Firehouse Expo Hits the Right Note

Firehouse Expo’s Hands-On Training (HOT) gets bigger and better every year. From bread-and-butter operations focused on engine and truck company operations to more specialized and advanced training, Firehouse Expo offers HOT opportunities for firefighters at every level. 

Some of this year’s offerings include:

·       Aggressive Fire Control, Flow Path, and VES Tactics

·       Tactical Thermal Imaging Operations

·       Confined-Space Operations

·       First-Due Operations in Clandestine Drug Labs

·       Street Smart Extrication

Other HOT programs tackle engine company operations for limited staffing, rapid intervention, firefighter survival, basement fires, stretching hoselines, and search-and-rescue operations.

Additionally, Firehouse Expo continues its focus on delivering more sets and reps for every participant, meaning you will have less downtime 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. HOT programs are offered at several quality training facilities in and around the Nashville area, giving you the best opportunity to put your skills to the test. 

All HOT classes will have a limited enrollment to allow a better instructor-to-student ratio that provide attendees with a more realistic experience.

Pre-Conference Workshops

Tuesday, Oct. 16 & Wednesday, Oct. 17 

Firehouse Expo 2018 offers high-quality educational opportunities, including more than 20 pre-conference educational workshops, including these hot topics:

·      First-in decisions

·       Managing MCIs

·       Building construction

·       Incident command

·       Fire research, tactics, training and application

·       Command and control of large building fires

·       Cancer prevention

·       Building a passion for tradition

·       Motivation in training

·       Stress first aid

Don’t miss the opportunity for a personalized learning experience from expert instructors.

Company Officer Leadership Development Program

Tuesday, Oct. 16 & Wednesday, Oct. 17, 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.

Fire Officer Leadership Development & Decision-Making 

Tuesday, Oct. 16, 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. 17, 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.

Educational Sessions

Main Conference Sessions: Thursday, Oct. 18–Saturday, Oct. 20

The main conference is also action-packed, including more than 150 educational sessions that challenge you to think differently and learn new techniques with more one-on-one time with influential industry experts.

This highly individualized educational opportunity offers sessions on some of the hottest topics in the fire service: training, forcible entry, company officer roles and responsibilities, fentanyl risks and response, engine company operations, mayday tactics, communications, health and wellness, leadership, fire dynamics, social media, harassment and discrimination in the fire service, rural fireground operations, building construction, wildland fire operations, driver operations, and vent, enter, search tactics. 

Don’t miss the opportunity for personal contact with peers and solution-providers.

Exhibit Hall

Thursday, Oct. 18, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 19, 11:15 a.m.–5 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 20, 11:15  a.m.–3 p.m.

Seeing the success of past shows in Nashville, exhibitors are eager to visit Music City. Walking the Firehouse Expo exhibit hall floor gives you the chance to meet one-on-one with vendors to discuss new products and services, demo and spec products for future purchases, and even buy on site. Don’t miss the opportunity to view the latest safety technologies and equipment, as well as many emergency service vehicles already slated to be on display.

See you in Nashville!

The Firehouse team looks forward to connecting with you in Nashville! For more information about Music City—including events, family activities, attractions, music venues, tours and more—explore visitmusiccity.com.

To register for Firehouse Expo 2018, visit firehouseexpo.com.

Sidebar: 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 2018 will feature many special events, including networking opportunities, workouts, fundraisers and other events, many of which are great for family members, too.

IAFF Local 140 Welcoming Party — Wednesday, Oct. 17, 6–8 p.m.

The IAFF welcomes attendees to Nashville with a BBQ cookout at Walk of Fame Park.

4^th Annual Legends & Icons Celebration — Thursday, Oct. 18

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 Legends & Icons Celebration, featuring the 2018 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.

Breaking the Silence — Thursday, Oct. 18, 7–10 p.m.

The Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance offers Breaking the Silence, a night of country music featuring the Kate Hasting Band and Pam Tillis at City Winery.

Boot Scootin’ Boogie — Friday, Oct. 19, 7–11 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. 18–Saturday, Oct. 20

For those who don’t want to miss a workout while traveling to a conference, Firehouse is offering morning Sweat Sessions on Thursday, Oct. 18 and Saturday, Oct. 20 at Walk of Fame Park, as well as the Firehouse Memorial Stair Climb on Friday, Oct. 19 (7:30–10:00 a.m.) at Nissan Stadium.

IAFF Local 140 Closing Concert — Saturday, Oct. 20, 7 p.m.

To close out the show, the IAFF presents Neal McCoy at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium.

Sporting Events

Arrive early to Nashville for the chance to take in the Tennessee Titans and the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 14. Check FirehouseExpo.com for details regarding discounted tickets. Firehouse will also be pursuing special ticket pricing for Expo attendees for any Nashville Predators home games held during the conference. Stay tuned to FirehouseExpo.com for details.