NVFC announces 2026 fire service achievement awards recipients
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has announced the recipients of its 2026 fire service achievement awards, recognising individual and programme contributions across the volunteer fire service.
The NVFC confirmed that Roger Beedy, Frank Leeb, Grace Isakson and Plano Fire Explorers Post 215 have been selected across four award categories.
Roger Beedy has received the William J. Darley Lifetime Achievement Award for over five decades of service, including 54 years as a volunteer firefighter and EMT with the Cedar Canyons Volunteer Fire Department in Indiana.
Beedy has served in operational and leadership roles, supported department activities including training, maintenance and fundraising, and contributed to statewide efforts through the Indiana Volunteer Firefighters Association.
Frank Leeb has been named recipient of the Chief James P. Seavey Sr. Health & Wellness Leadership Award for his work in firefighter health, including contamination reduction protocols and cancer prevention education.
Leeb has served more than 40 years in the fire service, including a 31-year career with the Fire Department of New York (FDNY), where he held roles such as chief of the fire academy, chief of training and chief of safety.
Grace Isakson has been selected as Junior Firefighter of the Year, having completed more than 330 service hours in 2025 while undertaking EMT training and serving as captain of Plano Fire Explorers Post 215.
Isakson has contributed to training, ambulance ride-outs and community events, alongside mentoring other programme members and supporting outreach activities.
Plano Fire Explorers Post 215 has received the Junior Firefighter Program of the Year Award, recognising its structured training programme and community engagement.
The programme includes classroom instruction, practical training and station assignments, with Explorers completing more than 3,200 service hours in 2025.
Recognition ceremonies and NVFC leadership comments
NVFC Chair Steve Hirsch said: “Fire service volunteers make a significant impact in their communities every day, and we are excited to recognize the extraordinary accomplishments of our 2026 award winners.
“This year’s recipients showcase commitment and service from those just starting out to those who have spent a lifetime giving back.
“They exemplify what makes our nation’s volunteer fire service so outstanding.”
Beedy, Leeb and Isakson will be recognised during the NVFC spring conference on May 16 in Alexandria, Virginia.
Plano Fire Explorers Post 215 will be recognised at a separate local ceremony to enable all members to attend.
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) marked its 50th anniversary on 15 March 2026, fifty years after its first meeting was held on 15 March 1976.
The NVFC marked the milestone in a post published on 15 March 2026, which included a retrospective timeline and a statement from NVFC Chair Steve Hirsch.
The organisation said it was formed to support and advocate for volunteer fire services, along with emergency medical and rescue services.
According to Hirsch’s statement, representatives from seven state firefighter associations gathered in Chicago in November 1975 to discuss creating a national organisation to represent volunteer firefighters.
The first meeting of the National Volunteer Fire Council was then held on 15 March 1976 with twelve states represented.
NVFC chair reflects on volunteer service
In his anniversary message, Steve Hirsch, NVFC Chair, linked the organisation’s 50th year to the United States bicentennial and the country’s upcoming 250th anniversary.
He said the volunteer fire service has grown into an all hazards agency and described volunteer firefighters as covering the largest land mass in the nation.
Hirsch said: “In November of 1975, representatives from seven state firefighter associations gathered in Chicago to talk about establishing an organization, national in scope, to represent volunteer firefighters.
“The first meeting of the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) was held on March 15, 1976 with twelve states represented.
“Over the years, the NVFC has continued to grow and mature.”
His statement also thanked volunteer firefighters and called on readers who are not involved in the service to consider joining.
NVFC retrospective timeline of major milestones
A timeline published alongside the anniversary announcement outlines key moments in the development of the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) since its founding in 1976.
The organisation’s first meeting took place on 15 March 1976 with representatives from twelve states, following a November 1975 gathering of seven state firefighter associations in Chicago to discuss forming a national organisation for volunteer firefighters.
NVFC membership reached 18 state associations, 106 departments and four corporate members by 1978, when the organisation also launched its annual award programme with its first lifetime achievement award.
In 1979, the Federal Emergency Management Agency purchased land in Emmitsburg, Maryland, for the U.S. Fire Administration and the National Fire Academy, which began on-campus courses in 1980, and the Stonebridge Conference was held to outline the needs of volunteer responders to the USFA.
The National Fallen Firefighters Memorial was dedicated in Emmitsburg in 1981 to honour fallen firefighters.
The NVFC hosted a regional meeting of the Federation of World Volunteer Firefighters in Seattle in 1983.
Volunteer firefighters and NVFC members were honoured with an Anheuser-Busch Rose Bowl parade float in 1984.
The Congressional Fire Services Caucus was formed in 1987 to support bipartisan legislation affecting emergency personnel.
The NVFC Foundation was established in 1989 and operated until 2019.
Congress authorised the minting of the Benjamin Franklin Firefighters Silver Medal in 1992, with proceeds supporting several fire service organisations including the NVFC.
The NVFC 21st Century Fund was incorporated in 1996 through donations from U.S. Tobacco to support education, training, recruitment, retention and the purchase of personal protective equipment.
Language in the National Defense Authorization Act established the Assistance to Firefighters Grant programme, which funds equipment, gear, training and vehicles for fire departments.
Further language in the National Defense Authorization Act established the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grants, which support hiring career firefighters and recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters, and the NVFC launched the Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program.
The NVFC launched Fire Corps in 2004 to connect community volunteers with local fire departments for non-operational roles including administration, public education and fundraising.
The National Junior Firefighter Program was introduced in 2007 to encourage younger people to join the fire service.
The organisation created an EMS/Rescue Section in 2010.
Two developments occurred in 2011, when the NVFC partnered with the U.S. Forest Service to launch the Wildland Fire Assessment Program and transitioned its newsletter, The Dispatch, from print to digital.
The Globe Gear Giveaway programme launched in 2012 through a partnership with the NVFC to supply turnout gear to volunteer fire departments.
In 2014, the NVFC launched the Share the Load programme focused on responder mental wellbeing and held its first Training Summit.
The Make Me A Firefighter campaign launched in 2015 with SAFER funding to help departments recruit and retain volunteers.
The organisation introduced its annual print publication Firefighter Strong in 2017.
The Anheuser-Busch Emergency Drinking Water for Wildland Firefighters Program launched in 2019, donating 1.5 million cans of water annually to volunteer fire departments preparing for wildfires and emergencies.
The State Farm Good Neighbor Firefighter Safety Program launched in 2024 with $1 million in grants for volunteer fire departments, increasing to $1.5 million annually from 2025.
The NVFC reported more than 40,000 individual members in 2025.
In 2026, the organisation marked its 50th anniversary with 48 state association members, more than 42,000 individual members and 50 corporate members.
Nutella, Pearl Milling Company and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) have launched the 2026 Stacks for Giving Back programme, which will provide $50,000 in grants and 350 pancake breakfast fundraiser kits for local fire departments.
The NVFC announced that 10 departments will each receive a $5,000 grant, with Nutella providing $25,000 and Pearl Milling Company adding a further $25,000.
The programme is open to departments that are more than 50% volunteer, serve a population of 25,000 or less, are based in the US and have an NVFC member.
Applications for the grants are due by 30 April.
Consumers can also nominate departments to receive a Pancake Breakfast Kit for a local fundraiser.
A total of 350 departments will receive kits containing supplies and ingredients, including Nutella and Pearl Milling Company pancake mix.
Fire departments cited as facing funding pressure
The announcement states that volunteer fire departments often face difficulty securing funding for equipment, firefighter recruitment and retention, and the demands linked to rising call volumes and new training requirements.
The programme was launched to help departments secure operational necessities and support local fundraising activity.
Examples from the 2025 round were also included as part of the announcement.
The Landis Volunteer Fire Department in Marshall, Arkansas used its grant to buy SCBA tanks and wildland fire protection equipment and gear.
Lucinda Rolen, department treasurer, said: “Leveraging the grant money by purchasing new and pre-owned personal protective equipment from online suppliers allowed us to provide more equipment to better protect our firefighters when they are protecting the community.”
The Cleveland Volunteer Fire Department in Alabama used its grant to purchase equipment and tools that allowed all of its trucks to return to service.
David Hackworth, Assistant Fire Chief, said: “Morale has improved, training has improved, and members can now work on and train on a truck that was out of service and unavailable until we received this grant, which enabled us to get the equipment we needed to move enough resources to use this valuable truck.”
Chili Fremont Fire & Rescue also described how the funding supported a broader equipment purchase than first planned.
“By explaining the grant’s mission and goals, the vendor was able to adjust pricing, reduce shipping costs, and help maximise the impact of the funds.
“Being transparent with vendors can stretch grant dollars while maintaining the grant objective.”
The 2026 grant applications and department nominations for the fundraiser kits both close on 30 April.
“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.”
Applications have opened for the 2026 Anheuser-Busch Emergency Drinking Water for Wildland Firefighters Program, which will distribute 1.5 million cans of emergency drinking water to eligible volunteer fire departments in the United States.
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) announced that Anheuser-Busch and its wholesaler partners are delivering the programme in partnership with the NVFC.
Departments are encouraged to apply if they are more than 50% volunteer.
Applicants must serve a population of 25,000 or less.
Applicants must respond to wildfires, including uncontrolled fires in forests, prairies, grasslands, brushlands or lands sown to crops.
Selected departments will receive one pallet of emergency drinking water totalling 2,352 cans.
The application period closes at noon Eastern Time on March 6, 2026.
Departments will be notified of selection by the end of May.
Eligibility and programme scale
Hydration is described as essential to firefighter health, safety and performance during long incidents in extreme conditions.
Since the partnership between Anheuser-Busch and the NVFC began in 2019, nearly 12 million cans of emergency drinking water have been distributed to volunteer fire departments across the United States.
Steve Hirsch, NVFC Chair, said: “These water donations help keep volunteer firefighters safe and healthy during active incidents while reducing the financial strain on departments with limited resources,
“We’re grateful to Anheuser-Busch for its continued commitment to providing first responders with the essential resources needed to protect their communities.”
Colleen Lucas, Vice President of Community Impact at Anheuser-Busch, said: “Showing up for our communities is who we are at Anheuser-Busch, and our partnership with the National Volunteer Fire Council reflects our deep gratitude for the first responders who work every day to keep them safe,
“Over the years, we’ve seen firsthand how something as simple as a can of water can make all the difference and we’re proud to use our manufacturing expertise to do our part in supporting these local heroes.”
Anheuser-Busch traces its disaster relief support back to 1906.
Each year the company periodically pauses beer production to produce emergency drinking water for communities impacted by or preparing for disaster.
Since the launch of its Emergency Drinking Water initiative in 1988, more than 100 million cans of drinking water have been donated for communities in need.
The 2026 application period is now open for MSA’s Globe Gear Giveaway, which will award new Globe turnout gear and MSA Cairns helmets to selected volunteer fire departments in the US and Canada.
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) said the annual programme enables eligible departments in need to apply for four sets of turnout jackets, pants and helmets.
The application period is open through noon ET on June 1.
Eligibility, awards and programme track record
The programme is in its 15th year and has provided 186 departments with 819 sets of turnouts and 364 helmets.
In 2026, 52 sets of gear will be awarded to 13 departments.
To be eligible, a department must be over 50% volunteer.
A department must serve a population of 25,000 or less.
A department must be located in the United States or Canada and be legally organised under state or province law.
The criteria states that Indian or tribal entities not organised under state or province law are eligible.
A department must have at least one active NVFC member.
To help departments meet the NVFC membership requirement, MSA will provide one year individual NVFC memberships to the first 500 applicants.
Applicants must also demonstrate a need for the gear.
NVFC Chair Steve Hirsch said: “Turnout gear is critical to the health, safety, and effectiveness of firefighters, yet there are many volunteer fire departments across the U.S. and Canada that struggle to find funding for the gear they need.
“For 15 years, this program has helped address that need and ensure more firefighters are properly equipped to serve their communities.
“We thank MSA Safety for this ongoing partnership and their commitment to supporting the volunteer fire service.”
Joann Serakowski, MSA Safety Vice President of United States and Canada Fire Business, said: “We’re proud to support firefighters who are dedicated to protecting their communities.
“Through our long-standing partnership with this program, we remain committed to helping keep firefighters safe by providing safety gear to those who need it most.
“We’re grateful for the opportunity to help enhance the safety of those who serve on the front lines every day.”
John Denison, DuPont Personal Protection Market Leader, said: “Our partnership with the NVFC and MSA remains incredibly important to us, as both organizations share our passion for equipping front-line volunteers with cutting-edge gear, research-driven solutions, and ongoing education.
“DuPont proudly supports the Globe Gear Giveaway each year as part of our focused mission in the emergency response market – to develop innovative Nomex and Kevlar fibers designed to help protect firefighters who work tirelessly to keep our communities safe.
“Through this program, we are able to turn that mission into action by delivering gear directly to the departments that need it most.”
The NVFC said full criteria and the application form are available at www.nvfc.org/gear.
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has announced the session line-up for its 2026 NVFC Training Summit, scheduled for 26 to 27 June 2026 in Arlington, VA.
The organisation said the event will feature three learning tracks focused on responder health and safety, volunteer recruitment and retention and emergency service leadership.
It added that registration will open in January.
The line-up of sessions and instructors is now available.
NVFC track structure and session count
NVFC said attendees will be able to choose from 18 sessions.
The organisation said the sessions will be taught by nationally recognised subject matter experts and fire service leaders.
It added that the programme is split across three tracks.
Those tracks are Health and Safety, Leadership and Recruitment and Retention.
Health and Safety track sessions listed
NVFC listed six Health and Safety sessions for the 2026 NVFC Training Summit.
The sessions are The Power of Hope: Strengthening Resilience and Well-Being in First Responders, Response Time Matters in Early Cancer Detection and Developing a NFPA/OSHA Compliant Fire Department Training Program.
NVFC also listed Using AI to Enhance Educational Messages and Outreach, Red Lights, Blue Lights, Gun Fights: Tactics for Violent Calls and Realistic Training for Brush Fire Response.
The instructors named for those sessions are Wendy Norris, Sandy Danault, Douglas Cline, E. Brene Ball, Dane Yaw and Jeremy Keller.
Leadership track sessions cover funding and culture
NVFC listed six sessions within its Leadership track.
The course titles include Money Matters: Grants and Growth for Departments and Holding the Line: First In Leadership for Safer Roadway Incidents.
NVFC also listed Going Combination and Preserving Your Volunteers and Building a Culture of Excellence, Teamwork and Camaraderie.
The remaining Leadership sessions are High Performance Leadership in Emergency Services: A Chief’s Olympic Perspective and Iron Sharpens Iron: Building Stronger Fire Service Leaders.
The instructors named for the Leadership track are Dan Kramer, Todd Leiss, Joseph Maruca, Thomas Merrill, Jason Read and Al Yancey.
Recruitment and Retention track focuses on people and messaging
NVFC said the Recruitment and Retention track also includes six sessions.
The organisation listed Successful Volunteer Retention and Recruitment in the Fire Service and Igniting Purpose: Encouraging Women to Explore the Fire Service.
NVFC also named Is Your Department a Place You Would Join and Managing People, Not Just Fires: HR in Volunteer Service.
The remaining sessions in the track are Are You Telling Your Story Effectively? Marketing for Fire Departments and Finding the Why: Passion-Driven Recruitment for Fire and EMS Volunteers.
The instructors named are Dr. Candice McDonald, Jen Elleraas, Lee Price, Pamela Rogers, Kimberly Hilsenbeck and Walter Campbell.
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is now accepting nominations for its 2026 National Fire Service Achievement Awards, covering four categories for volunteer fire service recognition in the US.
According to the NVFC, nominations are open for the William J. Darley Lifetime Achievement Award, Chief James P. Seavey Sr. Health and Wellness Leadership Award, Junior Firefighter of the Year Award and Junior Firefighter Program of the Year Award.
The organisation has set a submission deadline of 17:00 EST on 16 January, giving departments and programmes a defined window to put forward candidates.
The NVFC stated that nominations are intended to recognise outstanding contributions from individual volunteers, health and wellness leaders, junior firefighters and youth-oriented programmes.
Award categories recognising lifetime and health leadership
The NVFC said the William J. Darley Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by Darley, recognises a volunteer firefighter with at least 20 years of service.
The council added that this award is intended for individuals who have made a major contribution or achieved notable accomplishments in the volunteer fire service at local, state or national level.
According to the NVFC, the Chief James P. Seavey Sr. Health and Wellness Leadership Award, co-sponsored by VFIS and Ward Diesel Filter Systems, focuses on emergency responder health and wellness.
This award honours an active volunteer firefighter, EMS provider or rescue worker who has taken a leadership role in creating or promoting health and wellness programmes or initiatives.
The NVFC confirmed that recipients of the Lifetime Achievement and Health and Wellness Leadership awards will be recognised at an awards celebration on 16 May 2026 in Alexandria, Virginia.
Junior firefighter and youth programme recognition
The NVFC explained that the Junior Firefighter of the Year Award, sponsored by California Casualty, honours a junior firefighter who has exceeded normal expectations in service to their fire department.
The organisation stated that the Junior Firefighter Program of the Year Award, also sponsored by California Casualty, is aimed at junior firefighter programmes or Explorer Posts.
According to the NVFC, this programme-level award focuses on community impact, innovation and creativity demonstrated by the junior initiative.
The council added that while individual junior award recipients will be recognised at the Alexandria ceremony, the Junior Firefighter Program of the Year Award will be presented at a local celebration.
This local presentation is intended to ensure that all participating juniors in the recognised programme can attend the event.
How to submit nominations online
The NVFC confirmed that full criteria for each of the four awards are available on its website.
Departments and organisations can review eligibility requirements, sponsorship details and recognition arrangements before submitting applications.
The council stated that nominations must be submitted online via the NVFC awards page.
Further details and the submission portal are available at www.nvfc.org/awards.
How these nominations support volunteer fire service leadership
Fire and rescue chiefs and senior officers in volunteer departments can use the NVFC awards process to highlight long-term service and leadership in their organisations.
The William J. Darley Lifetime Achievement Award criteria around 20 years of volunteer service and contribution at multiple levels provide a defined benchmark for identifying senior volunteers who have had broad impact.
Training officers and instructors responsible for health and wellness initiatives can align their programmes with the Chief James P. Seavey Sr. Health and Wellness Leadership Award focus on responder wellbeing initiatives and leadership.
Leaders of junior firefighter schemes can review the Junior Firefighter of the Year Award requirements to recognise individual juniors who have taken on additional responsibilities in support of their department.
Programme coordinators for junior firefighter groups or Explorer Posts can examine the Junior Firefighter Program of the Year Award emphasis on community impact, innovation and creativity when designing or evaluating youth engagement activities.
The separate local celebration for the winning junior programme means coordinators can plan recognition activities that involve all participating young people rather than only selected representatives.
NVFC extends deadline for 2026 training summit proposals
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has extended the submission deadline for presentation proposals for the 2026 NVFC Training Summit.
The organisation said qualified instructors and speakers now have until 2 November 2025 to submit proposals.
According to the NVFC, the extension was granted to accommodate those affected by the government shutdown.
The annual NVFC Training Summit will take place from 26–27 June 2026 in Arlington, Virginia.
The NVFC said the event provides a platform for first responders to exchange ideas, share best practices and participate in professional development sessions.
Focus on health, leadership and recruitment
The NVFC confirmed that breakout sessions will be organised across three main tracks: responder health, safety and training; volunteer recruitment and retention; and emergency service leadership.
Each session will run for 90 minutes.
Examples of potential presentation topics include fireground response, physical and behavioural health, fire and life safety education, mentorship, family engagement, communication, management and long-term planning.
Other suggested subjects include the use of technology and artificial intelligence for fire departments, data for the fire service and strategies for finding funding and resources.
The organisation said it encourages a wide range of perspectives and experience among presenters.
Proposal review and presenter support
According to the NVFC, all proposals will undergo a peer review process.
Selections will be made based on quality, relevance, practical application, focus and the presenter’s experience and credentials.
Successful applicants will be notified by early December.
The NVFC confirmed it will cover travel expenses and provide a stipend for selected presenters.
Teaching teams may apply, but only one instructor per course will be eligible for reimbursement and stipend support.
The NVFC noted that all sessions must remain educational in nature, even when delivered by company or organisational representatives.
Further information, including detailed guidance on writing a strong proposal, can be found in the NVFC Call for Presentations Guide.
Relevance for fire and safety professionals
The extended deadline provides additional time for fire and emergency service professionals to submit proposals for inclusion in the 2026 NVFC Training Summit.
The event offers opportunities for training officers, volunteer coordinators and fire department leaders to share methods that strengthen responder safety, health and leadership.
Its three-track structure will address issues directly relevant to operational preparedness, personnel retention and organisational development within volunteer fire services.
By covering topics such as technology adoption, data use and recruitment practices, the summit provides a platform for exchange that could inform local and national training standards.
Step Strong Challenge launches for first responders
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has announced the launch of its Step Strong Challenge, a month-long walking competition designed to promote health and wellbeing among first responders across the United States.
The challenge begins on Wednesday 1 October at 12:01 a.m. ET and runs until Friday 31 October at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Participants can register through the NVFC Step Strong Challenge app, available to download on smartphones.
According to the NVFC, the initiative provides firefighters and emergency personnel an opportunity to engage in friendly competition while earning chances to win prizes for reaching step goals.
Registration and participation details
Participants must select the “NVFC Step Strong” Challenge within the app, complete registration and pair their activity tracker.
Supported devices include iPhone, Android phone, Fitbit, Garmin and Apple Watch.
The NVFC confirmed that smartphones alone can track activity through inbuilt systems such as Google Fit or Samsung Health.
To ensure accuracy, step data must be synced at least once every 24 hours and before the challenge closes on 31 October.
The council stated that participants should use the “Tap to sync steps” function at the top of the Summary tab within the app.
Questions about the challenge can be directed to NVFC’s Caroline Stachowiak, while technical support is available from Heka Health.
Bonus activities and rewards
Participants can earn additional “bonus steps” by engaging in specific NVFC educational activities throughout October.
Each completed activity provides a 5,000-step boost.
Eligible activities include completing the NVFC’s Power of Hope: Strengthening Resilience and Wellbeing in First Responders course, visiting the NVFC’s Resources for Families of Volunteer Responders webpage, joining the Roundtable Talk: Mentorship in the Fire Service webinar on 28 October, and completing a members-only task announced via email.
Those who are not members can join by 16 October to qualify for the exclusive activity.
Prizes and recognition
The NVFC outlined several prize tiers based on total steps completed by the end of the challenge.
Participants reaching 200,000 steps (approximately 6,500 steps per day) will be entered into raffles for prizes including DripDrop electrolyte sticks, DripDrop water bottles and pickleball sets from Provident.
Those achieving 300,000 steps (around 9,700 daily) will enter raffles for Fire Department Coffee and Rosenbauer coffee bundles and an NVFC Yeti mug.
All participants reaching the 300,000-step goal can also request free posters and stickers promoting health and safety messages for their departments.
The NVFC confirmed that the top ten steppers (ranks two to eleven) will be entered into a separate raffle for $100 in Visa gift cards.
The top overall stepper will win a Bluetooth headset courtesy of David Clark.
Prize winners will be contacted via email in early November.
Relevance for fire and safety professionals
The Step Strong Challenge highlights the NVFC’s ongoing focus on supporting firefighter health and wellness.
For firefighters and emergency service personnel, the initiative provides structured encouragement to prioritise physical activity and mental wellbeing.
Departments can use the challenge as a team-building activity, promoting fitness and engagement outside operational duties.
Fire chiefs and training officers may find the programme valuable for integrating wellness goals into departmental culture.
The challenge also reinforces the NVFC’s educational resources by connecting participation with professional development activities such as resilience training and mentorship.