WFCA Quarterly Newsletter 2025 | Q2
Published:April 29, 2025
Edited:April 29, 2025
Learn more about what the Western Fire Chiefs Association (WFCA) worked on during Q1 2025 and plans for Q2 2025 in this edition of the WFCA Quarterly Newsletter.
President’s Message
Dear WFCA Members,
Over the past three months, the Western Fire Chiefs Association has made significant strides in our legislative and policy engagement efforts. One of the highlights of the quarter was the inaugural WFCA Legislative Engagement Event held in Washington, D.C., from March 31st to April 2nd.
This landmark event brought together WFCA and Western State’s leadership for three highly productive days of discussions with congressional representatives and key federal agencies. Our conversations centered on critical issues including wildfire response and mitigation, sustainable funding models, policy development, and responder safety.
The WFCA remains committed to advancing the voice of the Western fire service at the federal level. This event marked an important step forward in building strong relationships and ensuring our priorities are heard in the nation’s capital.
Thank you for your continued support and engagement as we carry this momentum forward.
Fraternally,
Chief Mark Niemeyer, City of Boise
WFCA President
How Technology is Redefining Fireground Operations
Across North America, fire departments are responding to a new kind of call—not just to emergencies, but to innovation.
In an era where wildfires burn hotter, urban populations grow denser, and resources stretch thinner, the fire-rescue community is embracing technologies that were once the stuff of science fiction. From artificial intelligence (AI) to drones, robotics, and smart sensors, these tools are transforming how fire departments detect, respond to, and recover from incidents.
Smarter, Faster, Safer
AI-powered early detection systems are now being deployed in wildfire-prone regions to monitor environmental conditions and detect fire signatures—often before a 911 call is ever made. These systems provide critical lead time for incident commanders, enabling faster containment efforts and reducing risk to lives and property.
Drones and robotics are offering new levels of situational awareness. Whether flying over a hazardous structure fire or navigating confined spaces, these tools provide live feeds and thermal imaging, helping commanders make informed decisions while keeping personnel out of harm’s way.
Smart PPE and wearable sensors are monitoring firefighter vitals and air quality in real time, flagging early signs of overexertion or toxic exposure. Combined with digital command center platforms, these systems ensure data is not only collected—but acted upon when seconds matter most.
The Power of Cooperative Purchasing
For many departments, especially those with limited budgets or procurement staff, accessing this type of cutting-edge technology can feel out of reach. That’s where cooperative purchasing becomes a strategic advantage.
Sourcewell, a government agency and long-time partner of WFCA, simplifies and accelerates procurement for fire-rescue departments through a vast portfolio of competitively awarded contracts. This means no RFPs, no long waits—just vetted suppliers and proven solutions ready for immediate purchase.
Ready to explore drones, robotics, and UAS solutions?
Explore Sourcewell’s competitively awarded contracts for unmanned aerial systems, robotic equipment, and automation tools designed for the fire-rescue environment. sourcewell-mn.gov/contract-search?category=29361&keyword
Save the Date: March 12-13, 2026 | Las Vegas, NV
Following a successful inaugural year, we’re excited to bring the WFCA IGNITE Symposium back to Las Vegas for its second annual event. Join us as we build upon the momentum, fostering innovation and leadership within the fire service community.
Newsletter Update
We’re excited to share that the New Year kicked off with major progress for the Daily Dispatch! Thanks to recent platform upgrades, we’ve begun rolling out state-specific editions of the newsletter. We started the quarter by training several team members on our new system. That training, plus all the behind-the-scenes development work and extensive site testing, paved the way for us to expand from a national news-only format to delivering eight additional state newsletters each day.
By the end of Q1, we were sending daily news to our subscribers in North Dakota, South Dakota, Nevada, Texas, Michigan, Massachusetts, California and Florida. The Daily Dispatch team has ramped up quickly and will continue adding states editions in the near future — stay tuned!
Top 4 Clicked Stories from Q1 2025
#2
Video shows alleged arsonist catching fire while setting car ablaze in California
KCAL-TV CBS 9 Los Angeles
WFCA Original Content for Wildfire Community Preparedness Day
In preparation for Wildfire Community Preparedness Day on Saturday, May 3, WFCA offers a suite of free, shareable resources to support your community outreach efforts. Our Wildfire Preparedness collection includes practical guides such as the Wildfire Preparedness Checklist, Wildfire Evacuation Plan Checklist, and How to Stay Safe During a Wildfire. These articles provide actionable steps for residents to enhance their readiness and resilience. We encourage you to utilize and distribute these materials to support community wildfire awareness—and save time by using ready-made content you can share right away.
Upcoming Events in Q2 & Q3 2025
Metro Fire Chiefs Conference
Horry County, SC – April 27 – May 1
Oregon Fire Chiefs Association – Annual Spring Conference
Bend, OR – May 7-9
Idaho Fire Chief’s Association – Annual Conference
Sun Valley, ID – May 15-18
San Jose Connected Solutions Expo
San Jose, CA – May 21
5×5 The Public Safety Innovation Summit
Seattle, WA – June 3-5
AFCA/AFDA Fire & EMS Leadership Conference & Expo
Glendale, AZ – July 14-18
IAFC’s Fire-Rescue International
Orlando, FL – August 13-15
Metro Fire Chiefs Conference
Horry County, SC – April 27 – May 1
Vision FirstNet Users Summit
Indianapolis, IN – September 8-11
FireShowsWest Conference & Expo
Reno, NV – September 30 – October 3