Western Fire Chiefs Association Praises FirstNet Authority’s Enhanced Network Investment
January, 2026 — Recently the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) announced the expansion of FirstNet’s operational capacity and coverage with the addition of new sites for public safety coverage. The announced enhancements, developed in collaboration with public safety professionals, are designed to strengthen broadband connectivity for first responders operating in rural areas, remote locations, and demanding […]
PSOB Now Covers Occupational Cancer
Author: Jeremy Craft, President, Western Fire Chiefs Association I am excited to share a landmark win for firefighters and first responders nationwide. On December 19, 2025, the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act was signed into law as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, finally expanding the federal Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) program to […]
Western Fire Chiefs Association Announces Mark Niemeyer as New Chief Executive Officer
The Western Fire Chiefs Association (WFCA) announced that Mark Niemeyer has been unanimously selected by the Board of Directors to serve as the organization’s next Chief Executive Officer. Niemeyer, a long-time fire service leader with an extensive background in innovation, collaboration, and regional emergency response, assumed the role on December 1. Jeremy Craft, WFCA Board […]
Hawaii Fire Chiefs Join FirstNet, Built with AT&T to Showcase Major Expansion of Dedicated Deployable Assets for Public Safety
KAPALUA, MAUI – During the Hawaii Fire Chiefs Association annual conference today, first responders in Hawaii joined Maui County Fire Chief Brad Ventura and local representatives from AT&T to get a first-hand look at the new, major FirstNet®, Built with AT&T deployable fleet expansion. These assets are stationed year-round across the islands of Hawaii, Kauai, […]
Why Fire Service Leaders Should Attend the 2026 WFCA IGNITE Symposium
Author: Mark Niemeyer, President of the Board for the Western Fire Chiefs Association Mark your calendars for March 12-13, 2026—because the Western Fire Chiefs Association (WFCA) is once again hosting the IGNITE Symposium in Las Vegas, Nevada. This isn’t just another conference—it’s where the future of the fire service comes together. And we plan to make this year’s […]
In Solidarity with Coeur d’Alene and Kootenai County Firefighters
The Western Fire Chiefs Association (WFCA) wants to express our condolences to the Coeur d’Alene and Kootenai County firefighters who were heinously killed and injured on Sunday, June 29, 2025. These brave firefighters were responding to a vegetation fire, where they were senselessly attacked simply for doing their job. The coward that committed these acts represents the same type of […]
The Case for Active Leadership: A Unified Approach to Wildfire Management
Authors: Mark Niemeyer, President of the Board for the Western Fire Chiefs Association; Brian Fennessy, Fire Chief for the Orange County Fire Authority; Mike Morgan, Director of the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control; and Lucas Mayfield, President of the Grassroots Wildland Firefighters As we face an era of increasingly devastating wildfires, the formation […]
Vote for Fire Chief James Silvernail for IAFC Treasurer
Author: James Silvernail, Fire Chief Endorsed by the following IAFC Divisions: Missouri Valley Division, Eastern Division, Western Division, and EMS Section My fellow IAFC friends and colleagues, I humbly request your support and VOTE for Treasurer of the IAFC in 2025. As the immediate past president of the Missouri Valley Division of the IAFC, I […]
Western States Unite: A Collaborative Response to Southern California’s Wildfires
Author: Mark Niemeyer, President, Western Fire Chiefs Association As wildfires continue to devastate areas of Southern California, the urgent need for coordinated action has never been clearer. Our thoughts are with our colleagues and their communities facing a crisis very few of us will ever experience- while wildfire is a national problem, it is profoundly […]