Behind the Scenes
Last month, the Nebraska State Volunteer Firefighters Association (NSVFA) hosted its 89th Annual Fire School, bringing together nearly 1,000 volunteer firefighters and EMS providers from across Nebraska to participate in 28 training exercises and workshops. While attendees experienced a well-organized and successful event, many may not realize the tremendous amount of behind-the-scenes work required to make Fire School possible.
Months of planning and coordination went into preparing for the NSVFA Fire School. From securing the venue and scheduling classes to coordinating instructors and organizing logistics, a dedicated team of volunteers, led by Pat Gould, chair of the Fire School Committee, worked countless hours to ensure every detail was in place.
In the days leading up to Fire School, volunteers gathered to transform the venue into a fully functioning training site. They set up the vendor hall and classrooms, organized equipment, arranged seating, coordinated vendors and food deliveries, and prepared training props and hose layouts. Every task, large or small, played an important role in ensuring the event ran smoothly and efficiently.
Once Fire School concluded, the work was far from over. Volunteers immediately shifted into teardown and cleanup mode, packing equipment, dismantling props, cleaning classrooms and the vendor hall, and carefully returning everything to storage. This year, crews were also racing against Mother Nature on Sunday, working quickly to complete teardown efforts so volunteers and support personnel could safely return home before the predicted severe storms moved into the area. Despite the time crunch and threatening weather, the teamwork and dedication on display ensured the venue was restored in a timely manner.
In total, more than 30 volunteers from the NSVFA, the Nebraska Forest Service, NEMA, the Nebraska State Fire Marshal’s Training Division, and several community organizations contributed their time and effort to set up and tear down Fire School. It is estimated that well over 1,800 combined volunteer hours went into preparing for and cleaning up after the event — a testament to the commitment and passion of those who support Nebraska’s fire service community.
As this year’s Fire School came to a close, the hard work and dedication of everyone involved certainly did not go unnoticed. The NSVFA extends its sincere gratitude to all those who worked behind the scenes, noting that without their support, the NSVFA Fire School would not have been possible.
Here are a few candid behind-the-scenes photos capturing some of the memorable moments throughout the week — including a time when things did not exactly go according to plan.
As always, if you have an upcoming meeting or event you would like Troy or myself to attend, please let us know.
Until next time, stay safe everyone.
Brenda Jenny Troy Shoemaker
President, NSVFA 1st Vice President, NSVFA