NFSA backs National Fire Academy reopening call

by Associations and OrganisationsFeatured News

National Fire Academy access in question

Access to the U.S. Fire Administration campus in Emmitsburg, Maryland, is uncertain ahead of the 2026 Memorial Weekend, placing events linked to the National Fire Academy site at risk.

The National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA) said the uncertainty follows a lapse in funding at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and could affect access to the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial.

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) said 204 fallen firefighters from 43 states are due to be honoured during the 2026 Memorial Weekend.

The Foundation said families travel to the site to remember relatives whose service and sacrifice are permanently honoured there.

If access to the memorial is restricted, the Fallen Firefighters Memorial Ceremony and Candlelight Service will need to be held at another location.

NFSA and NFFF call for support

NFSA President Shane Ray said: “Our call to action encourages everyone to join us in contacting their members of Congress and ask them to support re-opening the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial for the 2026 Memorial Weekend.

“This is an example of ‘Fire Service One Voice’ in action and we are happy to support the NFFF and stand united with our plea to everyone for support.”

NFFF CEO Victor Stagnaro added: “Ensuring access to this sacred space is not optional. It is essential.

“We are very grateful to NFSA and all fire service organizations who are working to help us reach policy makers in time to help.

“We know first-hand the importance of this annual service, and we hope our pleas are heard.”

The organisations said Memorial Weekend gives families a chance to gather at the place where national recognition and remembrance come together.

For families attending in 2026, the Foundation said access to the memorial site remains central to that promise.

NVFC urges Congress to resolve shutdown affecting fire grants and training

by Americas - Featured NewsAssociations and OrganisationsFeatured News

“The nation’s fire service should not be collateral damage to this fight,” says NVFC

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has called on its members to write to Congress to resolve the Department of Homeland Security funding lapse, stating that the shutdown is delaying fire service grants and disrupting federal training.

NVFC said the shutdown, which began on 14 February, has delayed the application period for the Assistance for Firefighters Grants and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grants and has closed the U.S. Fire Administration and the National Fire Academy.

The funding dispute centres on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, where Congress passed a broader spending measure on 3 February that kept most federal agencies open through 30 September.

Department of Homeland Security funding was extended only through 13 February.

The Senate did not advance a longer-term Department of Homeland Security bill on 12 February.

The department entered a partial shutdown on 14 February.

The fire service is affected because the Federal Emergency Management Agency is part of the Department of Homeland Security.

The U.S. Fire Administration sits within FEMA.

This structure means a funding lapse can interrupt grant administration and training activity relied on by local departments.

NVFC warning follows grant delays and academy closure

The Assistance to Firefighters Grants and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response programmes are authorised, although they still depend on annual appropriations and federal administration.

The International Association of Fire Chiefs stated on 6 February that funding for the U.S. Fire Administration, the National Fire Academy and the AFG and SAFER programmes had only been extended through 13 February.

In its 18 February Washington update, the IAFC said the shutdown affected FEMA and USFA and expected delays to the application periods for AFG, FP&S and SAFER.

The IAFC’s March 2026 Legislative Hot Sheet says Congress has not passed the final FY 2026 Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill.

The document states that this will delay the application periods for AFG and SAFER.

It also says Congress authorised up to $750 million each for the FIRE and SAFER grant programmes through FY 2028 under the Fire Grants and Safety Act.

House and Senate negotiators agreed on FY 2026 funding of $342 million each.

FEMA fire grant pages currently carry lapse-in-funding notices.

These notices indicate that normal grant administration is being disrupted.

On training, the IAFC’s March hot sheet says the National Fire Academy is closed because of the lapse in Department of Homeland Security funding.

Public-facing course pages show cancellations for February 2026 offerings.

National Fire Academy procedures state that campus operations halt during a government shutdown.

Current classes are dismissed.

Scheduled students are told to cancel travel plans until operations resume.

Public evidence also indicates disruption to the U.S. Fire Administration.

USFA and FEMA webpages remain online and carry notices stating that some site updates and transactions may not be processed during the funding lapse.

Congress would need to enact either a full FY 2026 Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill or another stopgap measure to restore normal operations.

NVFC campaign message to members of Congress

NVFC has also shared a pre written message that supporters can send to U.S. senators and representatives calling for the shutdown to be resolved.

The council said the message is intended to be sent by constituents, including volunteer firefighters, to outline the effects the funding lapse is having on federal fire service programmes.

The NVFC message reads: “As a volunteer firefighter and your constituent, I am writing to inform you of the significant damage the current lapse in Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding has had on the nation’s fire service.

“While I understand the controversy surrounding the funding of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) an agreement must be reached as soon as possible or a carve-out for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding must be made.

“The nation’s fire service should not be collateral damage to this fight.

“FEMA houses many programs and grants that are crucial to the success of the nation’s fire service including the National Fire Academy (NFA), Assistance for Firefighter Grants (AFG), and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants (SAFER).

“The NFA offers the fire service unique specialized and executive training like the U.S. Army and Navy War Colleges provide for our armed services.

“Each year the NFA provides training for approximately 100,000 fire and emergency service personnel.

“Between the NFA’s shutdown from March to June 2025, the Government Shutdown in late 2025, and this latest lapse in funding, the NFA has been closed nearly 5 of the last 12 months.

“This is unacceptable.

“AFG and SAFER are the most important grant programs serving the nation’s fire service.

“They provide funding for critical equipment and recruitment programs that many local tax bases across the country cannot support, this is especially true of rural communities that are mostly served by volunteer departments.

“This lapse in DHS funding has already delayed the rollout of the application period for these grants and will likely delay their required peer review process.

“If swift action is not taken to restore funding, FEMA is going to be hard pressed to get awards for these grants allocated by the end of the fiscal year.

“Much like last year where, because of the undue time related pressure FEMA was under, there was much confusion about grant awards and less flexibility provided to grant recipients.

“Please act immediately to restore funding to DHS to ensure our nation’s security and preparedness, or at minimum fund FEMA so the nation’s fire service and emergency response capabilities are not compromised any further.

“Thank you for your consideration of this important matter.”

What the federal shutdown means for fire prevention and response

by Americas - Featured NewsFeatured News

U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit postponed amid federal shutdown

National Fire Academy closure halts annual gathering

The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) have postponed the fourth annual U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit on Fire Prevention and Control because of the ongoing federal government shutdown.

The one-day summit was scheduled to take place on Monday 7 October at the National Fire Academy campus in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

The organisers confirmed that the campus has been closed as part of the wider government shutdown, leaving them no option but to postpone the event.

The summit, launched in 2022, brings together senior fire and emergency service leaders from across the United States to discuss national fire prevention strategies, data-driven fire safety initiatives and the state of the country’s emergency response systems.

The USFA and NFFF said they are working to identify possible new dates later in the year, dependent on when the government resumes normal operations.

They have encouraged prospective attendees to check the USFA’s official website for updates once the shutdown ends.

Federal shutdown affects agency operations and safety programmes

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) reported that as of midnight on Tuesday 1 October, federal funding lapsed for most U.S. agencies after Congress failed to approve the Fiscal Year 2026 budget.

While some agencies deemed essential – including the U.S. military and Transportation Security Administration – continue operating without pay, others have partially or fully ceased activity.

The IAFC said that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which operates under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, has closed the National Fire Academy until further notice.

FEMA confirmed that approximately 21,000 of its nearly 25,000 employees are classed as exempt or excepted and will remain on duty, allowing disaster response operations and payments to continue.

However, FEMA’s grant processing and approval functions are paused for the duration of the shutdown.

Awardees of fully funded grants can continue their work but will not be reimbursed until operations resume.

Projects that require prior federal approval must pause entirely until furloughed employees are reinstated.

Public health and emergency support agencies face disruption

According to the IAFC, multiple federal departments responsible for public safety, health and environmental management are affected by the funding lapse.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has furloughed most of its staff, with only 35% continuing to work on limited emergency prevention and response functions.

The WTC Health Program remains operational through mandatory spending, but fire service priority offices within the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) are closed.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has placed most of its staff on furlough, with only commissioned Public Health Service officers maintaining existing grant disbursements.

New grants, responses to funding requests and programme guidance will be delayed until normal operations resume.

The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) will continue to run its Secretary’s Operations Center and deploy Disaster Medical Assistance Teams where required, but routine planning and training activities are suspended.

Wildfire and hazardous materials work also impacted

The shutdown has also affected several agencies central to wildfire and hazardous materials management.

The U.S. Forest Service, part of the Department of Agriculture, will retain about 15,600 staff to continue responding to wildfires and protecting life and property.

However, around 12,700 employees have been furloughed, and work on hazardous fuels reduction and prescribed burns will be reduced.

State-level grants for wildfire preparedness and equipment acquisition are expected to be delayed, potentially affecting local and volunteer fire departments dependent on reimbursement for ongoing work.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) said 3,300 fire management staff remain on duty under the Wildland Fire Management account, while another 1,000 will continue performing essential suppression and emergency services work if funding balances are exhausted.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) will continue emergency investigations and enforcement of safety regulations.

However, its outreach, training, standards development and grant-funded emergency responder support programmes are paused until appropriations are restored.

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

The postponement of the U.S. Fire Administrator’s Summit and the closure of the National Fire Academy suspend a major annual platform for collaboration among national, state and local fire leaders.

The shutdown also affects ongoing training, coordination and funding across the fire and emergency services network, with FEMA grants, NIOSH research and Forest Service reimbursements delayed.

Fire chiefs, emergency managers, training coordinators and wildfire response officers may face short-term constraints in planning, funding or preparedness activities.

Those managing grant-funded initiatives or multi-agency collaborations may experience administrative delays and reduced federal engagement until operations fully resume.

This article was informed by information from the following sources: the U.S. Fire Administration; the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation; the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)

FEMA suspends National Fire Academy training pending review

by Breaking NewsTraining

FEMA cancels in-person training at National Fire Academy

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced the immediate suspension of all in-person training at the National Fire Academy (NFA) until further notice.

A notice sent to instructors, students, and fire departments stated that FEMA is evaluating its programs and spending to align with administration priorities.

The notice said: “For those courses that can continue virtually, we will do so, and you will receive more information soon. For those that are unable to proceed in a virtual format we will reevaluate rescheduling of courses once the review is complete.”

A follow-up notice clarified that only virtual courses without an instructor and no associated funding will proceed. Instructors were advised to cancel all future travel plans.

Impact on firefighter training

The suspension affects firefighters, emergency medical personnel, and other first responders who travel to the NFA’s Maryland campus for federally funded training programs.

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, former U.S. fire administrator, said: “The U.S. Fire Administration’s National Fire Academy (NFA) is the premier professional training institution for America’s structural, industrial and wildland firefighters (both career and volunteers) from local, state, tribal and federal agencies.

“It is the American fire service war college. [The canceled] courses and many others offered at the NFA are critical for firefighters and their communities.”

She added: “The longer the NFA is shutdown, the greater the gap in professional development for firefighters and paramedics in the U.S. The NFA instructors also train arson investigators for all levels of government, including the ATF.”

Concerns over training gaps

The NFA, established under the 1974 Fire Prevention and Control Act, provides free training for firefighters across the country. The sudden suspension has raised concerns about the impact on emergency response preparedness.

Marc Bashoor, a former Maryland fire chief and West Virginia emergency services director, said: “The NFA is a powerhouse for the fire service. It’s not a ‘nice to have.’ It is the one avenue we have to bring people from all over the country to learn from and with each other.”

Bashoor said training cancellations have caused disruptions for students who had already made travel arrangements.

He added: “People had made their plane and travel reservations. And all of a sudden, they get an email that ‘Sorry, it’s been canceled.’ It’s really upsetting.”

Future of NFA training remains uncertain

FEMA has not provided a timeline for when the training programs might resume. The agency has not responded to requests for further comment on the review process.

Bashoor expressed concerns about how this decision might impact future emergency responses: “If we want to continue to have one of the premier fire services in the world, we need to have the National Fire Academy.”

FEMA suspends National Fire Academy training: Summary

FEMA has announced the immediate suspension of in-person training at the National Fire Academy while it conducts a review of agency programs and spending. Training will continue virtually only in cases where no instructor or funding is required.

The decision affects firefighters, EMS providers, and first responders nationwide who rely on NFA’s federally funded training programs. Experts have raised concerns about potential gaps in firefighter education and emergency preparedness.

The NFA was founded in 1973 as part of a national strategy to improve fire safety. Critics of the suspension argue that it could hinder firefighter development and arson investigation training.

FEMA has not provided a timeline for when in-person courses will resume.