Firefighter Lodging Scholarships for
2022 NW FL Volunteer Firefighter Weekend
Thanks to the Turtle Plastics Foundation, the Northwest Florida Volunteer Firefighter Weekend Council is proud to offer 5 lodging scholarships to attend this year’s event. The scholarship will pay for 2-night stay (Friday & Saturday) at the Comfort Suites in Niceville. Preference awarded to Florida Firefighters.
Eligibility Requirements:
1. You must live greater than 100 miles from Niceville, FL, and
2. An active member of a volunteer/combination fire department.
If you meet the eligibility requirement, please submit the following information by August 1, 2022 by fax at 877-468-7309.
1. Fire Chief (On fire department letterhead and signed)
a. Statement that the fire department is not able to pay for their firefighter to attend this year’s event
b. Benefits to the fire department and community
c. Why this member deserves this scholarship?
2. Firefighter/student (include name, rank, home address, and signed)
a. Why do you want to attend?
b. Benefit of this training to yourself, department, and community.
c. Department name and how long with the department.
If you have any questions, please email staff@nwflvolunteerffweekend.com
FEMA Scholarship Opportunities
No Longer Available – FEMA Grant ended 5/11/2022
In 2017, NFVFW received a four year FEMA Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant to assist volunteer fire departments. Program elements include:
• Free training for students obtaining their Firefighter I certification
• Free PPE for newly certified volunteers
• Reimbursement for medical exams for newly certified volunteers
• Recruitment & Retention Workshops to provide volunteer fire service leaders with new tools and techniques
• Support for localized, custom recruitment and retention campaigns
• Firefighter I Practical Skills sign-off training assistance
VOLUNTEER TRAINING
Learn More…PPE SCHOLARSHIP
Learn More…NFPA 1582 MEDICAL EXAM
Learn More…RECRUITMENT & RETENTION
Learn More…Volunteer Training Scholarships
To help new volunteers (after 8/17/2017) obtain their Firefighter I certification, the training scholarship funds expenses to attend one of the following courses:
• Skills Task Book Sign-off (Wednesday – Friday)
• Live Fire Evolutions (Friday – Sunday)
• S130/S190/L180 (Wednesday – Sunday)
Scholarship Process:
1. Register for one of the courses listed above
2. Fill out and submit scholarship application completed by both volunteer and chief (below)
3. After approved, book lodging in Niceville (funded by the SAFER grant)
4. Attend training in September
5. Submit reimbursement form for the following:
• Mileage
• Per diem
• Lost wages for week-day training
6. Complete Firefighter I Certification by January 21, 2022
7. Email or fax a copy of certificate
Scholarship Application (To attend one of the above training courses):
Click HerePPE Scholarships
(This program is currently on hold)
By attending training at NFVFW and successfully completing Firefighter I Certification, volunteers will be eligible to receive a complete set of personal protective equipment (pants, coat, helmet, boots, gloves and hood).
Process to Obtain Free PPE:
1. Register for one of the following training courses at the Northwest Florida Volunteer Firefighter Weekend
• Skills Task Book Sign-off
• Live Fire Evolutions
• S130/S190/L180
2. Fill out and submit PPE scholarship application completed by both volunteer and chief (below)
3. Attend training in September
4. Visit PPE vendor during weekend training event, measurements will be recorded
5. Complete Firefighter I Certification
6. Email or fax a copy of certificate
7. A PPE voucher will be sent to volunteer/chief to obtain gear from vendor
Free PPE may also be available to those attending Skills Task Book Sign-off and/or Live Fire Evolutions during Volunteer Week at the Florida State Fire College, please contact NFVFW for more information.
PPE Scholarship Application (Now Available):
Click HereNFPA 1582 Medical Exam Reimbursement
By successfully completing Firefighter I Certification, volunteers/departments will be eligible to receive
reimbursement (up to $150) for required medical
exam. You do not have to attend one of the Council’s sponsored training events.
Reimbursement Process:
1. Successfully Complete Firefighter I Certification
2. Fill out and submit medical scholarship
application completed by both volunteer and
chief (below)
3. Email or fax copy of Firefighter I certificate
and copy of medical exam receipt
Medical Scholarship Application (Now Accepting Applications)
Click HereRecruitment & Retention Workshop Scholarship
The next SAFER-funded Retention & Recruitment Workshop (IAFC Beyond Hoses & Helmets) will be offered September 19 – 20, 2020. The workshop is open to all volunteer fire service leaders across the southeast. The workshop is FREE and travel/lodging expenses and per diem to attend the workshop will be reimbursed.
Scholarship information will be emailed to you after registration.
Florida Firefighter I Task Book Skills Sign-Off’s Assistance
To assist with the completion of the Florida Firefighter I Task Book, the NFVFW can provide up to two certified fire instructors at no charge to a host agency . For more information on this program, email Patrick Garvey at:
training@nwflvolunteerffweekend.com.
CLICK HERE for a link to a worksheet that can be used by Volunteer Fire Departments to record training that will enable the Bureau of Fire Standards and Training (Florida State Fire College) to issue an updated Volunteer Firefighter Certification that will reflect 206 hours of training completed.
