combination Officers Section (VCOS) and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) have partnered to develop and release the Lavender Ribbon Report: Best Practices for Preventing Firefighter Cancer. This report provides 11 actions that can be taken to mitigate the risk of cancer for firefighter...

Since 2012, Globe by MSA, DuPont Protection Solutions (DuPont), and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) have partnered to provide 403 sets of new, state-of-the-art turnout gear to fire departments in need – a value of over $920,000. An additional 13 departments will each receive four sets of gear in 2018. “MSA and Globe's mission is to see to it that men and women live and work in safety and health, and that speaks to the heart of exactly why we're proud to support the NVFC,&...

NFPA-IAFC-NVFC unveil joint fire service safety initiative The “Fire Service Safety Stand Down Quiz” Sweepstakes is back as part of the annual Safety Stand Down campaign. Hosted by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in conjunction with the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Safety Health & Survival Section and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), the interactive online quiz emphasises the importance of the 2018 Safety Stand Down...

2011 NVFC award winners special banquet will take place on April 5th in Alexandria The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has announced the winners of its four national awards. A special banquet to honor the recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Fire Prevention Award, Junior Firefighter of the Year Award, and Junior Firefighter Programme of the Year Award took place during the NVFC’s spring meeting on April 5 in Alexandria, VA. “We are very pleas...

NVFC International Relief Fund is set up to support the Japan Firefighters Association in their relief efforts NVFC is supporting the Japan Firefighters Association with rescue and cleanup efforts by making a contribution to the International Relief Fund.The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) and Fire Corps join with the rest of the world in expressing sorrow at the loss and devastation in Japan that has resulted from the recent earthquake and tsuna...

Being a member of EMS Update section would provide various benefits granted by NVFC for its members The EMS/R Section is comprised of NVFC members, but is its own separate group that focuses on issues pertaining to the volunteer emergency medical and rescue services.The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) produces the EMS Update as the newsletter of its new EMS/Rescue Section. They hope that you might have enjoyed the content of this newsletter, which focuses on ne...

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....

Cap Wiz resource tool will make communication easier between first responders and senators Last year the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) subscribed to Cap Wiz, a grassroots advocacy outreach tool that enhances the ability to influence members of Congress by making it easier for members and supporters to communicate with their Representatives and Senators. Using Cap Wiz, the NVFC can post draft letters to elected officials and federal agencies on a special section of ou...

The program helps build greater awareness around challenges faced by volunteer firefighters The Power Those Who Protect Us program will provide volunteer fire departments with batteries to power life-saving equipment. The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) and Duracell have partnered to launch the Power Those Who Protect Us battery donation program. Through the program, Duracell is donating over 10 million batteries to volunteer fire departments to help power life-sav...

The EMS curriculum now offers courses specifically identified as gaps in EMS education  The two new EMS courses are Emergency Medical Services Quality Management (EMS QM) and Emergency Medical Services Functions in the Incident Command System (EMS FICS). The U.S. Fire Administration's (USFA), National Fire Academy (NFA) has completed development of the first two new Emergency Medical Services (EMS) courses in response to the U.S. Fire Administration Reauthorization Act o...

EMS professionals will ask Congressional leaders at Capitol Hill to advocate the passage of EMS legislation National Volunteer Fire Council joined representatives from all sectors of the EMS community to inform members of Congress about the needs of the emergency medical services in 2010. The National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians is sponsoring the second EMS on the Hill Day on May 3-4 in Washington, DC. The event provides participants the opportunity to join w...

NFPA recruits Fire Service Technical Panel to support Electric Vehicle Safety Training Program NFPA announced that panel will support development of new program for emergency responders. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recently announced the creation of a Fire Service Technical Panel recruited to assist with the organization’s development of a safety training program to help emergency responders prepare for the growing number of electric vehicles on the...

TV news show CBS Sunday Morning highlighted the importance of the volunteer fire service NVFC Chairman featured in interview on CBS Sunday Morning TV news show. TV news show CBS Sunday Morning ran a story highlighting the importance of the volunteer fire service in United States. Newscaster, travel expert, and volunteer firefighter Peter Greenberg provided a glimpse into the noble and long-standing profession and how communities across the country relied on volunteer fi...

The majority of firefighters protecting communities of 2,500 or less were 40 years of age or older Increased training standards make firefighters more effective at their job and ultimately reduce losses of life and property from fire. In October, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) released the U.S. Fire Department Profile Through 2009 report, providing a variety of national statistics about career, combination, and volunteer fire departments. NFPA has been publis...

"Own it for Good" campaign will benefit volunteer firefighters to work more efficiently The first 50 people to RSVP to the event in each market will also receive an autographed photo of Erron Kinney. In the U.S. more than 70 percent of all firefighters are volunteers, often maintaining full-time jobs while simultaneously protecting their community regardless of the conditions. With another harsh winter around the corner, PrestoneÒ, a leading producer of antifreeze/cool...

Volunteers make it big in numbers throughout the fire service industry Georgia-Pacific Bucket Brigade initiative is awarding more than $100,000 in grants to help small town and rural community fire departments across the United States. Every day, millions of people count on volunteer and rural community fire units to protect them and their property. More than 825,000 volunteer and small town firefighters do their jobs mostly without recognition and often without the latest eq...

? Firefighting in Japan has reached to new level of safety and security   Over the past few years, the NVFC has also met with fire service leaders from England, Finland, Greece, and South and Central America. A delegation of fire service leaders from the Japan Firefighters Association met with board members and staff from the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) on October 16. The NVFC is committed to fostering relationships and encouraging idea-ex...

NVFC Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg has praised Cap wiz which would connect emergency responders with senators Cap Wiz will deliver the e-mails to the appropriate elected officials and generate reports on which offices receive e-mails. The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) recently subscribed to Cap Wiz, a grassroots advocacy outreach tool that will allow us to enhance our ability to influence members of Congress, primarily by making it easier for our members and suppor...

National Volunteer Fire Council boardfall meeting at Bloomington, MN NVFC Board meeting focused on issues relating to legislation, health, and safety and membership among others. The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) board of directors met in Bloomington, MN, on September 22-25. The board focused on issues relating to legislation, health and safety, and membership, among others. In addition, the EMS/Rescue Section held its inaugural meeting.Representatives from 43 state...

Petplan's Pet rescue Alert campaign  to help save more pets in emergencies Pet Rescue Alert campaign to distribute pet fire safety materials for free to pet owners and fire departments. In honor of "October is National Fire Safety Month," Petplan pet insurance and Wag'N Enterprises pet safety gear are joining forces to offer free rescue window alerts for dogs and cats. Petplan offers the only window alerts that can be customized to feature a loved pet's photo, name, and...

An event for all fire and rescue personnel,  their friends and families Six Flags America and the National Volunteer Fire Council have partnered to hold Fire Prevention Days on 2nd - 3rd October and Fire Prevention Days on 9th - 10th October at the Maryland amusement park. Six Flags America and the National Volunteer Fire Council have partnered to hold Fire Prevention Days at the Maryland amusement park on October 2, 3, 9, and 10 and are looking for fire departments, Fir...

NVFC Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg believes that new resources will make situations more manageable New NVFC resources are meant to help fire and emergency service departments to meet challenges and awful situations which are quite stressful and disturbing at times for the firefighters. The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has released several new resources to help fire and emergency service departments meet the challenges of a broad range of situations, including the...

NVFC is advising fire departmentson the adopting of green practices  National Volunteer Fire Council released the Guide for Going Green in the Fire Service to reduce their impact on the environment. People all across the nation are taking steps to decrease their impact on the environment, and there are many ways the fire service can do its part. The National Volunteer Fire Council released the Guide for Going Green in the Fire Service to highlight sustainable practices a...