Fifty years on, NVFC reflects on volunteer fire service history

NVFC marks its 50th anniversary

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.