RAPID CITY, S.D. – The South Dakota Firefighters Association and the Pennington County Fire Service hosted the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) Fall Conference in Rapid City.
The 3-day conference began on Monday, September 22nd, 2025 with meetings at the DoubleTree Hotel and Convention Center with representatives from 38 states, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and two Canadian provinces.
Highlights of the conference included a picnic dinner held on Monday, September 22nd, hosted by the Rapid Valley Volunteer Fire Department. The picnic served over 300 participants including representatives from South Dakota’s Congressional delegation, Senator Thune’s and Representative Johnson’s Office.
96.6% of the South Dakota Fire Service is volunteer based. In Pennington County alone, there are 18 volunteer and two career departments.
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is the leading organization representing Volunteer Fire and Emergency Medical Services in the United States.
The NVFC has direct influence on federal, state, and local fire programs and regulations.