October 17–21, 2017
Music City Center
Nashville, TN
#FHExpo17
Firehouse Expo has been an integral part of growing the knowledge, skills and abilities of fire service personnel since 1984—and the 2017 show will continue this tradition. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to participate in the high-caliber training and education, walk the expanded exhibit hall floor, and attend the daily networking sessions—all in a city known for its Southern hospitality and world-class entertainment. So join us in Nashville and you’ll be sure to have an incredible experience, both professionally and personally.
Enhancing Your Education
Pre-Conference Sessions: Tuesday, Oct. 17 & Wednesday, Oct. 18
Main Conference Sessions: Thursday, Oct. 19–Saturday, Oct. 21
Firehouse Expo 2017 offers more workshops than ever before, including 10 pre-conference workshops, a full two days of community risk reduction, and two new exciting hybrid workshops combining intense classroom instruction with high-impact hands-on training.
The main conference is also action-packed, including more than 150 educational and marquee sessions featuring high-profile events and some of the most important topics in the American fire service with the most one-on-one, student-focused instruction of any national conference. Topics include forcible entry, rapid-intervention teams, mayday events, survival skills, wind-impacted fires, building live-fire training props, hazmat operations, diversity issues, PTSD and stress management, initial attack line skills, developing a healthy and fit firehouse culture, social media policies, search and rescue, managing staffing limitations and many more.
Maximize Your Time with Hybrid Workshops
Wednesday, Oct. 18, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
New for 2017, hybrid workshops are designed so you can see and do more at Firehouse Expo. The two high-impact workshops combine 4 hours of intensive instruction followed by 4 hours of hands-on training, so you can learn the skill in detail and then immediately put your new knowledge to the test.
Ignite Learning with Fire Behavior Models
In this workshop, James Mendoza, a training captain with the San Jose, CA, Fire Department, and Ted Vandenberg, a battalion chief with the Mountain View, CA, Fire Department, will tackle fire behavior concepts, such as temperature vs. energy, burning regime, flow paths, flashover and backdraft. The workshop will use interactive live-fire models, so you gain a deeper understanding of how to build and use such models to enhance fire behavior and live-fire training.
Improving Fireground Efficiency: Training in a Fog of War
Lt. Tom Johnson and Firefighter John Spera, both with Aurora, CO, Fire Rescue, will lead an interactive workshop that underscores the need to practice how you play. The reasoning: Training in unrealistic conditions creates a false sense of security. But training in the “fog of war” (by adding obstacles like dead hydrants, burst hoselines, scene noise, etc.) prepares you for the real-world scenarios you will face. One component of practicing how you play is training in full gear and on air, working to complete tasks with limited resources, all to better prepare you for true-to-life fireground complications and improve overall fireground performance. For more information, read Johnson and Spera’s article about true-to-life training in the April issue of Firehouse Magazine: firehouse.com/12306559.
Grow Your Leadership Skills with the Company Officer Development Program
Tuesday, Oct. 17 & Wednesday, Oct. 18, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Presented in partnership with the Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI), Firehouse Expo’s Company Officer Leadership Development Program is designed to prepare new company officers (or future company officers) for the leadership and decision-making challenges associated with this critical role. For seasoned company officers, the program aims to enhance and grow existing skill sets in more advanced levels of leadership and decision-making. Both sessions are taught by James Moore, IFSI program director, and Pat Mullen, IFSI field instructor.
Leadership Development and Decision-Making
Tuesday, Oct. 17, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
In this session, IFSI instructors will address leadership principles and decision-making concepts for all fire officers, and then lead highly interactive simulations designed to force decision-making while under pressure. The goal is to get you thinking on your feet, under the pressure of real-life stressors that can cloud judgment when sound decision-making is vital to fireground success. The session will also include small group discussions that tackle a variety of scenarios that require decision-making in multiple human resource challenges.
Morals and Ethics/Command Culture and Climate
Wednesday, Oct. 18, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
In this session, IFSI instructors will examine moral and ethical approaches to leadership and decision-making, and then use collaborative moral and ethical decision games and small group discussions to address real-world moral dilemmas. Additionally, they will tackle command culture and climate concepts for fire officers using real-world scenarios. In these scenarios, students will have to identify their own command culture and will solidify the need for positive climate.
This program is offered as a 1-day (8-hour) or 2-day (16-hour) program.
Get the Extra Sets & Reps During Hands-On Training
Tuesday, Oct. 17 & Wednesday, Oct. 18
Firehouse Expo’s Hands-On Training (HOT) is now bigger and better. From live-fire and firefighter survival to extrication and technical rescue, Firehouse Expo offers HOT opportunities focused on a variety of topics. Additional HOT programs will focus on rapid intervention operations, forcible entry, truck ops, aerial operations, advanced vehicle and big-rig rescue operations, hoarding ops, thermal imaging camera use, VEIS tactics and more.
New this year is Firehouse Expo’s focus on more sets and reps for every participant. What does that mean? It means you will have less down time and more opportunities to be actively engaged in every evolution, applying the skills and techniques with the goal of improving muscle memory and long-term skill retention. Practicing how you play is the best way to ensure you can execute the skill when it matters most, and more sets and reps is the critical first step. All HOT classes will have a limited enrollment to allow a better instructor-to-student ratio that provide attendees with a more realistic experience.
Don’t Miss the Expanded Exhibit Hall
Thursday, Oct. 19, 10:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 20, 10:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 21, 10:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Nashville is drawing more than just big crowds and high numbers of attendees. The exhibitors are eager to visit Music City as well. On the Firehouse Expo exhibit hall floor, you’re a name, not just a number. Meet one-on-one with vendors to discuss new products and services, demo and spec products for future purchases, and buy on site.
Firehouse Expo 2017 is primed to be bigger and better than 2016. More than 45 emergency service vehicles are already slated to be on display, in addition to new safety technologies, equipment, services and more. From the latest in bunker gear to the newest apparatus, the exhibit hall will have something for every rank.
Attend the Apparatus Purchasing Committee Program
Friday, Oct. 20, 8:30 a.m.–12 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 21, 8:30 a.m.–12 p.m.
Is your department in the market for an apparatus? Are you in the process of researching or speccing your next apparatus? Are you looking to learn about the latest technology in apparatus design? If so, don’t miss the Apparatus Purchasing Committee Program, a free two-day event at Firehouse Expo that provides qualified apparatus committee members exclusive access to the major apparatus manufacturers. This event is a great opportunity to receive free education and consultation from subject-matter experts.
If your department has formed a committee and has your funding approved, please contact Jon Rogers to learn more about this program: (610) 656-3611 or [email protected].
Cash in on “Firehouse Cash”
Your department has seven opportunities to win up to $1,500 for purchases with any of the exhibiting companies, just by attending Firehouse Expo! Visit firehouseexpo.com/firehouse-cash for more information.
Special Events
When the show floor closes and the classes wrap for the day, Firehouse Expo still has so much more to offer in Music City! Firehouse Expo 2017 will feature many special events, including networking opportunities, workouts, fundraisers and other events, many that are great for family members, too.
IAFF Local 140 Welcoming Party — Wednesday, Oct. 18, 5–8 p.m.
The IAFF welcomes attendees to Nashville with a BBQ cookout at Walk of Fame Park.
Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance Fundraiser — Wednesday, Oct. 18, 7 p.m.
The Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance offers Breaking the Silence, a night of country music featuring Collin Raye, along with openers Paul Cummings and the Kate Hasting Band, at City Winery.
3rd Annual Legends & Icons Celebration — Thursday, Oct. 19
Reception: 6–6:30 p.m.; Induction Ceremony: 6:30–7:15 p.m.; Celebration: 7:15–9 p.m.
Don’t miss the opportunity to network at the 3rd Annual Legends & Icons Celebration, featuring the 2017 Firehouse Hall of Fame Class Induction Ceremony. The event honors longtime contributors who have made a lasting mark on the fire service. Held at the Music City Walk of Fame Park in the heart of downtown Nashville, the event provides a great opportunity to celebrate the contributions and accomplishments of our inductees and to network with friends and colleagues from around the nation.
Boot Scootin’ Boogie — Friday, Oct. 20, 7–10 p.m.
Join us at the famous Wildhorse Saloon for a night of networking and celebration in support of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.
Sweat Sessions/Stair Climb/343 Memorial Workout – Thursday, Oct. 19–Saturday, Oct. 21
For those who don’t want to miss a workout while traveling to a conference, Firehouse is offering Sweat Sessions on Thursday, Oct. 19 and Friday, Oct. 20 (6:15–7:15 a.m.) at Walk of Fame Park; the Firehouse Memorial Stair Climb on Friday, Oct. 20 (7:00–10:00 a.m.) at Nissan Stadium; and a special 343 Memorial Workout on Saturday morning (6:15–7:15 a.m.) in Walk of Fame Park.
Experience Nashville
Wednesday, Oct. 18, 5 p.m.; Thursday, Oct. 19, 5:30 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 20, 5:30 p.m.
Experience all that Nashville has to offer with the Nashville Restaurant and Bar Tour. Grab your map and complimentary mug, and join fellow attendees in experiencing food and drink specials around the city.
Sporting Events – Various days
Arrive early to Nashville for the chance to take in the Tennessee Titans and the Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football on Oct. 16. Check FirehouseExpo.com for details regarding discounted tickets. Firehouse will also be pursuing special ticket pricing for Firehouse Expo attendees for any Nashville Predators home games held during the conference. Stay tuned to FirehouseExpo.com for details.
See you in Nashville!
The Firehouse team looks forward to connecting with you Nashville! For more information about Music City—including events, family activities, attractions, music venues, tours and more—visit visitmusiccity.com. To register for Firehouse Expo 2017, visit firehouseexpo.com.
