Ohio Fire Chiefs' Association

06/07/2026

Do you still need lodging for ODC 2026? Our discounted room block at the Hilton has SOLD OUT. Rooms are available at the Hilton at full price. Please see the list of nearby hotels where you can make a reservation; please note that none of these hotels are associated with ODC or the OFCA. Prices listed are subject to change.

06/06/2026

Check out this important training session from our friends at the OFA!

The Ohio Fire Academy is offering a free Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Incidents – Awareness Course. Learn the basics of utility‑scale BESS, related hazards, and key response strategies.
Date: July 23, 2026
Time: 11 a.m.
Location: Online via Microsoft Teams
Open to firefighters, officers, inspectors, marshals, emergency management staff, and training officers. Register and share with your team: https://bit.ly/4e2D6mC
More info in this flyer: https://bit.ly/4uJACRb

06/05/2026

Please note that this grant period applies to ALL THREE AFG PROGRAM TRACKS.

🚒 Assistance to Firefighters Grant ($291.6 million)
🚒 SAFER ($324 million)
🚒 Fire Prevention & Safety ($32.4 million)

📅 The deadline for application for ALL THREE GRANTS is June 22, 2026.

06/04/2026

🚨 LEVEL UP YOUR LEADERSHIP & LOCK IN YOUR HOURS AT ODC 2026! 🚨

Attention, Ohio Fire and EMS leaders! The countdown is officially on for ODC 2026, taking place at the Hilton Columbus at Easton from July 13–16, 2026. While you focus on elite command and leadership training, we are making it easier than ever to maintain your clinical certifications.

This year, we are bringing high-impact EMS education directly to the conference floor, featuring 8 cutting-edge sessions that offer 10 EMS CEU hours!

06/04/2026

06/03/2026

🚨 ATTENTION OHIO FIRE LEADERS! 🚨

The application period for the 2026 Fire Chiefs’ Resource Symposium is now OFFICIALLY OPEN! 👨‍🚒🚒

Are you a newly appointed chief or an aspiring fire service leader? This is your chance to gain the "basic toolbox" of professional resources, administrative skills, and networking contacts essential for running a successful department.

📅 When: September 19-20, 2026
📍 Where: Salt Fork State Park Lodge & Conference Center
🛠️ Focus: Leadership foundations, legal issues, budgeting, and peer networking.

WHY APPLY?
✅ Get hands-on leadership development in a focused, two-day environment.
✅ Build a lasting mentor-type relationship with the OFCA Board of Directors.
✅ Receive a one-year complimentary membership to the OFCA upon successful completion.

HOW TO APPLY
Space is limited for this exclusive event. Interested candidates should submit their application and resume early to secure a spot to [email protected].

🔗 Visit https://www.ohiofirechiefs.org/resource_symposium for more details and to download the application. Registration deadline extended to JUNE 12.

06/02/2026

🤝 WELCOME TO THE OFCA FAMILY! 🤝

We are thrilled to officially welcome 13 new members who joined the Ohio Fire Chiefs' Association during the month of May 2026!

Thank you for your commitment to expanding your leadership, strengthening our state's fire service, and protecting Ohio's communities. We look forward to connecting with you and seeing many of you next month at ODC 2026!

Join us in giving our newest members a warm welcome in the comments below. ⬇️

06/01/2026

🔥 FINAL SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT FOR ODC 2026! 🔥

We are thrilled to announce our final round of premier speakers joining us July 13–16 at the Hilton Columbus at Easton for ODC 2026!

From data-driven planning and facility construction to practical drills and leadership clarity, these final four sessions provide the actionable blueprints every fire service leader needs:

📊 “Community Risk Assessment & Action Planning: Our Experience”
• Presenter: Chief Chad Follick (Vandalia Fire Department)
• What you'll learn: Turn data into a shield. Discover how to effectively assess community risks and build practical action plans informed by real-world local successes.
🏗️ “The STRICT Model: A Template for Training Facility Construction”
• Presenter: Chief Josh Eberle (Findlay Fire Department)
• What you'll learn: Stop guessing about infrastructure. Get the exact step-by-step framework for designing, funding, and building a modern fire training facility.
🚒 “Improving the Company-Level Drill”
• Presenter: Captain Ed Tracey (Rochester NY Fire Department)
• What you'll learn: Maximize your crew's potential. Walk away with high-impact, engaging methods to elevate daily house drills and sharpen tactical readiness.
🎯 “Clarity in Leadership”
• Presenter: Chief Allen Scott (Plain Township Fire Department)
• What you'll learn: Eliminate confusion in command. Learn how transparent communication and crystal-clear expectations foster accountability and trust across an entire department.
Seats are filling up rapidly for Ohio's premier fire leadership event.

🎟️ Don't wait—secure your department's registrations today!
🔗 www.ohiofirechiefs.org/conference

06/01/2026

Protecting Those Who Protect Ohio: June is National PTSD Awareness Month 🚒🚑

Behind every uniform and badge is a human being who routinely runs toward the emergencies others flee. For Ohio’s firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics, the "job" means repeated exposure to critical incidents, severe trauma, and chronic sleep deprivation.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is not a sign of weakness—it is a cumulative occupational injury.

The Reality in Our Stations:
🚒 1 in 5 firefighters and EMS professionals will meet the criteria for PTSD during their career.
🚒 First responders experience PTSD at rates nearly three times higher than the general population.
🚒Stigma remains the number one barrier keeping our members from seeking life-saving behavioral healthcare.

Treatment Works & Help is Available:
Psychological safety is as crucial as physical safety in our departments. Ohio is actively supporting first responders through initiatives like the State Post-Traumatic Stress Fund, which has allocated $40 million for treatment and care. Resources are available, including the 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline, the 1-888-731-FIRE helpline, and the ODPS Office of First Responder Wellness.

🚨Key Takeaway 🚨
Leaders, please check on your crews. It is time to normalize discussing mental health in the fire service.

05/31/2026

🚨IMPORTANT: Idle MARCS radios will soon be deactivated.
📅 Idle radios will be deactived on July 15, 2026.
🆘 MARCS radios (portables and mobiles) that have NOT been authenticated will no longer work.
🔗 For more information: https://associationdatabase.com/aws/OFCA/pt/sd/news_article/620127/_PARENT/layout_details/false