IAFC - International Association of Fire Chiefs

09/02/2026

🚒 The “What Firefighters Want in 2026” report is now available for download! Access the number one resource for fire service leaders seeking to elevate their understanding of their members’ on-the-job experience.

📥 Download the report and explore the findings:
https://www.iafc.org/blogs/blog/iafc/2026/09/02/what-firefighters-want-2026-aggressive-safe-tactics

09/02/2026

💙 Supporting Our Own: September is National Recovery & Su***de Prevention Month—a time to reaffirm that behavioral health, recovery, and su***de prevention are fundamental to firefighter safety, health, and survival.

Know your people. Check on your people. Support your people.

🔗 Read more about supporting firefighter behavioral health: https://www.iafc.org/blogs/blog/iafc/2026/08/25/national-recovery-su***de-prevention-month-supporting-firefighter-behavioral-health

08/31/2026

Green Bay Metro Fire covered the NFL Draft with 240,000 people packed into 100 acres. They knew where every crew was the whole time.

Battalion Chief Anthony Piontek runs TAK for the department. Team Awareness Kit, the shared mapping system that came out of the Air Force Research Laboratory and is now working its way into public safety.

A few things from this conversation that are worth your time:

🧀 They started small. GPS trackers on apparatus. That was it. Then a Packers game. Then another special event. Then the draft, where they were staffing hazmat and medical teams around the clock across three shifts. The younger members drove most of the expansion.

🗺️ The value showed up in what stopped happening. Piontek talks about the radio traffic that disappeared. You are not asking where are you and where did you go, because you are looking at it.

👩‍🚒 It works on a house fire too. He watches the third and fourth due rigs come in on the screen and moves them to a different hydrant before they commit.

👨‍💻 They own the whole stack. Their server, their software, their records, all inside the city, running on FirstNet. Part of that is sensitive medical and property records. Part of it is what they have watched happen to partner agencies that got held for ransom.

👋 The part most departments skip: they hired for it. A dedicated position inside their own IT department, someone with a military and communications background, instead of splitting a city IT person a thousand ways.

🔢 This is a 230-person department covering 100 square miles. If they can run this, the size excuse does not hold.

"The best technology for the fireground is the technology that gets out of the way."

Watch the full conversation: https://youtu.be/I14N57jJomI?si=n1JzxFo90vYXlyCt

Green Bay Metro Fire covered the NFL Draft with 240,000 people on 1...

08/29/2026

🚒 IAFC TV Department Spotlight 🎥 City of Elko Fire Department - Elko, NV |
More than Emergency Response

Go inside fire and emergency service departments from across the country with IAFC TV, produced in partnership with WebsEdge. This video series highlights the people, programs, innovations, and practices making an impact in their departments and communities.

Watch now and see their story in action. https://youtu.be/Hb8hxOjTdlE?si=IpxD68VYkM79mA4Y

08/28/2026

🚒 The fire apparatus market has changed—and departments are feeling the impact.

The Emergency Vehicle Supply and Demand: Fire Service Apparatus Supply, Specification, and Manufacturing Analysis white paper brings together fire service and industry expertise to help agencies understand today’s market—and, more importantly, identify strategies to navigate it.

📄 Explore the white paper and learn how your department can better prepare for the road ahead. https://www.iafc.org/topics-and-tools/resources/resource/emergency-vehicle-supply-and-demand-a-practical-guide-to-fire-apparatus-planning-and-procurement

08/28/2026

As wildfires continue to threaten communities across the country, the IAFC Wildfire Programs team extends our sincere gratitude to the wildland firefighters and partners working tirelessly to protect lives, homes, and communities.

Local fire departments, state and federal agencies, private contractors, military personnel, and international partners have come together to answer the call and support communities in need. Your commitment, professionalism, and willingness to serve are deeply appreciated.

We also recognize the tremendous risks that come with this work. We honor those who have been injured and remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Our thoughts are with their families, colleagues, departments, and fire service communities.

To everyone working on the fireline and supporting wildfire response efforts across the country, thank you for your courage, dedication, and service. We wish you safe operations and a safe return home.

08/26/2026

Tulsa Fire Chief Michael Baker started getting AI memes of himself. He decided to find out what they were telling him.

His firefighters were using them to say things they were not saying to his face. Some of it was funny. Some of it was not.

His advice to other chiefs: read the comments, because that is where the real message usually is, and respond measured instead of blowing up.

He also gets into the retirement numbers that have about 80 of his people eligible to walk out the door today.

Full conversation:

Tulsa's fire chief started getting AI memes of himself. He read the...

08/24/2026

The National Fire Academy has immediate vacancies for the following residential courses:

• R0314 – Command and Control of Fire Operations at Target Hazards – 11/29-12/4/2026, 12/6-12/11/2026
• R0445 – Fire and Emergency Services Training Program Management – 12/6-12/11/2026
• R0763 – New Executive Chief Officer – 12/6-12/11/2026
• R2600 – WUI: Fire-Adapted Communities I– (NEW COURSE) 12/7-12/11/2026
• R0312 – Command and Control of Incident Operations – 12/13-12/18/2026
• R0645 – Leadership in Supervision – 12/13-12/18/2026
• R2122 – Fire Investigation: Case Preparation and Testimony – 12/14-12/18/2026

All training is at the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, MD.
For the complete list of vacancies: https://apps.usfa.fema.gov/nfacourses/catalog/search?availability=2

How to Apply:
• Apply using the electronic application form: https://training.fema.gov/netc_online_admissions/
• Obtain electronic approval from the head of your sponsoring organization.
• Do not plan to participate in a course until the Admissions office has notified you in writing.

If you need help completing your application, don't hesitate to contact our Admissions office by email at [email protected].

08/20/2026

What an incredible FRI! 🚒🎉

From inspiring keynote speakers and world-class education to groundbreaking innovations, meaningful connections, well-deserved award winners, and unforgettable moments, Fire-Rescue International 2026 was one for the books.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in Kansas City and helped make this year's conference such an incredible success. Together, we learned, led, and proved once again that we're .

🎥 Take a look back at the highlights from an amazing week at ! Stay tuned for more images and reels.

08/20/2026

🏆 Congratulations to the recipients of the 2026 IAFC President’s Awards of Recognition!

These special awards honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the fire and emergency service during the IAFC President’s term.

👏 Dr. David Morris
👏 Captain Jenny Macallair
👏 Mrs. Chris Johnson

The IAFC proudly salutes each of these outstanding individuals. Congratulations and thank you! 🚒