Union Fire District Represented at National Volunteer Fire Council’s Spring Board Meeting

SOUTH KINGSTOWN — Chief Steven Pinch and the Union Fire District of South Kingstown (UFD) are pleased to announce that retired Deputy Chief and National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) 1st Vice Chairman Kevin Quinn represented the department during the council’s annual spring meeting earlier this month.

The NVFC meeting was held Friday, May 19 through Sunday, May 21 in Arlington, Virginia.

The NVFC is a nonprofit organization that supports the interests of volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services. The NVFC represents volunteers nationally and provides critical resources, programs, education and advocacy for first responders across the country.

The meeting included several speakers: Arlington (VA) Fire Department Chief David Povlitz, Rick Markley of the National Firefighter Cancer Registry, Kevin O’Connor from the International Association of Fire Fighters, William Dunham from the FEMA Grants Office, Glenn Tecker of Tecker International LLC and Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell as the keynote speaker.

At the meeting, Quinn represented UFD as well as the Rhode Island State Firefighters League as the Committee Chair for the Health, Safety and Training Committee. Quinn’s discussion at the meeting covered topics including the development of standards to prepare for better health, safety, and protection of fire crews, the growing cancer concerns in the fire service, heart healthy expectations and behavioral health issues.

Also in attendance was Ret. Harrisville Fire Chief Mark St. Pierre. St. Pierre sits with Quinn on the NVFC board as a Director, representing the state of Rhode Island. He serves as a representative of the Rhode Island State Firefighters League and serves on the Legislative, Advocacy and Wildland committees for the NVFC.

The meeting was widely attended with 54 board directors from 34 states, including Rhode Island, in attendance. The event featured officer and executive committee elections, committee meetings, general sessions, guest speakers and a banquet celebrating the recipients of the NVFC’s achievement awards.

The meeting focused on a range of issues including wildland, standards and codes, legislation, recruitment and retention, health and safety and more. In addition, general sessions were held with the full board to discuss matters of national and state interest, vote on issues before the board and provide input and guidance on the strategic direction of the organization.

The NVFC board is comprised of up to 47 state fire service associations and meets twice a year in the spring and fall. 

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