NSVFA President Scott Schremmer is pictured at the microphone at the 88 th Nebraska State Fire School in Grand Island held May 16-18. More photos inside.
Advance Your Education: Apply for the 2025 NVFC Scholarship to Columbia Southern University
Two NVFC members will each be awarded a scholarship covering up to 60 credit hours
Volunteer first responders balance demanding schedules, making it challenging to pursue personal goals like higher education. Fortunately, online learning offers greater flexibility, helping emergency services personnel advance their education while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
To support volunteer responders in reaching their academic goals, the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) and Columbia Southern University (CSU) are once again partnering to offer two educational scholarships. Now in its 17th year, the program will award two NVFC members a scholarship covering up to 60
credit hours towards any one online CSU degree program of their choice. The scholarship will be applied directly to tuition and is valid for up to three years or until degree completion, whichever comes first. To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must:
• Be a current member of the NVFC. Learn about member benefits and join for just $24 at www. nvfc.org/ join.
• Be a volunteer responder. Complete the scholarship application.
• Submit a 500-word essay on the impact this scholarship will have in your emergency services role.
• Provide at least one letter of recommendation from a teacher or someone at the fire department you reported to directly.
to provide a transcript.
• Be able to begin coursework within 90 days of the date of the award.
• Maintain a 2.0 undergraduate GPA or 3.0 graduate GPA.
• Remain in good standing with CSU and the NVFC throughout the degree program.
• Maintain continuous enrollment in the CSU degree program for the duration of the scholarship.
• Already meet these requirements to be considered if you are a current CSU student.
• Not be a previous CSU scholarship recipient.
options include associate, bachelor’s, and master’s programs. CSU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
The scholarship application period is open from May 15 through August 17. An NVFC Scholarship Committee will review applications and select the recipients. Winners will be announced in October 2025, and all applicants will be notified of the decision by email.
cation for 30 years, CSU was established to provide an alternative to the traditional university experience. CSU offers online associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees such as business administration, criminal justice, fire administration, and occupational safety and health. Visit ColumbiaSouthern.edu or call (877) 347-6050 to learn more. NVFC members and their families receive a 10% discount on tuition.
ABOUT THE NVFC
• Have a high school diploma or equivalent (GED) and be able
Scholarship recipients can select from CSU’s wide range of degree programs, including fire science, fire administration, emergency medical services, emergency management, occupational safety and health, organizational leadership, and more. Degree
Learn more about this scholarship opportunity and apply on the CSU web site. For questions, please email the scholarship liaison at Scholarships@Columbia Southern.edu or call 888-7853006.
ABOUT COLUMBIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
As an innovator in online edu-
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is the leading nonprofit membership association representing the interests of the volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services. The NVFC serves as the voice of the volunteer in the national arena and provides critical resources, programs, education, and advocacy for first responders across the nation. Learn more at www.nvfc.org/join.
Crete house fire
A house fire in Crete a last Wednesday took the lives of three people with ties to Superior.
Sam Aughe, 73, his wife, Dolores Aughe, 74, and their greatgrandson, Samuel Hernandez, 5, lost their lives in the fire. The Aughes are step-grandparents to Brianna Shonka and Bryson Dessel and the little boy was a stepnephew of the Dessel children. Becky Dessel, a Superior resident, is the mother of Brianna and Bryson. They were related to the Aughes through their father.
A woman in her late 20s was able to escape from the burning home.
The Omaha World-Herald reported the Crete Volunteer Fire Department responded to a report of a porch fire about 5:30 p.m. When the firemen arrived, the house was totally engulfed in flames.
The firefighters were able to enter the home and remove two people. Resuscitative measures were attempted and both were transported to a hospital where they were pronounced dead. A third individual was found shortly after and declared dead at the scene. The fire may have been started by a propane grill located on a partially enclosed porch. Neighbors said they tried to put out the fire but a propane tank exploded and the fire quickly spread.
Sam Aughe was a Vietnam War veteran and well known in the Crete area for letting other veterans and their families sign his olive green 1946 Chevrolet Sedan Delivery. The vehicle, which he painted olive green with white stars on the front doors, now contains more than 1,000 signatures. The vehicle’s grill and fenders are painted red. white and blue. The car was untouched and will stay in the family.
(Superior Express, Superior, Apr. 17, 2025)
Fire Prevention Nebraska Style Fire Prevention Nebraska Style
Congratulations to the 2025 Fire Prevention Award Winners! Your efforts to promote fire prevention across the state of Nebraska 365 days of the year, 24 hours a day, and 7 days of the week are appreciated more than you may realize. The time you spend with fire prevention education saves valuable time, money, and precious lives. Keep up the good work, and thank you for sharing
your fire prevention passion with others.
It is with sincere regret that we had to announce the cancellation of the Fire Prevention Class scheduled to be held during the 2025 Nebraska Fire School. This decision was not made lightly, and we want to offer a heartfelt apology to those who had planned to attend or were looking forward to the class.
Unfortunately, registration numbers for the session were significantly lower than anticipated. After careful review, it became clear that moving forward with the class under such circumstances would not have provided a meaningful or effective learning experience for either the students or the instructors. Our goal is always to offer high-quality, interactive, and well-attended
Gas leak closes street, restricts access to Beatrice school
A leaking natural gas line near 26th Street and Lincoln Street restricted access to Beatrice Elementary School on Monday.
Capt. Corey Lieneman of Beatrice Fire & Rescue said firefighters received the call at 8:49 a.m. that a construction company working in the area hit the line, releasing gas. Firefighters closed the street, evacuated four houses that were close to the leak and shut down power to them.
Lieneman said Black Hills Energy workers arrived to shut down the gas line and work on repairing it to restore service. Firefighters went back into service once the gas was shut off and there were no potential hazards.
Jennifer Peters, public affairs manager for Black Hills, said around 100 customers, a mix of commercial and residential, lost service due to the incident. Additional service techs from across the ser- vice region that includes Lincoln, Fairbury and Auburn were called in to help with getting the service back on line, testing and repressurizing the lines, and relighting for customers. Peters said Black Hills didn’t have a timeline for completing repairs but was hoping to begin relighting customers by early evening. Lincoln Street was open to the school by 5:40 p.m. Because Lincoln was closed for the break, access to the
Upcoming Events Upcoming Events
Email your Upcoming Event by the 10th of the previous month (ex. Aug. 10 for the September issue) to jeff@ne- braskafirefighter.com . There is no charge.
JUNE 7-8, 2025: SFM – Training Division Course – Wildland Urban Interface Firefighters for Structural Company Officers (F0610), 715 S. Jeffers, North Platte.
JUNE 7, 2025: Gateway to the West Parade & Waterfights, parade at 1 p.m. with waterfights to follow. Men’s and Women’s divisions with trophies for top 3 in each division. Food, beer, drinks on hand to purchase. Email Jake at jdunn@blairnebraska.org .
JULY 10, 2025: Scotts Bluff County Mutual Aid Association Meeting, Scottsbluff (Rural).
JULY 19, 2025: Annual Bob Tichota Fire Prevention Fun Day, hosted by East Central Nebraska Fire Prevention Co-op, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Fremont State Lakes.
AUG. 9-10, 2025: SFM – Training Division Course - Incident Command Systems for Structural Collapse Incidents (F0322) Course, Epply Airfield, 5111 Boeing Ct, Omaha.
SEPT. 21, 2025: 2025 Fall Firefighters Memorial Service.
OCT. 9, 2025: Scotts Bluff County Mutual Aid Association Meeting, West Nebraska Regional Airport (Annual Meeting).
OCT. 16-18, 2025: NSVFA Annual Conference, Kearney.
JAN. 8, 2026: Scotts Bluff County Mutual Aid Association Meeting, West Nebraska Regional Airport (Annual Meeting).
MAR. 21, 2026: 10th Annual Nebraska Fire Chiefs Association, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Holthus Convention Center, 3130 Holen Ave., York, NE. Speaker will be Chief Doug Cline.
APR. 9, 2026: Scotts Bluff County Mutual Aid Association Meeting, Alliance.
JULY 9, 2026: Scotts Bluff County Mutual Aid Association Meeting, Banner County.
OCT. 8, 2026: Scotts Bluff County Mutual Aid Association Meeting, Bayard.
school was only possible via 33rd Street.
The district was contacted by the city to warn it about the closure at 26th Street.
On Facebook, the school said Monday all the driveways would still be open, and pickup and drop off would follow the same paths and rules. The only difference was that traffic to and from the school was restricted to 33rd. Bus times may be delayed.
Anyone dropping off or picking up students is asked to allow extra time for this change.
(Beatrice Daily Sun, Beatrice, May 13, 2025)
Rhonda Cerny, NSVFA Fire Prevention
“Congratulations
sessions that foster engagement and the exchange of ideas. We did not feel that the standard could be met this year.
We deeply appreciate the time and dedication of the instructors who had committed to teaching, and we thank those who registered for showing interest in fire prevention education. Your continued support and passion for this vital topic are valued and do not go unnoticed.
We remain committed to strengthening fire prevention ef-
forts and public education across the state. We welcome your feedback and suggestions on how to improve participation and accessibility moving forward. Thank you for your understanding. We look forward to seeing you at the 2026 Nebraska Fire School in the Fire Prevention Class.
RHONDA CERNY Fire Prevention Team Nebraska State Volunteer Firefighters Association
Classifieds Classifieds
CLASSIFIED ADS FOR THE NEBRASKA FIREFIGHTER NEWSPAPER
Classified ads run $10 for the first 10 words, and 25 cents a word after that. A photo is $10 additional. Rates are the same in each state (Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas). Email the ad to jeff@nebraskafirefighter.com to place your personal or departmental ads.
FOR SALE: 2007 Freightliner / Toyne Pumper, CAT C7
Dsl., Allison Auto, Hale 1250 gpm Pump, 1250 gal. Tank, 16,360 miles, 372.6 hrs. Asking $160,000. Contact Beatrice Rural Fire Chief Matt Langley for more details and photos, 402-806-2747. Email: malangley@hotmail.com FF-1
The WATERAX BB-4® isahigh-pressure centrifugalpumpthathasbeenusedby forestagenciesforover40years.Ithas becometheweaponofchoiceinwildland operations.
RF-DASH Training
The Rural Firefighters Delivering Agricultural Safety and Health (RF-DASH) program was formed in response to a major problem impacting rural America: Farm-related injuries and deaths. People working on farms are 5 times more likely to die on the job than the average U.S. worker, and nonfatal farm injury rates are some of the highest across all occupations. The total cost of farm injuries in the U.S. is $11.32 billion per year, with most of those costs negatively impacting rural communities.
Ensuring safety on farms is a challenge, and many safety advocates lack the knowledge and trust necessary to adequately provide farmers with safety advice. However, researchers at the National Farm Medicine Center found that farmers view rural firefighters as trusted sources of safety information.
RF-DASH aims to equip rural first responders with agricultural health and safety knowledge to prevent far injuries and improve emergency preparedness in rural communities. The central idea is that safer farms build safer communities. RF-DASH introduces rural first responders to agricultural emergencies and trains them in preplanning for agricultural operations, farm hazard awareness, and how to deliver a
farm-specific first aid course.
From June 2025 to June 2026, the RF-DASH program has funding to provide at least 15 full-day trainings. Trainings can take place anywhere in the U.S. and Canada, though there will be a special emphasis on the U.S. Grain Belt.
RF-DASH Lead Trainer Tim Zehnder is available to conduct training activities. Tim has over 30 years of experience as a firefighter and educator and has instructed numerous first responders across the U.S. and Canada.
Tim is also the Director of Safety & Education at ExEnvironmental, Inc., a safety and rescue training company based in Hudson, WI. Thus, in addition to leading RF-DASH trainings, Tim and the ExEnvironmental team can also provide a variety of services related to safety, rescue, and compliance, including grain bin safety & rescue.
Are you interested in an RFDASH training? Get in touch.
TIM ZEHNDER
Lead Trainer, RF-DASH Director of Education & Safety, ExEnvironmental tim@exenvironmental.com 715-781-0735
RF-DASH Team rfdash@marshfieldresearch. org - 715-389-4141
Smokey sez Smokey Sez
By BOB HECKMAN
This month’s article is dedicated to the memory of Richard Arndt Platte Center Vol. Fire Dept. 8/31/2023 Plum Creek fire burned over 7,000 acres and killed more than 45 cattle. It took about a week to contain the fire. Jim Pillen issued an executive order on a burn ban for a large part of the state, set to expire May 20th.
Using liquid fuel stoves are still permitted in all the state parks, even those in the burning ban area. Learn more about permitted devices at Outdoor Nebraska.gov .
This month’s spotlight is from Waco Vol. Fire Dept. They cover 75 square miles, 23 members and 100 calls per year. To contact me about information from your dept. heckmanbob1@gmail.com .
Browning Memorial Award
Colson Hicks was the 2025 Browning Memorial Award winner. He is the grandson of Jason Hicks, who is a member of the Palisade Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department.
Left: Colson Hicks received a number of gifts from fire departments across Nebraska including his own fire helmet courtesy of Danko.
Tri-County Fire Corps visits Bennington
Bennington Fire and Rescue welcomed Tri-County Fire Corps to Bennington on April 19 where the lesson covered ladders and their uses on the fire front. Tri-County Fire Corps Exploring program is open to students ages 16-19 interested in learning the skills necessary for a career in firefighting through classroom instruction and hands on experiences. From the Bennington Fire and Rescue Facebook page.
NSVFA Officer Directory
President
SCOTT SCHREMMER
815 W 6th, Chadron, NE 69337 308-430-1494
buffhater@gmail.com
1st Vice President
BRENDA JENNY 1767 Colfax Street, Blair, NE 68008 402.639.9647 bgolf2560@yahoo.com
2nd Vice President
TROY SHOEMAKER 1433 Grove Ave Alliance, NE 69301 308-760-7682 tshoemaker@cityofalliance.net
Secretary/Treasurer
MARK MEINTS
502 E H St, Wymore, NE 68466 402-806-7451 meints2@windstream.net
Legal Advisor
RYAN K. MCINTOSH PO Box 186 Syracuse, NE 68446-0186 ryan.mcintosh@bhhslawfirm.com
Lobbyist
GERALD STILMOCK P.O. Box 186 Syracuse 68446 402-269-2081 • Office jerry.stilmock@bhhslawfirm.com
Past President
SHAD BRYNER PO Box 154, Hemingford, NE 69348 308-760-3341 sbryner@bbc.net
District Directors
#1 DARRELL VANCE 1415 Q St, Gering, NE 69341 308-631-0053 DarrellVance1230@gmail.com
#2 JOHN BOMAR P.O. Box 222, Battle Creek, NE 68715 402-992-1560 JBomar1970@gmail.com
#3 RON CHADA 1721 N Sheridan North Platte, NE 69101 308-520-2828 rmchada@winnelson.com
#4 KENNY KRAUSE 1229 D St. Fairbury, NE 68352 402-300-0097 krausechief@gmail.com
NSVFA Representative National Vol. Fire Council
JUSTIN SCAMEHORN 202 Hidas Ave. Waco, NE 68460 402-366-1939 jscamehorn@yahoo.com
Appointed NVFC Director
JOEL CERNY 1618 Denver St. Schuyler 68661 402-720-4100 cerny_j@hotmail.com Chaplain MATTHEW MAU Cell: 402-363-1540 E: pastormattwaco@gmail.com
NSVFA OFficer Reports NSVFA Officer Reports
Live at Fire School, well we are off and running. The Classes are all set up, the fire school committee, the NSVFA officers, and the fire Marshal’s office is very hard at it, and we are awaiting the 1,000 students to roll in. This committee never ceases to amaze me at how much it can get done in such a short amount of time. The outcome is always a mystery, and I will let you know how it goes when we are done next month.
We went to Kearney and had a pre-conference meeting with the Kearney fire department. All is moving forward there, and it will be a great conference. I want to remind all of you that the conference will be on Oct. 16th
Nebraska State Fire School Unites Nearly 1,000 Volunteer Firefighters for Hands-On Training and Community Building
When you read this, the 88th Nebraska State Fire School will be history. This year’s school successfully brought together nearly 1,000 volunteer firefighters from across the state for a powerful weekend of hands-on training, professional development, and camaraderie. The event offered 29 specialized classes covering a wide range of emergency response topics—from technical rescues to fireground strategies—equipping first responders with the critical skills and knowledge they need to serve their communities safely and effectively.
Participants, ranging from new recruits to experienced firefighters, engaged in intensive sessions that emphasized individual competence and team coordination. The variety of class offerings allowed each attendee to customize their learning experience based on their role and department needs.
In addition to the training, over 70 vendors showcased the latest firefighting equipment and technology, ensuring participants stayed up to date with advancements in the field. Their presence played an essential role in connecting firefighters with the tools
The North Platte Volunteer Fire Department hosted its 114th Annual Banquet and Awards Ceremonies on Apr. 5th. In attendance were officers of the NSVFA of which included, 1st Vice President Brenda Jenny, District 3
Director Ron Chada, District 4
Director Kenny Krause, NVFC
Directors Joel Cerny and Justin Scamehorn, NSVFAA 2nd Vice President Mary Chada, along with local dignitaries, mutual aid fire chiefs, retired members, and numerous family members. Service awards were presented to the following, Auxiliary member Mary Chada for 15 years of service, volunteer firefighters, Thomas Courtner received a gold badge for his 20 years, and Scott Moses received a 25 years of service gold badge. Career firefighters award winners included Robert Korkow – The
through the 18th this year and it will be held at the Holiday Inn in Kearney. Please plan to attend to make sure to tell the officers what direction you would like to proceed.
We will be losing a major asset to the NSVFA, our state lobbyist will be leaving us at the end of this session, Jerry Stimlock has been with us for over 33 years and his attention to this organization will be missed. As I have been here for almost all of those, it will be a big change to not see him at all the functions, but I’m sure Ryan McIntosh and Jerry’s replacement Scott Smith will handle this and keep us as an organization moving forward and
that help them perform their demanding duties more efficiently and safely.
One of the most memorable moments of the weekend came Friday morning, when a series of guest speakers addressed the crowd. Their words resonated deeply, especially a statement from the Grand Island Fire Chief: “No one is coming. It’s up to us.” This powerful reminder highlighted the weight of responsibility that volunteer firefighters carry every day—often operating in life-anddeath situations with only their training, instinct, and teamwork to rely on.
Another memorable moment was from Scott Cordes, former State Fire Marshal, during his speech, “Fire School is always a humbling time—being around others who are giving selflessly of themselves.” Firefighting, he emphasized, is not just a job—it’s a calling defined by courage, sacrifice, and unwavering dedication to protecting life and property.
Beyond the training and speeches, the event served as a valuable opportunity for firefighters to connect with peers across the state. The sense of community and shared purpose was evident throughout the weekend, as attendees forged new relationships and strengthened old ones.
As the 88th Nebraska State Fire School came to a close, it left behind a powerful sense of pride and appreciation. The event’s success was the result of countless hours of hard work carried out behind
Ron Holmes Leadership Award, Loren Eaton – EMS Award, Jon Knapp – Firemanship Award, and the trio of Justin Brockmoller, Firefighter, Arlee Gentry, Medic, and Jeremy Hankla, Captain, Merit of Service Award for their actions displayed on June 14th, 2024, of which they entered a fully involved two-story home on a search and rescue of several family members, with extreme heat, rapidly deteriorating conditions, zero visibility, three members were rescued in a short time, however, a child was still unaccounted for. With unwavering determination, they successfully located and removed the child trapped in a stairwell. The rescued child was rapidly transported for emergency medical care. Then flown out for advance emergency care, thanks to their heroic efforts, the child
Scott Schremmer, Presi dent
“We will be losing a major asset to the NSVFA, our state lobbyist will be leaving us at the end of this session, Jerry Stimlock has been with us for over 33 years and his attention to this organization will be missed.
going strong. There will be no trivia this month as no one answered last month’s question! I fear my audience is not reading my article so if you read this article, please
send me a message that you did. As always please stay safe and God bless the Volunteer.
SCOTT SCHREMMER, President
“ A heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who attended and to those who helped transform Fonner Park into a dynamic, hands-on learning environment. At its core, the NSVFA Fire School is a celebration of bravery, commitment, and service. You exemplify the selflessness and dedication that define a true volunteer. ”
the scenes. Under the leadership of Pat Gould, chairman of the Fire School Committee, a dedicated team—including committee members, the NSVFA Executive Board, and NVFC directors—worked tirelessly to ensure the weekend ran smoothly.
Their efforts went far beyond event logistics. From rebuilding training pallets to repairing the storage shed garage door, and later handling cleanup, equipment maintenance and putting back all the tables, chairs, props etc., this team’s dedication was evident at every stage. Even as the event wrapped up, planning for future improvements was already underway.
Pat’s commitment — alongside that of his fellow committee members — is a shining example of the spirit of service that fuels Nebraska’s firefighting community.
The Nebraska State Fire School remains a cornerstone resource for volunteer firefighters across the state, equipping them with the training, tools, and inspiration they need to serve with excellence.
A heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who attended and to those who helped transform Fonner Park into a dynamic, hands-on learning environment. At its core, the NSVFA Fire School is a celebration of bravery, commitment, and service. You exemplify the selflessness and dedication that define a true volunteer. When lives are on the line, it is our Nebraska volunteer first responders—driven by purpose and empowered through training—who step up and make the difference.
Below are upcoming events you don’t want to miss:
• 2025 Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service: September 21, 2025 | Nebraska Firefighters Museum & Education Center
• 2025 Annual Conference, October 16–19, 2025 | Hosted by Kearney Volunteer Fire Department | Holiday Inn Convention Center
Until next time, stay safe and healthy!
BRENDA JENNY 1st Vice President
Ron Chada , District 3 “...the trio of Justin Brockmoller, Firefighter, Arlee Gentry, Medic, and Jeremy Hankla, Captain, Merit of Service Award for their actions displayed on June 14th, 2024, of which they entered a fully involved two-story home...With unwavering determination, they successfully located and removed the child trapped in a stairwell. The rescued child was rapidly transported for emergency medical care . ”
has since made a full recovery and has returned home to family and friends. The courage and dedication not only saved this child’s life, however brought hope to the Einspahn IC. Other awards presented include the Lester C. Peterson Young Firefighter to Volunteer Firefighter Ashley Bruns, and the Dr. O.C. Kreymborg Firefighter of the
Year presented to Volunteer firefighter Matt Goosey. Following was an annual auction of which saw a dozen of eggs sell for $145 not once, but a couple of times. Special “thanks” to those who donated items for the auction.
RON CHADA, District 3 Director
Brenda Jenny 1st Vice Presi dent
NSVFA OFficer Reports NSVFA Officer Reports
THAT’S A WRAP
The Legislature was scheduled to complete its work on June 9, bringing an end to the 2025 legislative year. The state’s twoyear budget has been completed -- no doubt the biggest and hardest action by the Legislature this session. Because of budget limitations, there were very limited funds available for spending measures. Nevertheless, those items introduced this year requiring state dollars will remain available for action next year for, hopefully, new funding opportunities.
Volunteer firefighters across the state await the appointment
NSVFA Members, here it is May 15th and up early heading to Grand Island for Fire School and the Thursday morning E-Board meeting.
Well now it is Sunday afternoon and we made it home and the 2025 Nebraska State Fire School is over. I would like to give a big thank you to the NSVFA Fire School Committee for all the hard work they do to make sure this school happens. I would also like to thank The Nebraska Forest Service, Nebraska State Fire Marshal Training Division, Nebraska Fire Marshal’s, and all the instructors for everything they do to make this a great Fire School. I also cannot forget the vendors for all they do to help make the Fire School what it is.
I really don’t have a lot to
of the new Nebraska Fire Marshal. At the time of submitting this article for publication, the deadline had passed for submitting applications to Governor Jim Pillen for those interested in the position. It will be very important for the new Fire Marshal to name the person to lead the Wildland Incident Response and Assistance Team. Legislation was passed in 2024 creating the statutory framework for WIRAT, but the team is still in need of a permanent leader to direct and guide this important group. There are far too many wildland fires to leave this position unfilled. Wildland fire incidents are no longer
talk about on legislation for this year as with the short fall of money LB 115 (The tax credit of $250.00) we were asking them to raise it to $1,000 and take the one year waiting period out of it. I feel that the committee was in favor of it but just could not find the money. The good news is that it will carry over for next year’s session.
Not far off is budget time and I hope that your department is working on it to be able to present it to your boards. I would also suggest that if you have never done it before, do a one, five, and ten year plan for your department and show it to the board so they can also start their planning. If you have vehicles coming up for replacement soon, have that in your plans also. Remember the
just occurring in the panhandle or the north central part of the state. They are happening across the state, creating more responsibilities and training in portions of the state which had previously not faced huge fires. The Associations will look to the new Fire Marshal to name, and Governor Pillen to support, a leader of WIRAT.
HEADED TOWARD THE FINISH LINE …
Over the years, I have used this subtitle in reference to the final days of the Legislature. Today, the reference is to completing my 33 years representing the Nebraska State Volunteer Fire-
boards have only so much money to work with also.
Please remember the Nebraska Fallen Firefighter Memorial Service that will be held on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025 at the Nebraska Firefighter & EMS Memorial starting at 2 P.M. The address is 2834 E. 1st St Kearney, NE.
Not sure if you all know that Jerry Stilmock has stepped down as the NSVFA lobbyist. We want to say a BIG Thank You to Jerry for everything he has done for the NSVA.
In closing I am asking every department to think about attending the NSVFA Conference that will be held at the Holiday Inn in Kearney, NE on Oct. 16th-18th 2025.
Other important dates in 2026 is the NSVFA Fire School May
Legal Advisor’s Report Legal Advisor’s Report
It was great to see many of you at Fire School in May. I was surprised to see how many individuals had signed up and attended my Legal Update class on Saturday afternoon. The topics covered were as follows: (a) Volunteer Department Trust Accounts; (b) Nebraska Open Meetings Act; (c) RFPD/SFPD Governance; (d) EMS - Legal Decision-Making Authority; (e)
Liability Protections for First Responders; and (f) Abuse Reporting Duties. Questions regarding trust accounts and spending continue to be the most common issue for which I am contacted by both firefighters and elected officials.
For next year, I plan to add the topics of merger of districts and municipalities and Mutual Finance Organizations (MFOs).
Gerald Stilmock,
Lobbyist
“My sincere thank you and appreciation to Jim Lawson of Gering, NSVFA President in 1992, for recommending me to the board to lobby on behalf of all of you, the most caring, dedicated, and selfless individuals I have ever met ”
fighter’s Association and the Nebraska Fire Chiefs’ Association at the Nebraska Legislature. So many -- presidents of the Associations, members of the boards, committees, meetings, hundreds of senators, several governors and numerous hours representing Nebraska’s volunteer first responders. My sincere thank you and ap-
preciation to Jim Lawson of Gering, NSVFA President in 1992, for recommending me to the board to lobby on behalf of all of you, the most caring, dedicated, and selfless individuals I have ever met. Thank you, Jim.
JERRY STILMOCK, Lobbyist
“Please remember the Nebraska Fallen Firefighter Memorial Service that will be held on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025 at the Nebraska Firefighter & EMS Memorial starting at 2 P.M. The address is 2834 E. 1st St Kearney, NE.”
15-17, 2026, and the 2026 NSVFA conference which will be held in Dakota City. I think the dates will be Oct. 15-18, 2026.
Please stay safe, and enjoy the summer with your families.
However, I am always looking for the most relevant topics to help you all. As such, please reach out to me at ryan.mcintosh@bhhslawfirm.com to let me know your thoughts on the most relevant or pressing legal issues affecting your departments. I’d love to know what I can write about, or cover at Fire School, to keep my articles relevant and interesting. Thank you in advance for any input!
Ryan K. McIntosh, Legal Advisor
“...please reach out to me at ryan.mcintosh@bhhslawfirm.com to let me know your thoughts on the most relevant or pressing legal issues affecting your departments. I’d love to know what I can write about, or cover at Fire School, to keep my articles relevant and interesting.”
RYAN K. MCINTOSH, Legal Advisor
John Bomar, District 2 Director
NVFC Reports NVFC Reports
Justin Scamehorn, our wives, and I flew into Reagan Airport, DC on Tuesday the May 6th (no helicopters in sight). We caught an Uber to the Dirksen Building on Capitol Hill for the Nebraska Breakfast on Wednesday morning. Senator Fischer didn’t make the breakfast, but the other four took turns talking about the committees that they sit on and have been working on. Several of them mentioned that instead of the Build Back Better Bills, they are now referred to as One Big Beautiful Bill. We then started in-person meetings with all five of Nebraska’s congressional members. Senator Ricketts wasn’t able to meet with us, but his aide is a volunteer EMT, so she truly understood the issues we talked about. I have also attached in this email all 14 of the one-pagers that NVFC Lobbyist Ryan Woodward provided us for the five of them. Since we only had 15-20 minutes with each of them, we couldn’t cover in detail all of them but we did ask each of them to consider joining the Congressional Fire Services Caucus. We discussed the OSHA Issues and all of the Fire Grant appropriations. We spent a lot of time discussing the SAFER Grants and how our Association has used them to recruit and retain more Emergency Responders in Nebraska. We discussed the issues with SAM.gov and the burden of applying for federal grants for small fire departments as well as getting the Fire Academy open and back up and running for in-person training and the Cancer Registry back up and active.
Thursday, the Wildland committee that I sit on was the first meeting up. Tim Melchert of USFS talked about the VFA, FEPP/FPP, and CWDG grants. Unfortunately, with all of the unrest in DC, all grants seem to be on a holding pattern for now. The Wildland Fire Assessment Program (WFAP) was discussed, and the idea of trying to condense the program was voted
down. Tegan Dry of AnheuserBusch announced that they have donated over 100 million cans of emergency drinking water. This included over 2,700 fire departments receiving 12 million of those cans. The EMS Rescue Section was the next meeting up, and elections for five new board members was first on the agenda. These positions are available to all NVFC Members and not just the NVFC Directors. One of the new members to the E Board is Marvin Trimble (IA), and some of you may remember him as being a past president of the Iowa Firefighter’s Assoc. Other items discussed included NFPA Standard 450/451, which may be adding body armor as a requirement, NFPA 1917 (the ambulance standard), which will be opened for public comment on 9/3/25. Will be looking into EV and selfdriving ambulances issues. The office of EMS has been disbanded by President Trump but they feel it will be moved to another group. Looking to make an EMS Media sheet like the Fire one I attached, and high fees charged by air ambulance. There is currently a lawsuit in West Virginia dealing with who is responsible for the bill with the one ordering the ambulance as one possibility. Since everyone is having issues providing EMS services the question was asked which states consider EMS as an essential service and which States back it up financially.
The first Executive Committee session was next in line where Dave Dennison gave those in attendance an update with the OSHA issues. Dave mentioned that to his surprise there were very few comments from industries as their fire brigades would also have to meet the new requirements. His concerns are that industries will be dropping their fire brigades and just wait for the fire department to show up. He was also surprised that there were hardly any comments from municipalities, as they will have to fit the cost of this into
their budgets. Jeremy Donch of the National Fire Radio Podcast spoke next and was looking to start a volunteer fire summit in the northeast part of the country. Friday’s meetings started with the Nominating and Finance Committee meetings, and then the opening of the general ses sion began. Roll call was taken, and there were 64 directors from 43 states answering the call. Nominations were then opened for the leadership positions on the E Board, with the only contested race being the Chairman position. Steve Hirsch of Kansas and Joe Maruca of Massachusetts were on the ballot. Chair Steve Hirsch gave his report, followed by NVFC CEO Sarah Lee’s report. We were all encouraged to increase our state’s membership, even though we are at an all-time high (40,000 members), almost half of the Membership comes from North Carolina. Remember that anyone can join the NVFC, including signing up your wife and children. We then went into Executive session where Steve and Joe were able to give their campaign speeches, and after we recessed to lunch, the polls opened where we were able to vote electronically. After lunch, we started working on the NVFC’s new Strategic Plan. The five main topics covered were our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, diversity, and prevention. This is something that I think the NSVFA needs to get back to doing since we haven’t done anything like this for years. During the Membership/Awards Committee meeting, there was discussion about developing written guidelines for the awards. The nominating committee then met to review the election results and then made the announcement that Steve Hirsch was reelected to the chair position. All of the officers of the NVFC’s Executive Committee then took their oath of office. That evening, the awards celebration took place, where the years of service awards to NVFC Directors were presented. Other awards presented that night include the James Monihan Director Award (Brian McQueen), the Lifetime Achievement (Dave Denniston), the Health & Wellness Leadership Award (Jeremy Sonenschein), the Junior Firefighter of the Year (Jiya Jadhav), and the Junior Firefighter Program of the Year Award (West Virginia University Fire Service Extension Junior Firefighter Camp)
Saturday morning’s meetings started with the Standard and Codes Committee meeting, but Justin took better notes than I, so I will let him cover that Committee. Next up was the Legislative Committee meeting, where most of the talk was on the Bills that I have attached. The one new Bill we talked about was H.R. 973 - Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act. ION Battery safety is a major concern because of all of ION Battery fires that fire departments have been responding to. We then went back into executive session, where the 6 NVFC
J oel Cerny, NVFC Director
“We spent a lot of time discussing the SAFER Grants and how our Association has used them to recruit and retain more Emergency Responders in Nebraska. We discussed the issues with SAM. gov and the burden of applying for federal grants for small fire departments...”
Directors running for the 5 open spots on the E Board got to give their campaign speeches. During our lunch break, we received notice that the polls were now open and we could start voting for the E-Board members. AES Corporation also gave a report during lunch on their Energy Storage Systems, and if you have a Solar Power Field in your district, you probably have one of their systems also.
After lunch, the Health, Safety & Training Committee that I sit on met. Brian McQueen reported on the Miami Sylvester Cancer Center Volunteer Firefighter Study. This study includes volunteer firefighters wearing a latex wristband for a 24-hour period. These wristbands are then picked up and sent to Miami for analysis. The participants are then contacted with the results that we show them, which cancers they were exposed to in that time period. I participated in this study by getting 16 firefighters from David City and Schuyler VFD to wear the wristbands. At this time, none of them has received their results. Other new business included the NVFC First Responder Helpline and the IAFF/ IAFC Wellness Fitness Initiative. After that, I have a presentation on Drexel University’s FOCUS Study. This study includes fire departments that sign up for their members to answer a lengthy survey (over 170 questions). Once 60% of your emergency responders finish the survey, they will publish the results of your members’ answers (no names included). My department did this and I probably had 18 of my 21 members start the survey, but I had to push a few to finish the survey to get the 60% completion. Most of the questions deal with your mental health issues and are very personal. I will be happy to share the list of questions and Linwood VFD’s results if you are interested. Next up was the Recruitment and Retention Committee meeting that I Chair. This is the largest NVFC Committee with 29 directors participating (R & R is an issue in all States). We received an update on the MakeMe-A-Firefighter website. Since this program started, there has been almost 50,000 applicants with over 10,000 active fire departments registered. Almost 2,500 departments have used the Materials Generator since it was updated in January of 2024. I feel this is something that the NSVFA R & R Committee needs to use more of if our SAFER Grant 5 is not awarded to us. The Family Guide is now available in Spanish. Departments can still order up to 10 copies of each (English/ Spanish) in the NVFC store. The 2025 NVFC Training Summit will take place in Salt Lake City,
UT, on June 20-21. They have 98 registered attendees at this time, but there is room for more. Travel Stipends have all been approved with John Bomar and a firefighter from Ponca Hills being granted one. I reported on the Coffee talks that I hold, with the next one scheduled for June 22nd at 6 p.m. The topic this month will be on R&R for EMS personnel. On May 15th NVFC Director Eric Quinney of Wyoming will also be hosting an NVFC Webinar called Strengthening EMS Teams: Effective Recruitment and Retention Strategies. This Webinar starts at 1 p.m., but if that time doesn’t work for you, as long as you sign up ahead of time, they will send you a link to watch the recorded session. Vice-Chair Joe Maruca gave a presentation on an NFPA Foundation project dealing with the effects on R&R and training requirements. After a short break, we met in General Session again, where the 5 new EBoard members were announced and they took their oath of office. Those winning the election were Steve McClintock of NV, Quentin Cash of NC, Bill Offerman of IL, Sheri Nickles of OK, and Brian McQueen of NY. NVFC South Dakota Director Charlie Kludt gave a report on hosting the NVFC Fall meeting in Rapid City on Sept. 22-24. Other items discussed included the Fire Prevention Task Force that Rhonda is a member of, and Bob Kilpeck of VT gave a report on the LODD weekend. One last thing was the discussion of working on guidelines to help fully volunteer fire departments transition to a combination fire department. Thank you for the opportunity to represent the NSVFA as an NVFC Director. It is my pleasure to share the highlights of the Spring Meeting with you, and I welcome any questions or concerns you may have.
JOEL E. CERNY, NSVFA Director to the NVFC - 402-720-4100
Fishing with First Responders: A Day of Family Fun and Community Connection
Kearney, NE – June 8, 2025 — The Nebraska Firefighters Museum & Education Center, in collaboration with The Archway and Nebraska Game & Parks, is proud to host the 7th annual Fishing with First Responders event on Sunday, June 8 from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Archway Lake, located just behind the museum at 2834 E. 1st Street in Kearney. This free, family-friendly event invites the public to spend the afternoon fishing alongside local heroes — firefighters, EMS personnel, law enforcement officers, and other first responders. Whether you’re an experienced angler or casting a line for the first time, Nebraska Game & Parks will provide all fishing equipment at no charge, making it easy for anyyone to participate. Attendees will also enjoy free hot
dogs, chips, and bottled water, and have opportunities to meet and interact with local agencies, including the Kearney Police Department, Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office, Nebraska State Patrol, Good Samaritan EMS & AirCare, and the Kearney Volunteer Fire Department. In the spirit of friendly competition, prizes will be awarded for the biggest and smallest catch of the day along with other prize categories. While there is no cost to attend, a free-will donation will be accepted during the event to support the Nebraska Firefighters Museum’s educational programming and future building expansion efforts.
Important note: Per Nebraska law, anyone aged 16 or older must have a valid Nebraska fishing license to participate. You
Two people from Fremont among those killed in plane crash
Three people were found dead in the wreckage of a small plane after it crashed into the Platte River south of Fremont on Friday night.
About 8:15 p.m. Friday, a small aircraft crashed into the Platte River. The plane was traveling along the river when it went down, resulting in the deaths of all three individuals aboard, according to the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office.
The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office identified the victims as Randy Amrein, 48, and Jeff Bittinger, 50, both of Fremont, and Daniel Williams, 43, of Moundridge, KS.
Visitation for Randy Amrein is Tuesday evening from 5 to 8 p.m. at Moser Memorial Chapel, 2170 N. Somers Ave.
A second visitation is being held Thursday in Ellis, KS, followed by a funeral mass and burial at St. Mary’s Cemetery on Friday.
A GoFundMe has been set up for Randy’s son, Dakota, “to make sure that Dakota is still able to continue the things that he loves.”
The GoFundMe can be found at gofundme.com/f/ keeping-dakotas-dreams-alive.
Funeral arrangements for Jeff Bittinger are pending, according to a post on Moser Memorial Chapel’s website.
“We would like to thank the agencies that assisted in this incident, the Fremont Police Department, Fremont Fire Department, Fremont Rural Fire Department, Waterloo Fire Department, Valley Fire Department, Saunders County Sheriff’s Office, Papillion Police Department Drone team, Nebraska State Patrol, Omaha Police Depart-
are encouraged to purchase the license prior to the event, as they will not be available for purchase that day.
“We’re excited to provide this special event where families can enjoy the outdoors, learn more about fire prevention and safety, and build connections with the first responders who protect our communities,” said Jennifer Slater, Director of the Nebraska Firefighters Museum & Education Center. “Too often we meet first responders in some of our most stressful times, so having a relaxed event to meet firefighters, police, and EMS professionals can go a long way to building relationships in the community. Plus, it’s a chance to say “Thank
You” to them for all they do!.”
The Nebraska Firefighters Museum & Education Center is dedicated to preserving the rich heritage of Nebraska firefighters and honoring the legacy of Nebraska’s fire service while promoting public education in fire prevention and safety. Through engaging exhibits, historical artifacts, and interactive learning spaces, the museum offers visitors of all ages a deeper understanding of the bravery, service, and innovation of firefighters throughout the state. Along with honoring those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, the museum actively promotes fire safety through educational programs and interactive experiences that
teach essential life-saving skills. Community outreach events like Fishing with First Responders further strengthen public appreciation for emergency services and foster meaningful connections between first responders and the people they serve. For more information, contact the Museum at (308) 338-FIRE or visit nebraskafirefightersmuseum.org. Join us on June 8 for an unforgettable afternoon of fishing, food, and fellowship — all while supporting a vital educational mission.
By MEGGAN SOMMERVILLE , Assistant to the Director
ment ABLE-1, Dodge County Emergency Management and Nebraska Game and Parks,” the sheriff’s office said. “We would also like to thank the citizens that assisted with airboats.”
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are in charge of the investigation.
Dodge County dispatchers received multiple calls about a plane crashing into the Platte River shortly after 8 p.m. Friday.
The first deputies arriving on scene reported spotting a small white plane in the river, according to scanner traffic.
“Units from the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office, the Fremont Police Department, the Fremont Fire Department and Fremont Rural Fire Department came out to the scene to investigate,” Sheriff’s Sgt. Brie Frank said.
The Fremont Fire & Rescue Department were advised to meet deputies at the Hormel Park Boat Ramp. Dive teams from Waterloo and Valley also were paged to the scene to help search for the individuals onboard the plane.
Members of the public also launched airboats into the water.
A short time later, scanner traffic from a deputy indicated an airboat had reached the downed plane and three individuals were onboard, all of whom were later confirmed to be deceased.
The Omaha Police Department’s ABLE-1 helicopter responded to the scene. Frank also said multiple drones, including those from the Saunders County Sheriff’s Office and Nebraska State Patrol, were utilized at the scene.
(Fremont Tribune, Fremont, Apr. 22, 2025; written by Tammy Greunke, staff writer.)
88th Annual Nebraska State Fire School
Jeff Horn and Pat Moore visit at the Fire School vendor show.
Former State Fire Marshal Scott Cordes is pictured with Troy Shoemaker and Pat Moore.
Jerry Stilmock, Scott Cordes and Tom Brewer visit at Fire School.
A piece of 9-11 history was on display at Fire School.
Retired Nebraska Fire Marshal Scott Cordes spoke at opening ceremonies of Nebraska Fire School.
NSVFA President Scott Schremmer honored NSVFA lobbyist Jerry Stilmock for his 33 years of service to the association. Stilmock is retiring in June.
Fire School Director Pat Gould announced Chuck Hoffman of Grand Island Rural as a member of the Fire School Hall of Fame.
Fire School Director Pat Gould announced Eric Rasmussen of Southeast Rural as a member of the Fire School Hall of Fame.
Fire School Director Pat Gould presented Dianne Willey with an award for her support of fire school. Willey recently retired from Fonner Park where fire school is held.
The Grand Island Fire Department presented the colors at opening ceremonies of Nebraska Fire School.
Grand Island Fire Chief Cory Schmidt gave an address at opening ceremonies of Nebraska Fire School.
Above: Pastor Matthew Mau gave the invocation at opening ceremonies of Nebraska Fire School.
Left: Fire School Director Pat Gould presented Robert Weber of AGI with an award for his years of service hosting the grain bin rescue class.
NSVFA Lobbyist Jerry Stilmock presented former State legislator Tom Brewer with an award for his support of the fire service.
Fire School Director Pat Gould announced Jim Lawson of Gering as a member of the Fire School Hall of Fame.
Plum Creek Fire Burns over Seven Thousand Acres
By Ainsworth Star Journal
What started as a prescribed burn 4 miles west and 1 mile north of Johnstown on April 21 quickly became an uncontained fire that would scorch a large portion of the Nebraska Sandhills.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission along with other partners were assisting with the burn, but the fire broke containment when strong winds switched direction in the early afternoon.
Fire departments from Johnstown, Ainsworth, Raven, Long Pine and South Pine were called to the scene April 21 to provide aid during the growing fire.
As the fire spread into difficult terrain, more mutual aid was requested.
Help from the likes of Albion, Fullerton, Bloomfield, Wood Lake, and multiple other departments and entities arrived.
Using the Brown County Fairgrounds as a home base for rest and meals, the departments began to work together.
Through the following days, the wind refused to break, leading the partially contained fire to break containment yet again.
On April 23, Nebraska Govorner Jim Pillen declared an emergency and authorized airmen and soldiers to assist with the fire.
A Single Engine Air Tanker (SEAT) plane dropped fire retardant over the burning area, and helicopters provided water drops.
Pillen also issued a state- wide burn ban through the end of April. Pillen said the state is much too dry, and that it only takes one burn to cause a situation such as the Plum Creek Fire.
Following Pillen’s burn ban, Game and Parks issued a campfire ban across all state parks and wildlife management areas.
As weather improved, the firefighters were able to gain control of the fire over the April 27-28 weekend, managing to bring the fire to 95% containment.
Finding The Fire Glove For Better Fit, Function And Safety
By JERRY KNAPP
Firefighting is a life and death business. We spend tons of time designing our engines and trucks so they are the most efficient for us on the fireground. We carefully select tools, nozzles, hose, saws, thermal imagers, halligans, hooks, explosive gas detectors all so we can be the best and safest at emergencies. One of the most important parts of any of our tools is how well we can manipulate them with our gloved hands.
When we buy turnout gear, we get measured so it fits properly giving us the best protection and the most mobility. But when we buy gloves, we only get to pick from small, medium and large and extra large sizes. Then we complain that they have no dexterity, ability to grip critical tools or for important tactical functions like switching radio frequencies. This is because they are not sized or selected properly.
When you buy a pair of shoes, what do you need to know to get a proper fit? Length and width are the key measurements. Then you try them on just to be sure they are a good fit and will work for you, not against you. When you buy gloves you need the same measurements, finger length and hand width for a proper fit.
Poorly fitting gloves cause injuries. Fortunately, most fire glove manufacturers now have cadet sizes for finger length. A cadet size is half an inch shorter, so you don’t have excess material in the finger tips. This increases dexterity and grip strength. But when the palm of your hand has excess material on the side, you lose dexterity and grip strength. Most women firefighters and about half of male firefighters have this issue with their fire gloves: it fits properly in the finger tips but not in the hand width.
In my over 40 years as a firefighter, I wore every glove made. Recently I found
a glove maker that fits me in both finger length and width. These gloves are designed and built for hand width and finger length just like our boots. There may be more glove makers that do this but I have not been able to find any.
According to NFPA 1970-1971 these glove size groupings use a couple of key measurements. First the index finger length in millimeters. Second, hand width. As above, you then match your measurements to the best combination of the 7 options available.
The new NFPA standard requires a minimum of 7 sizes: 64N, 70N, 70W, 76N, 76W, 82N and 82W as shown above. Some manufacturers have chosen to only provide 7 choices of sizes, others have as many as 36 different sizes.
How do you get 36 sizes of gloves? Firecraft Safety Products does it this way.
There are 9 sizes from XXS to 4xL: XXS, XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL, XXXXL. They make a regular width, regular width with shorter fingers, a slimline width regular length fingers and a slim line with short fingers. So, 9 sizes times 4 separate widths and finger lengths equals 36 different size gloves.
Take a look at the pics below that explain proper glove sizing.
Now that you have the proper size, consider how you will use the glove. A glove with a good gripping surface on the palm will help you maintain positive controls over tools and hose. Conversely if your gloves are slipping it will cause you more fatigue and less control over your tools. Certainly important especially with power tools like chain or circular saws. We often use our gloves when they are wet. Consider how well you can hold a nozzle, hoseline, halligan tool if the surface of your gloves are
SEE GLOVES, PAGE 15
This glove’s finger is too long. Note how it bends creating a loss of feeling and dexterity.
This glove is too wide resulting in a mass of fabric outside the wearers hand hampering flexibility, feeling and creating unnecessary fatigue. Obviously, the glove fingers are too long as well.
This glove fits properly. The forefinger goes all the way to the end of the end. It also has a cap on the tip that will allow you to push radio buttons etc. It does not crush and become a non-feeling mass under your finger.
On to state
On May 23, 2025, Bennet Fire and Rescue (front left two trucks) and Palmyra Fire and Rescue (back right two trucks behind the bus) lined up to escort Palmyra’s 17 track and field state qualifiers to cheer them on through their journey to the State Track and Field Meet at Burke Stadium in Omaha. Photographer: Karis King. Submitted by: Evan King
soaking wet. Look for gloves that have a good gripping surface on the palms and underside of the fingers.
Dexterity is another key component to look for. Some gloves have a cap (thimble) like cover on the finger tips. This will be a huge help to you when operating smaller parts like the choke lever on a saw or button on your radio. A mussy mass on the end of your finger will not work for you.
Decontamination is also an important criteria. You may never be exposed to harsh or deadly chemicals but consider how to clean your gloves from routine spills like gasoline, oil and bodily fluids.
We have not discussed heat protection (a basic safety factor for your gloves) but if your gloves meet NFPA 197-1971 you can be assured of the best hand protection available in gloves you can function wearing on the fire ground.
Being a firefighter is a tough job, finding gloves that make our job easier and safer is easy to do. Gloves are the most important part of our ppe. Make sure you are wearing the proper size and they have the characteristics you need at every alarm.
Jerry Knapp is the Chief of the Rockland County, NY Hazmat Team, and is a 49 year veteran Firefighter/EMT with the West Haverstraw NY Fire Department. He served on the technical panel for the UL residential fire attack study. Knapp is the co-author of two books: House Fires and Tactical Response to Explosive Gas Emergencies published by Fire Engineering He is the owner of Suburban Tactical Inc specializing in fire officer and firefighter training.
ACTION FIRE PHOTOS
Please send them to jeff@nebraskafirefighter.com along with information to explain the photo.
Proposed By-Law Change
Current Constitution and Bylaws as written:
ARTICLE FIFTEEN - ANNUAL CONFERENCE
SECTION 3. The annual conference of this organization shall be held during the third (3) week of October of the fiscal year of this organization at such place as voted on by the membership of this organization, unless changed by order of the Board of Directors of this organization to such place as the Board of Directors may designate. Only current members, as per ARTICLE 4 SECTION 1, are qualified to bid for the annual conference. They must do so by submitting a written letter to notify the Secretary of this Association of their intentions, no later than July 15th of the fiscal year of this organization. The Board of Directors must approve of the department, or departments requesting to be host/s before their names can be placed on the ballot. In the event, no qualified bids have come forward by the July 15th date, the Board of Di-
rectors may exercise their rights as to approach qualified member departments, in search of a host. The annual conference of this organization will be called to order at 10:00 o’clock A.M. of the first day of said annual conference and will remain in session from day to day until the business of this organization is completed. In case of emergency, the Board of Directors may dispense with the annual conference of this organization, but in such event shall call in lieu thereof a special meeting of the Board of Directors and such others as the President and the Board of Directors may deem advisable. (Amended 10/19/02 and Amended 10/22/05) Proposed change to above:
SECTION 3. The annual conference of this organization shall be held during the third (3) week of October of the fiscal year of this organization at such place as voted on by the membership of this organization, unless changed by order of the Board of Directors of this organization to such place and time
as the Board of Directors may designate as determined by the Board of Directors to be in the best interest of the organization. Only current members, as per ARTICLE 4, SECTION 1, are qualified to bid for the annual conference. They must do so by submitting a written letter to notify the Secretary of this Association of their intentions, no later than July 15th of the fiscal year of this organization. The Board of Directors must approve of the department, or departments requesting to be host/s before their names can be placed on the ballot. In the event, no qualified bids have come forward by the July 15th date, the Board of Directors may exercise their rights as to approach qualified member departments, in search of a host. The annual conference of this organization will be called to order the first day of said annual conference at a time determined by the Board of Directors, with consideration given to the hosting department, and will remain in session from day to day until the business of this
organization in complete. In case of an emergency, the Board of Directors may dispense with the annual conference of this organization, but in such event shall call in lieu thereof special meeting of the Board of Directors and such others as the President and the Board of Directors may deem advisable. (Amended 10/19/02 and 10/22/05)
ARTICLE EIGHTEEN-ORDER OF BUSINESS OF ANNUAL CONFERENCE
The annual conference of this organization shall be called at 10:00 o’clock A.M. of the first day designated for such conference, or such other time as the Executive Board shall determine. After appropriate opening, the order of business shall be followed. (Amended 10/23)
1. Call to Order at 10:00 o’clock A.M.
2. Presentation of Credentials
3. Reading of the Minutes of the previous Annual Meeting
4. Reports of Officers and Committees
5. Unfinished Business
6. Election of Officers
7. Report of the Death of Members of this Organization
8. Miscellaneous Business
9. Good of the Organization
10. Adjournment
Proposed change to above:
The annual conference of this organization shall be called at 10:00 o’clock A.M. for the first day designated for such conference, or such other time as the Executive Board shall determine. After appropriate opening, the order of business shall be followed. (Amended 10/2023)
1. Call to Order
2. Presentation of Credentials
3. Reading of the Minutes of the previous Annual Conference
4. Reports of Officers and Committees
5. Unfinished Business
6. Election of Officers, and Host Communities
7. Miscellaneous Business, and Delegation Reports
8. Good of this organization
9. Adjournment
Air Entrainment:
A Vital Variable in Water Application
By COLE KLEINWOLTERINK
If you were to ask a police officer about their service weapon, they would not only be able to demonstrate competence in handling it but also describe its features in detail. They know their weapon intimately because they understand it can be the difference between life and death. In the fire service, our weapon is the nozzle, and it deserves the same level of familiarity and respect. Arriving on scene of a structure fire is a lot more than just “putting wet stuff on the red stuff.” Whether you’re paid or volunteer, as professional firefighters we must go beyond simply knowing how to open and close the bale; we must understand how to apply water with intention, because like a firearm, the nozzle can have lifeor-death consequences for firefighters and the citizens we serve.
This article is a follow-up to “Water Mapping During the Interior Fire Attack,” published in July 2024. That article intentionally left out a crucial part of water application: air entrainment. This article explores that topic and explains why it matters.
In short, air entrainment occurs when water moves through air and pulls air along with it. But why does this happen? As water droplets travel, they compress air in front of them and create a lowpressure zone behind them. This combination of low pressure and turbulence causes air to be drug along in the direction of the water flow. The extent to which this occurs depends largely on how much the fire stream breaks up. Firefighters can increase air entrainment by breaking-up the stream into smaller droplets, or conversely, they can minimize it by keeping the stream as intact as possible. Depending on the tactical objective—whether it is to hydraulically ventilate a structure or to suppress a fire while improving conditions for potential victims—firefighters must tactfully control how much air is entrained by manipulating the stream pattern, length, and movement.
STREAM PATTERN
The stream pattern selected plays a major role in air entrainment. A tightly held stream, such as a solid or straight stream, remains relatively cohesive and entrains very little air. As the stream pattern becomes wider and more broken— such as with a fog pattern—the stream breaks into more droplets and significantly increases the amount of air entrained. (Picture 1 – A straight stream is being flowed down the hallway. Notice that the orange streamers remain still, indicating minimal air movement.) This can be visualized as a continuum, with solid and straight streams on one end producing minimal air movement, and widest possible fog patterns on the other end creating the most air entrainment. (Picture 2 – A wide fog stream is being flowed down the hallway. Note how the orange streamers are
now being drawn into the hallway due to the air entrainment created by the fog pattern.)
STREAM LENGTH
As water exits the nozzle, it immediately begins to lose momentum due to air resistance and gravity. Over distance, the stream begins to break apart into smaller droplets. The farther the stream travels, the more it fragments and the more air it entrains. This means that air entrainment is much lower near the nozzle and higher farther downrange, where the stream has significantly broken up.
STREAM MOVEMENT
When the nozzle is moved during operation, the stream once again is broken up even, thus, once again increasing the volume of entrained air. The faster the stream is moved, the greater the air entrainment becomes.
On the other hand, there are three factors that have no significant effect on air entrainment: nozzle type, movement pattern, and flow rate or pressure. Although a fog nozzle operating in a wide fog pattern will entrain more air than a smooth bore operating in a solid stream, when the fog nozzle is set to straight stream, it will entrain the same amount of air as the solid stream produced by the smooth bore. While movement increases entrainment, the specific pattern—whether O, Z, or inverted U—has no measurable impact on how much air is entrained, assuming the speed of movement is the same. Finally, changes in flow rate or nozzle pressure have negligible impact. A 1¾” hose line flowing 160 gpm at 50 psi through a ⅞-inch smooth bore tip entrains the same amount of air as it would if the pressure was increased to 70 psi flowing 190 gpm.
This information has real consequences for how firefighters apply water during fire attack. A nozzle firefighter who understands these principles can use them to meet tactical goals, while one who does not may unintentionally create dangerous flow paths, and worsen conditions for potential victims.
One practical example of using this knowledge to minimize air entrainment is during an exterior water application (ie. transitional attack). When operating from outside the structure, the nozzle firefighter should position themselves as close to the opening—typically a window—as safely possible. Using a solid or straight stream, they should aim the water toward the ceiling of the fire room, keeping the line as stationary as possible while flowing. This technique maximizes surface cooling and water coverage within the compartment while minimizing the amount of air being pushed into the structure. By limiting air entrainment, this approach avoids forcing hot fuel gases or smoke into adjoining hallways or rooms while still allowing gasses to vent out the exterior opening. Using in-
terior and exterior camera views, the YouTube video “Pushing Fire” by the Firefighter Safety Research Institute visually illustrates the implications of both fog and straight/ solid streams being applied from outside the structure.
“Put the fire out and everything gets better” is true for the firefighters wearing an SCBA. However, for the victim with an unprotected airway, things don’t truly get better until the structure is ventilated (or they are removed from the smokefilled environment). Therefore, coordinated ventilation is critical, and few methods are more coordinated than the nozzle firefighter hydraulically ventilating the fire room immediately following suppression. In this case, the nozzle firefighter can use the air entrainment principles to move as much air from the interior through an exterior opening. To do this they should position themselves as far back from the exterior opening as practical while remaining in the fire room. They should direct their stream through the window or opening and move it rapidly in a deliberate pattern. If using a fog nozzle, the pattern should be opened as wide as possible while
still projecting water through the opening. Although not as effective as a fog nozzle, the smooth bore nozzle can be used to hydraulically ventilate by partially closing the bale to effectively break-up the stream into droplets. Listening to the sound of the water exiting the nozzle can help maximize the effectiveness of this technique––slowly opening the bale until the stream sounds most turbulent (ie. sounds the worst), indicates maximum stream breakup, signaling optimal air entrainment for ventilation. Additionally, if the smooth bore nozzle has a break-apart tip, removing the tip can further disrupt the stream and enhance air entrainment.
In the end, knowledge of air entrainment isn’t just academic. It’s a tool that can help you control conditions on the fire ground. Understanding how and when to increase or decrease air movement through nozzle technique is a vital part of mastering the craft. Firefighters who understand how to manage their stream can improve survivability for victims, increase tactical effectiveness, and reduce risk to themselves and their crews.
Know your weapon.
CLASSROOM TRAINING:
Using the Firefighter Safety Research Institute’s YouTube video “Pushing Fire,” analyze the interior and exterior effects of applying fog versus straight/solid streams when applying water from the exterior. Emphasize how nozzle selection and technique impact air entrainment, fire spread, flow path, and victim survivability.
HANDS-ON TRAINING:
Conduct a hands-on drill where firefighters flow water from one end of a hallway, adjusting stream pattern, length, and movement to explore how each affects air entrainment. While changes in airflow can be felt, hanging streamers at hallway openings offers a clear visual reference. This drill can also be modified for exterior water application through a window.
Cole Kleinwolterink is a member of the Waukee Fire Department, Granger Fire Department, and Fire Science instructor at Des Moines Area Community College. Feel free to reach out to him at kleinwolterinkc@gmail.com with any questions, comments or inquiries.
88th Annual Nebraska State Fire School
Randy Barnes announced the winners of Firemanship Awards. From left to right are: Jeff Borchers of Battle Creek, Trevor Dredla of Battle Creek, Tim Stockamp of Scribner, Chasity Knoles of Grant, Josh Schnitzler of Battle Creek, Ashley Maschmeier of Gering and Chris Tillotson of Battle Creek. Scott Havel of Wilber also received an award.
The Smokey Paw Award went to Lexington Volunteer Fire Department.
The Dave Heywood Fire Prevention Leadership Award went to Terry Eirich of the Kearney Volunteer Fire Department.
Marlene Bomar presented a Heroism Award to Charlie Renner for his lifesaving efforts.
Jeff Horn of the Nebraska Fire Chiefs Association presented instructor Alan Joos with an award for his work at fire school.
Fire Prevention Chair Rhonda Cerny announced the Fire Prevention Awards.
Callaway Fire and Rescue Receives High Recognition
Callaway Volunteer Fire and Rescue (CVFR) has been awarded The Nebraska EMSC Pediatric Readiness Recognition by the Nebraska Emergency Medical Ser- vices for Children (EMSC) program. This is a voluntary process offered to all EMS agencies currently licensed within the State of Nebraska. At this time CVFR is one of only nine other agencies in the State of Nebraska who have been awarded this recognition.
The EMSC Pediatric Readiness Recognition program features six required areas of participation in order to achieve recognition which include: compliance with Nebraska EMS statutes and regulations, participation in EMSC assessments/ surveys as required each year, designating a pediatric emergency care coordinator (PECC), promoting pediatric education and/or pediatric skills, providing community outreach for children, and having pediatric equipment per national recommendations. The recognition shows that CVFR is committed to providing exceptional care to
the pediatric population.
CVFR is comprised of all volunteers and has a total roster of 35 members with 13 holding an EMT or RN license and being able to staff the ambulance.
CVFR also has three cross-rostered EMS members who are volunteer FD/Rescue members from surrounding communities like Arnold, and Oconto but work in the Callaway community and are able to respond when available. This collaboration between the communities has made a huge impact on responding to calls and getting help to patients in need in a timely manner.
CVFR already had a majority of the requirements in place to achieve this recognition. The Rural Fire Board has been very supportive in assuring the ambulances have all the equipment, supplies and medications needed to care for all patient populations including pediatrics.
With a recent state grant obtained in 2022 totaling just under $50,000, CVFR was able to purchase needed equipment such as a Zoll X monitor/defibrillator
for both ambulances. This Zoll monitor gives the providers the ability to monitor vital signs like blood pressure, respirations, oxygen saturation levels, and 12lead ECGs. It also is able to act as a defibrillator for the adult and pediatric populations. The Zoll comes with enhanced capabilities like transmitting 12-lead ECGs to Callaway District Hospital where providers can then read and interpret the time sensitive results and pre- pare for the patient’s arrival. Additional new capabilities include monitoring carbon monoxide levels which is valuable when caring for patients who may have been exposed to gas leaks and fires. Part of the requirements to obtain the recognition is involvement in the community which CVFR has been. Within the last few years CVFR has been involved by offering an American Heart Association Basic Life Support class annually for anyone interest- ed. Last year the rural fire board approved this class to be free of charge for anyone in the community. The rescue members are also active
by checking all AED’s located throughout the community on an annual basis to ensure they are functioning appropriately.
The ambulance also provides many standbys for events like Callaway school district football games and wrestling matches as well as Seven Valley Rodeo Association events.
The awarded recognition certificate will be on display at the fire station as well with a decal placed on each ambulance. The achievements the Fire Department has gained could not have been met without the continued
support of its volunteer members, the rural fire board, medical director Tiffany Svoboda, and members of the community. CVFR will be holding an open house during EMS week at the fire station on Wednesday, May 21, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. where the public can meet the volunteers, see the ambulances and equipment, and also obtain information on becoming an EMT and joining the department.
(Callaway Courier, Callaway, May 15, 2025; written by Mark Buss, EMS Chief CVFR…)
Fire Prevention Community Awards went to David City Volunteer Fire Department, North Bend Volunteer Fire Department, Blair Volunteer Fire Department and Wood River Volunteer Fire and Rescue.
Above: Fire Prevention Co-op Award went to the East Central Nebraska Fire Prevention Co-op including Arlington, Blair, Clarkson, David City, Fremont Rural, Linwood, Morse Bluff, North Bend, Plattsmouth, Scribner and Snyder.
Left: Pat Moore of the Nebraska Firefighters Museum and Education Board presented Roger Jasnoch with a plaque in honor of his support of the museum in Kearney. Jasnoch is retiring as Executive Director of Visit Kearney.
Controlled house burn held in Blair
On May 3, Blair Volunteer Fire and Rescue along with several other neighboring fire departments (Kennard, Fort Calhoun and Bennington) conducted a controlled house burn off of County Road 22 and County Road 27 west of town. From the Blair Volunteer Fire and Rescue Facebook page.
Heroism Award
Attention Recognition Committee:
This letter is being written for the Heroism Award to honor 10-year-old Charlie Renner from Battle Creek. I am writing this letter on behalf of the Battle Creek Volunteer Fire and Rescue to recognize a 10-year-old young man that has gone above and beyond of what he has known in his 10 young years.
On Oct. 23, 2025, 11-year-old Bowen Rogat was in math class at the Elementary School in Battle Creek, NE. Bowen decided to have a sucker. He opened the sucker and put it in his mouth and then the stick fell off of the sucker. Bowen thought he would just chew up the sucker but when he inhaled the sucker became lodged in his throat and started having trouble getting his air. One of his friends and classmate 10-year-old Charlie Renner looked at Bowen and he had his hands by his throat indicating that he was choking. Charlie did not hesitate and started to try and do the Heimlich maneuver to help save his friend’s life. As he was doing this procedure, he saw his teacher Mr. Lanman and alerted him. Mr. Lanman continued to do the Heimlich and was successful in getting the sucker dislodged.
This was quite the incident for a 5th grader who recognized the emergency and stepped in to help and take action which is a heroic act and truly amazing.
Bowen was taken to the nurse to get checked out and he was doing better. They did bring him back to the class to show everyone that Bowen was doing better. Everyone cheered for Bowen. Bowen’s parents came and got Bowen and took him to the doctor to be checked out and he was cleared.
We just feel that for this young man, Charlie Renner to react without hesitation did a heroic action.
Charlie Renner is the son of Kevin and Melody Renner who are very proud of their son.
Bowen Rogat is the son of Eric and Jessica Rogat who is very thankful that Charlie took the initiative to do what he did to help his best friend Bowen.
Math Teacher, Mr. Brad Lanman, who the family was so thankful that he knew how to do the Heimlich and could get the sucker dislodged and out of his throat.
Please send them to jeff@nebraskafirefighter.com along with information to explain the photo.
Charlie Renner with his Heroism Award at the 88th Annual Nebraska State Fire School.