National Volunteer Fire Council

National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is the leading 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership association representing the interests of the volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services. The NVFC serves as the voice of the volunteer in the national arena and provides tools, resources, programs, and advocacy for first responders across the nation.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, 71 percent of all firefighters in the U.S. are volunteers. This represents approximately 812,150 firefighters. First responders save communities in the U.S. approximately $128 billion annually.

The NVFC provides advocacy for first responders on a national level. This includes promoting legislation that benefits the fire and emergency medical services. Representatives from the NVFC also sit on many standards-setting committees as well as national fire service taskforces, workgroups, and committees. In addition, the NVFC produces tools, resources, and programs to address the needs of the volunteer fire and emergency services.

The mission of the NVFC is to provide a unified voice for volunteer fire/EMS organizations.

This mission is accomplished by:

The NVFC comprises 49 state fire association members, each of which appoints a representative from their organization to serve as the director from their respective state to serve on the NVFC Board of Directors. Many states also select an alternate director. The board meets as a whole twice a year. Each state has one vote.

The NVFC is the only national organization whose sole mission is to support the volunteer fire, emergency medical, and rescue services. Membership consists of 49 state fire associations, as well as Personal, Department, Junior, and Corporate Members.

Personal Membership is for individual firefighters, EMS personnel, or anyone who is interested in supporting the volunteer fire and emergency services. Department Membership is geared to the needs of fire and emergency departments. Junior Membership is for junior firefighters and Explorers ages 17 and younger. Corporate Members include companies and organizations that are dedicated to supporting America’s volunteer emergency services. Each type of membership comes with a range of benefits. A full listing of membership options and benefits is available on the NVFC web site.

The health and safety of the nation’s volunteer fire and emergency service personnel is a top priority for the NVFC. Each year, first responders are killed or injured due to factors that may have been prevented with the proper safety and health precautions. The NVFC promotes and implements initiatives to keep first responders healthy and safe.

The NVFC Health and Safety Committee developed the Volunteer Firefighter Health and Safety Priorities in 2009 to guide departments on key issues that will keep members safe and eliminate cases of preventable injury and death. These Priorities are set forth in a series of B.E.S.T. practices divided into four main focus areas: Behavior, Equipment, Standards and Codes, and Training.

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