Montana State Fire Chiefs Association

10/08/2026

The Montana Fire Service Convention is opening its doors to the public for a special Family Day!
Bring the family and get an up-close look at the trucks, equipment, and technology that Montana firefighters use every day. Meet firefighters, explore the latest fire service equipment, and visit with the vendors who help keep our communities safe.
👨‍🚒 Explore fire trucks & emergency equipment
🚒 Get an up-close look at the tools firefighters use
🤝 Meet firefighters and fire service professionals
🛠️ Visit with convention vendors
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Fun for the whole family — all ages welcome!
📅 Saturday, October 17
⏰ 10:00 AM –12:00 PM
📍 Delta Hotels – Helena, Montana
FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!
Come see the people, equipment, and technology behind Montana’s fire service. We’d love to see you there!

10/08/2026

🔥 Two of the leading causes of home fires are right where we live: the kitchen and the heating system.
This Fire Prevention Week, take a few simple steps to reduce your risk:
🍳 Cooking: Never leave food cooking unattended. Keep anything that can catch fire away from your stove.
👶 Kids & cooking: Establish a 3-foot kid-free zone around the stove.
A few simple habits can make a big difference in keeping your home and loved ones safe.
Fire prevention starts before the fire starts.
🔥 Fireplaces: Never leave a fire unattended, and make sure embers are completely out before leaving home or going to bed.
🌡️ Space heaters: Keep at least 3 feet of space around them. Place them on a hard, level, nonflammable surface and plug them directly into a wall outlet — never an extension cord.

https://www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/atg/PDF_s/Preparedness___Disaster_Recovery/Disaster_Preparedness/Home_Fire/FireCookingFactSheet.pdf
https://www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/National/m4340085_FireHomeHeatingFactSheet.pdf

10/07/2026

🔥 Only 1 week left until the 2026 MT Fire Service Convention! 🔥
We're thrilled to welcome back Dr. Candace Ashby as our closing keynote speaker. With over 35 years of experience as a firefighter and leader, Dr. Ashby will share actionable tactics for transforming organizations and building healthy, thriving cultures.
This is your chance to learn from the best, network with fire service professionals from across Montana, and bring new ideas back to your department. Don’t miss out on high-quality training, valuable resources, and the opportunity to celebrate the people who make Montana’s fire service strong!
Register now: https://mfca30.wildapricot.org/event-670150

10/07/2026

https://vimeo.com/267885776?fl=pl&fe=sh
🚨 When was the last time you checked your smoke alarms?
Fire Prevention Week is a great reminder to make sure your home's first line of warning is ready.
✅ Test smoke alarms every month
✅ Have alarms on every level of your home
✅ Place them inside and outside sleeping areas
✅ Replace alarms that are 10 years old or older
✅ Make sure everyone in your household knows what the alarm sounds like and what to do when they hear it
A working smoke alarm can give you precious time to escape.
Take a minute today. Test your alarms. It could save a life.

10/06/2026

During Fire Prevention Week ─ October 4-10 ─ the American Red Cross of Montana offers steps you can take to help prevent a fire in your home and keep your loved ones safe.

When a home fire starts, you may have less than two minutes to escape.

Take a few minutes this Fire Prevention Week to make sure everyone in your household knows:

🏠 Two ways out of every room
📍 Where to meet once you’re outside
🚪 How to get out safely — and stay out
⏱️ How long it takes your family to get outside

Then practice your plan. A fire drill isn't just for school — it's something every household should practice.

Get out. Stay out. Call 911.

Fire escape plan template ➡️https://www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/get-help/fire-safety/Home-Fire-Escape-Plan-English-Spanish.pdf

October 4–10 is Fire Prevention Week. Take the time to make a plan before you need it. ❤️‍🔥

09/25/2026

The Final Chief Officer 2 training is available online. You can now access the entire Virtual Training Series on our YouTube channel.

Featured Presenter:Robert Collins, Special Operations Chief, Tampa...

09/25/2026

The Montana Fire Service Convention program schedule is now available online! We’re thrilled to announce an exciting lineup this year, kicking off with two featured speakers on Day One:

• "Lessons Learned from Spokane Wildfires" — Tom Williams, Fire Chief, Spokane Fire Department

• Update from the United States Wildland Fire Service — Brian Fennessy, Chief, USWFS

Check out the full schedule and join us for an unforgettable event!
https://montanafirechiefs.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2026-MTFSC-Program-9.23.2026-2.pdf

09/21/2026

We’re trained to answer the call. But sometimes, we need to answer the call for ourselves.
The fire service asks a lot of us. We face difficult scenes, loss, stress, long hours, and experiences that can stay with us long after the call is over.
You don’t have to carry it alone. If you or someone you know is struggling, overwhelmed, or thinking about su***de, help is available 24/7
📞 Call or text 988
988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline
Reaching out isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s a way of taking care of yourself—and the people who count on you.
Check on your crew. Check on your brother or sister. Check on yourself.
You matter. Your life matters. Your crew needs you.
Resources:
https://www.nvfc.org/programs/share-the-load-program
https://www.samhsa.gov/about/digital-toolkits/su***de-prevention-month
https://www.nami.org/stay-connected/events/awareness-events/su***de-prevention-month/

09/17/2026

🔥 Mark your calendars!

Join us at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 15, during the MT Fire Service Convention for a special update from Brian Fennessy, Chief of the United States Wildland Fire Service.

Hear the latest on wildland fire operations, leadership, and what's ahead for the fire service.

09/16/2026

The United States Air Force Band and Singing Sergeants from
Washington, D.C., are embarking on an 11-day community relations tour to Montana. This tour
honors the service of Airmen past and present through a showcase of musical excellence. All
concerts are free and open to the public, but tickets are required. Free tickets for each posted
concert date are available on our website at:
https://www.music.af.mil/USAFBand/Events/National-Tours/Concert-Band