2026 Fire Prevention Leadership Symposium
May 12-13, 2026 – Angel of the Winds Casino Resort – Arlington, Washington
Registration Now Open
The Washington State Association of Fire Marshals is pleased to announce the dates for the 2026 Fire Prevention Symposium (FPS). The FPS is being held at Angel of the Winds Casino Resort at Arlington, and will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, and will conclude at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13, 2026. The Fire Prevention Symposium focuses on training that requires more time than what is normally available at the Fire Prevention Institute each October so that the training can be more in-depth. The sessions will focus on leadership, management, technical training, as well as other important prevention and strategy for fire officials and will include essential training hours needed for code recertification.
Registration includes: All Sessions, Breakfast and Lunch
Important note that every registration needs to have the attendees email NO DUPLICATE EMAILS.
There will be power provided for computer usage.
This is the first occurrence of the FPS. Topics this year include: Clifton Strengths in Detail, Addie to the Rescue, Organizational Culture, Commercial Cooking Hoods, and Understanding ESS and NFPA 855. The FPS is smaller using only two classrooms, so registration may be limited depending upon demand.
Clifton Strengths will require a short survey and by checking the box in the registration will allow us to send the link prior to the event.
Leadership Track:
CliftonStrengths® for Fire Service Leaders: Leading with Confidence, Clarity, and Connection
Description:
When leaders understand how to harness their natural strengths—and the strengths of their team—they can reduce friction, increase engagement, and lead with greater clarity and confidence. In this interactive, full-day CliftonStrengths® workshop, participants will explore how their unique strengths impact their leadership style, decision-making, and communication. Through real-world applications and fire service-relevant insights, they’ll leave with a fresh understanding of themselves and a toolkit they can use to lead more effectively, build stronger teams, and reduce burnout.
This session is best suited for current or aspiring leaders in the fire service who are ready to deepen their self-awareness and strengthen their leadership impact.
Objectives:
- Identify and understand your Top 5 CliftonStrengths® themes and how they influence your leadership approach.
- Explore how strengths-based leadership can improve communication, collaboration, and morale within fire service teams.
- Apply practical CliftonStrengths® tools to lead with clarity, support diverse team dynamics, and reduce the risk of burnout.
About Sheri Miter, Your Facilitator
Sheri Miter is a certified CliftonStrengths® coach, career strategist, and author of Discovering Your Calling. With over 25 years of leadership and team development experience, Sheri helps individuals and organizations unlock their natural talents to lead with greater clarity, purpose, and impact.
Sheri has worked with fire departments, municipalities, and leadership teams across the country. She’s also personally connected to the fire service—married to a retired Battalion Chief of 36 years and mom to two sons who have served in city fire departments. She brings not only deep expertise but also heartfelt understanding of the challenges and culture unique to public safety.
ADDIE to the Rescue - Wednesday
Summary:
This half-day facilitated, and interactive workshop provides attendees with a framework to improve their organization’s course development for measurable results and better learning outcomes. It is a partner workshop to Integra’s “Training Program Performance Improvement.”
Participants are expected to bring an agency-needed training topic to share in the workshop.
Background:
Professional training is essential to organizational success. Employees and supervisors expect it to enhance their performance improvement and career development. Changes in the work environment, mandates such as certifications and licensing, new technology, and workplace needs merge to challenge personnel to keep their skills up to date.
Often, course development is assigned to one or more subject matter experts to develop and deliver content to fulfill a perceived need. Without a clear course development framework, developers may not hit the target of what students need to meet their learning goals.
“Subject matter experts are the worst course developers because they always want to share everything they know.” – Laurie Savely, Instructional Designer, LS Learning Solutions
Professional skills course development should be based on the long-standing and credible five-step ADDIE model (Analysis, Design, Development, Instruction, Evaluation) that is educationally sound and provides measurable results.
Rob Neale is the owner and principal of Integra Code Consultants, a Maryland-based firm that provides construction code consulting, plan review and training. Previously, he was the International Code Council’s Government Relations Vice-President for National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, MD. He was responsible for development of curriculum aimed at improving the professionalism of America’s fire service. Mr. Neale for six years managed the NFA’s Technical Fire Prevention curriculum; including fire inspection techniques, perspective and performance-based fire and building code interpretation and application, fire protection systems function, design, installation and standards, and plan review for fire inspection personnel.
Tuesday 05/13/2025 08:30 - 4:30
Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) Regulatory Oversight
This course is designed for fire marshals, fire inspectors, and code officials seeking a deeper technical understanding of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and their regulatory oversight. Participants will review the hazard profiles and failure mechanisms—such as thermal runaway, off-gassing, cascading cell failures, and explosion hazards—that can impact system integrity and responder safety.
A central focus will be interpreting and applying the code requirements established in International Fire Code (IFC) Chapter 12 – Energy Systems and NFPA 855 – Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems. Students will analyze how these documents interface with one another and with referenced standards to guide permitting, installation review, field inspection, and emergency response planning.
Through technical case studies and compliance exercises, participants will learn how to evaluate system designs for hazard mitigation, verify installation documentation, and conduct informed inspections that prioritize both operational reliability and community safety.
Technical Takeaways:
- Gain a detailed understanding of BESS configurations, chemistries, and energy management subsystems.
- Identify primary and secondary failure modes, including their thermal, electrical, and mechanical triggers.
- Apply the prescriptive and performance-based requirements of IFC Chapter 12 and NFPA 855 during plan review and inspection.
- Understand system-level protection measures such as fire suppression, ventilation, deflagration controls, and emergency shut-down functionality.
- Evaluate system documentation, performance data, and compliance submittals including hazard mitigation analyses, UL testing reports, and emergency response plans.
- Strengthen interagency coordination for incident preplanning and enforcement consistency.
Greg Rogers is a retired Deputy Chief Greg Rogers is currently an NFPA Regional Director and started his career as an instructor in 1992 at the Oklahoma State Fire Service Training Center. He continued as a Fire Safety Engineer with North Metro Fire Rescue in Broomfield, CO, and then onto WA state at South Kitsap Fire and Rescue for over 17 years and as the Deputy Chief with Spokane Valley Fire Department.
Chief Rogers has developed and taught several courses throughout the country, including CRR in Action, What Chiefs Need to Know about CRR, International Fire Code classes, Fire Company Officer Inspection classes, and Basic Understanding of the Fire Code and Basic Fire Investigations classes for Olympic College.
Greg is Internationally known for visionary community risk reduction and creative data solutions for decision-making and service delivery, he has presented sessions in the UK and Shanghai, China. As an Executive in the fire service, his focus is to make a meaningful difference in the industry through dedication to continuous self and organizational improvement through building coalitions and relationships with an emphasis on being results-driven and orientated, empowering, developing, and motivating people through business, associations, and volunteer organizations.
Greg has served in Executive roles such as fire service representative on the Washington State Fire Service Leadership Forum, Chair of the International Association of Fire Chiefs Fire and Life Safety Section, and served as Past Commissioner for the Commission on Professional Credentialing for the Center of Public Safety Excellence, Past-President of the Washington State Association of Fire Marshals, and the Washington Youth Soccer Association Board. These roles helped Greg Rogers create an understanding of how to balance competing needs, develop a proactive problem-solving approach, and make those difficult leadership decisions.
IMPORTANT
You will receive or have received an email from "Conference Tracker (Engineerica Systems Inc )" asking you to update your profile.
In order to obtain CEU credits you will be required to download the conference application from Conference Tracker (Green in color) by Engineerica Systems Inc.
In order to obtain CEU credits you will be required to download the conference application from Conference Tracker (Green in color) by Engineerica Systems Inc.
You will need to use your email that you have registered with when you signed up for the symposium.
This APP is required to obtain your CEU's, Certificate, Schedule, Handouts, and see the vendors.
You can download the NEW CONFERENCE APPLICATION at your favorite App Store. Search "Conference Tracker by Engineerica Systems Inc. " to download.
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WSAFM continues to make things happen!
Lodging is Now Open
The rate is currently $139.00 – single occupancy/$139.00 double occupancy, plus tax – please be advised the rate may adjust up or down, on or before April 28, 2026. Group Code #928.
In order to receive this special rate, reservations must be made by April 28, 2026. Once this date has passed, or the room block has been filled, you will need to find alternate lodging. Reservations should be made directly with the hotel by calling 360-474-9740.
Please be sure to provide group block name "WSAFM" and group block code #928.
Angel of the Winds Casino Resort
3438 Stoluckquamish Ln
Arlington, WA 98223
(360) 474-9740
Angel of the Winds policy requires cancellations to be made 2 days prior to your arrival. Failure to notify the Resort within the specified time of cancellation will result in forfeiture of the deposit or a charge to the credit card.
Since there has been considerable expenses already expended all cancelations are subject to the cancelation policy that is stated in the registration.
Here is the policy:
All cancelations must be submitted in writing and emailed to WSAFM at wsafm@wsafm.com
REFUND INFORMATION
100% if canceled by 3/1/2026
50% if canceled by 4/1/2026
No refunds after 5/1/2026
If you have specific questions, please contact Tom Maloney at (360) 363-8506 or tmaloney@mfdrfa.org
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