Blackhawk Firefighters Association

03/23/2026

Thank you Byron Fire Protection District for being a great host! We look forward to next year!

03/18/2026

Blackhawk Fire School is coming up quick!
This Weekend (March 20–21)

We’re looking forward to much warmer weather and a great weekend of training!

🔥 Friday Night (March 20, 6–9 PM)
Emergency Service Outlook for 2026 and Beyond is now FREE to attend.
✔️ Meal provided
✔️ Entry into a $500 prize drawing

👉 Message us if you’d like to attend so we can add you to the list.

🚒Saturday (March 21)
• No lunch provided – breaks will allow time to visit nearby restaurants
• Registration: Station 1 from 7:00–8:00 AM

📍 Class Locations
• Flashover & 1st Rung: Station 2
• All other classes: Station 1

📍 Addresses
Station 1: 123 N Franklin St, Byron, IL
Station 2 (Training Site): 789 N Colfax St, Byron, IL

Parking details and nearby food options are shown below.

Get registered now if you haven’t already👇

https://forms.gle/RD9DEVPGJLbJtSRD9

03/13/2026

🔥Class Spotlight🔥
Practice Makes Perfect:
Mastering Your Critical EMT Skills
With Instructor, Craig Haigh, Haigh Solutions
March 21, 2026

This EMT-focused course reinforces core airway management and patient care skills through hands-on, skills-based learning. Participants will review basic airway anatomy and physiology as it applies to effective airway positioning, ventilation, oxygen delivery, and patient assessment. Emphasis is placed on practical application and decision-making commonly encountered in the prehospital setting.

The course will include interactive skills labs focused on airway management, IO placement and insertion, followed by an afternoon session dedicated to trauma assessment, splinting, and patient packaging. The day concludes with a quick medication refresher/overview and a guided discussion on EMT well-being, stress management, and resilience, highlighting the importance of provider health and longevity in emergency medical services.

The class is designed for EMRs, EMTs, and ALS providers. The training will place special emphasis on how EMRs and EMTs can provide assistance to their ALS partners.

7 CEUs available

Register here 👇

https://forms.gle/RD9DEVPGJLbJtSRD9

03/09/2026

A big thank you to our HOT Class Sponsors!
We couldn’t do it without your support:
• Dinges Fire Company
• Ready Rack
• Steel Blue
• Bullard
• 3 B’s Used Auto Parts
• Truck One Transportation
• Leffelman & Associates
• IDEX Fire & Safety
• Enforcer Firefighting Equipment

Your commitment to training and safety helps make our community stronger. 🚒🔥

03/09/2026

🔥 Blackhawk Firefighters Conference – Train Hard, Win Big! 🔥

Don’t miss the Friday, March 20th Training Event at the Blackhawk Firefighters Conference! This is your chance to sharpen your skills, connect with fellow firefighters, and walk away with some extra cash.

🚒 Get the training.
💰 Get the dough.

Attend the Friday training and you’ll be entered for a $500 CASH DRAWING!

Come for the knowledge, stay for the camaraderie, and maybe head home with $500 in your pocket.

See you there!

Register here 👇

https://forms.gle/RD9DEVPGJLbJtSRD9

03/06/2026

Class Fees covered on Friday... Please share.

02/25/2026

We’re excited to share that the Emergency Services Outlook for 2026 and Beyond class on Friday night on March 20th in Byron will be free to attend!

This opportunity is made possible through the generous sponsorship of AED Essentials and the Illinois Firefighters Association.

We appreciate their support in helping make this training accessible for our fire and EMS community.

Register here 👇
https://forms.gle/RD9DEVPGJLbJtSRD9

02/25/2026

🚨Blackhawk Fire School Vehicle Donation Request

Help us train — and clean up your yard at the same time!

The Blackhawk Firefighters Association is looking for:

🚗 Cars
🚐 Vans
🚚 Trucks

to use for hands-on training.

✔️ We will pick up the vehicle at no cost to you
✔️ Titles are preferred
✔️ Must have a catalytic converter

This is a great way to get rid of an unwanted vehicle while helping train local firefighters.

📩 Message us to schedule a pickup or donate a vehicle!

02/16/2026

🔥Class Announcement🔥
Marketing the Fire/EMS Service & PIO Readiness
With Ashley Losch, retired Division Chief of Communications, Arizona Fire & Medical Authority

Control The Narrative or Suffer The Consequences
Every fire department communicates—whether it plans to or not.
The only real question is this: do you control the message… or do the trolls?
Whether you love it or hate it, the media and social media aren’t going anywhere—and neither are public expectations for transparency, real-time updates, and accountability. Today, every firefighter is part of the department’s brand, story, and reputation… even if they never wanted to be.
From viral incidents and body-cam clips to instant public judgment, firefighters now operate in a world where public perception and trust are as critical as turnout times and tactics. This session breaks down why communication is no longer “extra,” “nice to have,” or “the PIO’s problem.” It’s an operational function that directly impacts recruitment, retention, funding, morale, incident outcomes—and most importantly, public safety.
Designed for firefighters, officers, and leaders. No fluff. No marketing jargon. Just real examples, practical takeaways, and a fresh look at how communication impacts the fireground, the station, and the future of the fire service.
If you’ve ever thought, “We don’t need a PIO” or “Social media isn’t our job,” this is not to be missed.

Register here 👇

https://forms.gle/RD9DEVPGJLbJtSRD9

02/16/2026

🔥 15 Departments Registered – Don’t Miss Out!
Register Now👇
https://forms.gle/RD9DEVPGJLbJtSRD9

02/16/2026

✨ New Class Spotlight ✨

🔥 Understanding Fire Behavior in a Flashover Simulator 🔥

With Shane Boehmke — Founder & President of Northern Illinois F.O.O.L.S — and fellow Brothers

• This class will discuss & show the stages of fire
• Discuss smoke reading from both interior & exterior
• Show signs & symptoms of flashover
• Show flow path & the importance of understanding it

When you get your turn in the simulator, you will see & feel the stages of fire — from ignition, to growth, and then flashover.

During the flashover, you will not only see it — you will feel the heat, with temps reaching up to 1,100°F at the ceiling. As it lingers overhead, it may look like something you want to touch — almost like a 3D movie — until you're reminded how HOT it is and the real dangers of flashover.

Instructors will then send it into the decay stage… only to do it again — another flashover for you to SEE & FEEL.

Along with fire behavior training, we may have a few additional elements to round out a fun-filled day — adding another nugget or two to your toolbox.

🚨 FULL PPE & SCBA REQUIRED 🚨

👉 Register here:
https://forms.gle/RD9DEVPGJLbJtSRD9

01/28/2025