The Virginia Fire Chiefs Association (VFCA) was established in 1930 as the State Fire Chiefs Association of Virginia, Inc. (SFCAV) by forward-thinking fire chiefs committed to strengthening and advancing the Commonwealth’s fire service. The Association’s original mission was to promote fire prevention, improve protection and extinguishment efforts, and reduce insurance losses through stronger collaboration among Virginia’s fire chiefs.

Early discussions in 1930 addressed foundational issues such as creating a State Firemen’s School, passing a Firemen’s Pension Bill, and adopting a Model Arson Law. Over the decades, the VFCA’s mission has evolved to meet the changing needs of the fire and emergency services.

Today, the VFCA serves to:

• Unite fire and rescue leaders at least annually to exchange ideas, innovations, and best practices.

• Advance life-saving and fire suppression strategies.

• Support research and development of emergency service best practices.

• Lead public fire prevention education efforts.

• Partner with allied organizations to strengthen the fire service statewide.

• Promote and support the delivery of pre-hospital emergency medical care by the fire service.

In 2002, the Association formally adopted the name Virginia Fire Chiefs Association to better reflect its identity, improve accessibility, and align with the naming conventions of peer organizations across the nation.

Administrative Growth

From its early years until 1998, the Virginia Municipal League (VML) served as the VFCA’s secretariat, managing day-to-day administrative support for the President and Board of Directors. In 1998–1999, administrative duties transitioned in-house with the hiring of the Association’s first Executive Director, Robbin Brannon, followed by William C. “Bill” Smith (2002–2009), James W. “Jimmy” Carter (2009–2014), and R. Christian “Chris” Eudailey (2014–present). 

The Virginia Fire Rescue Conference

From its inception, the VFCA recognized the importance of professional development and collaboration. For decades, the Association hosted a summer Annual Conference, typically in the outgoing president’s locality, combining business sessions, training, exhibits, and community events.

In the mid-1970s, the VFCA launched the Mid-Winter Educational Conference to focus on training for Virginia’s fire service. The first was held in 1975 in Doswell, followed by another year in Doswell, before moving to Williamsburg in 1983 (with a one-year stop in Hampton in 1997). The event grew rapidly, incorporating multiple training tracks, social events, and apparatus displays.

In 1998, under President Floyd Greene, the conference moved to Virginia Beach, allowing apparatus displays to be held indoors for the first time and resulting in record attendance and exhibitor participation. In 1999, declining attendance at the summer Annual Conference prompted the Board to merge it with the Mid-Winter event. In 2014, the event was renamed the Virginia Fire Rescue Conference (VFRC) to reflect its broader scope.

Today’s Conference

Now one of the premier fire service events in the Mid-Atlantic, the Virginia Fire Rescue Conference spans nearly a week each February at the Virginia Beach Convention Center, offering:

• World-class education and training across multiple tracks.

• A 150,000 sq. ft. exhibit hall featuring apparatus, equipment, and service providers.

• Extensive Hands-On Training (HOT) sessions in partnership with the Virginia Beach Fire Training Center.

• Networking opportunities for fire and rescue professionals from across Virginia and beyond.

The VFRC remains a cornerstone of the VFCA’s mission—providing the education, resources, and connections needed to advance the safety, effectiveness, and professionalism of Virginia’s fire and rescue community.