NORFOLK, Neb. -- A four-day firefighter's conference kicked off in northeast Nebraska welcoming over a hundred of Nebraska's finest.

The 2022 Nebraska State Volunteer Firefighter Annual Conference started Thursday in Norfolk.

The conference included training sectioned into three lessons of retention and recruitment, being fit for duty, and leadership.

Instructor David Denniston said besides learning new information, it's extremely beneficial for firefighters from different areas to interact.

"But probably even bigger than that is the camaraderie that takes place, and then the conversations over meals and sitting waiting for class.," said Denniston. "People start to realize that the same issues that I'm dealing with in my organization, somebody else is in theirs. So, they can share what's worked for us and what hasn't."

The NSVF Annual Conference will also touch on various topics from budgeting plans and voting for officers.

Chairman John Bomar explained how the main topic of EMS necessity is crucial for Nebraska.

"We're going to push to get the EMS necessitous in Nebraska, firefighters are already required and EMS is not," said Bomar. "We are going to try to get a bill hopefully out of this conference to send for that." 

Secretary Treasurer Mark Meints will also discuss the use of the association's fourth federal grant.

The grant will be used to offer different resources to gain more first responders as Nebraska is facing a shortage.

"Departments in the state of Nebraska are volunteer departments, so everybody is lacking the volunteers that we need to be able to first respond to your car accident, to your house fire, or to your medical call, said Meints. "We hope some of the things that we are doing this weekend will help get that going again."

The NSVF Annual Conference is always sponsored by different fire departments in the state, and this year it was sponsored by Battle Creek Fire and Rescue.

Firefighters in attendance will spend the rest of the weekend partaking in more events, training, and meetings to enhance their skill-set to better serve their communities.