By Laura French
WASHINGTON — The Congressional Fire Services Institute announced that the annual National Fire and Emergency Services Symposium will be held virtually this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2021 symposium is scheduled for April 27-29 and will feature online seminars on public safety and leadership issues hosted by prominent fire services leaders and federal officials, as well as virtual opportunities for social interaction, a key element of the annual symposium and dinner program, according to a CFSI statement.
“While the process of administering COVID-19 vaccination has begun, the coronavirus remains a serious health risk across our nation and within the fire and emergency services community,” CFSI officials stated. "... CFSI’s work in Washington, DC continues despite the challenges posed by the pandemic. Participation from fire service leaders in our revised April event is vital to our mission, giving us the opportunity to present to them information about federal fire service legislation and programs they can share with their member of Congress in 2021.”
The symposium, previously scheduled for April 29-30, 2020 in Washington, was postponed indefinitely last March due to health and safety concerns stemming from the pandemic.
CFSI staff are currently finalizing the development of the virtual symposium program and plan to release further details in the coming weeks, officials said.