Congressional Fire Services Institute

Whether you are a firefighter, emergency services responder, manufacturer or fire service leader, the United States government is more aware of your concerns because of the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI). Established in 1989 as a nonprofit, nonpartisan policy institute, CFSI is designed to educate members of Congress about the needs and challenges of our nation’s fire and emergency services so that the federal government provides the types of training and funding needed by our first responders. Members of Congress often turn to CFSI for its knowledge that penetrates the inner workings of Capitol Hill and the various facets of the fire and emergency services – from culture of the fire service and various associations that represents different disciplines to the technology and training being developed by industry. Because of our nonpartisan nature, CFSI is a proven source for accurate and objective information on fire service issues. That is why CFSI has achieved unparalleled success in consensus building…not only on Capitol Hill, but among fire service organizations as well. For CFSI, success is built around education. Each year, we provide a series of educational activities, mostly through hands-on training programs, to sensitize Congress about the challenges facing the fire service. We offer basic training programs in structural and wildland firefighting and special briefing to discuss pending fire service legislation. We publish white papers for Congress to share with them the consensus position of the fire service on federal fire programs and legislation. Our motto is simple: “So That First Responders Never Stand Alone.” Although you often find yourself alone performing dangerous work, CFSI stands in your place on Capitol Hill working to insure that your actions and needs are being heard by federal legislators.