Firefighters know training matters. But how much time are they actually getting to train, what are they training on, and does that training prepare them for the work they are most likely to face?
FireRescue1’s 2026 What Firefighters Want survey asked firefighters and fire service leaders to weigh in on the state of department training — from training hours and formats to live-fire exercises, instructor qualifications, evaluation practices and emerging technologies.
The results reveal a training picture that is encouraging in some areas and more complicated in others. Join FireRescue1 for a closer look at the 2026 What Firefighters Want training findings and what they mean for firefighters, company officers, training officers and chiefs.
The panelists covered:
- How much training firefighters are really getting — and whether training time is translating into greater proficiency;
- Why training time remains a challenge — and how staffing, scheduling and call coverage affect participation;
- Whether training reflects the work firefighters actually do — and where respondents see preparedness gaps;
- What makes training effective — from company-level drills and live-fire training to scenario-based and decision-making exercises;
- The role of instructors and evaluation — instructor development, objective performance measures, and the difference between checking a box and improving operational performance; and
- What motivates firefighters to keep learning — and how departments can build a culture of continuous improvement rather than repeating the same training year after year.
Join us to hear what firefighters told us, what the data suggests and how departments can turn those findings into more effective training.
Watch a clip from the webinar:
Meet the panelists
John Oates is the CEO of the International Public Safety Data Institute. Prior to being appointed as CEO, he served as chief of the East Hartford (Connecticut) Fire Department. He has a bachelor’s degree from Franklin Pierce University, a master’s degree from Oklahoma State University, is a graduate of the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program, and holds numerous professional certifications. Chief Oates is a longtime contributor to the NFFF’s Everyone Goes Home Program, and serves as a member of the Behavioral Health Advisory Committee created by the First Responder Center for Excellence, an NFFF affiliated organization.
Vince Bettinazzi serves as deputy chief of the Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Fire Department. He began his career in 2007 and has since advanced through the ranks, holding positions in operations, training and administration. Bettinazzi holds a bachelor’s degree in Health Education from Muskingum University. He is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Managing Officer Program and is currently completing the Executive Fire Officer Program. He is also a credentialed Chief Fire Officer (CFO) through the Center for Public Safety Excellence and an active member of several professional fire service organizations.
Moderator: Jason Caughey is a member of the FireRescue1 Editorial Advisory Board, serving as a senior advisor. He has been in the fire service for more than 20 years, serving in many capacities, including state trainer, volunteer firefighter, fire captain and volunteer fire chief. Caughey currently serves as fire chief of the Laramie County Fire Authority (LCFA) in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Caughey has an associate degree and bachelor’s degree in fire science from Columbia Southern University and is currently working on his master’s in public administration. He also achieved his Executive Fire Officer designation from the National Fire Academy along with the Chief Fire Officer designation from the Center for Public Safety Excellence.