2 9 t h A n n u a l F i r e D e p a r t m e n t I n f o r m a t i o n C o n f e r e n c e
FDIC ATLANTIC
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2026 REGISTRATION OPEN
CLASSROOM WORKSHoP
CLASSROOM WORKSHoP
“Managing Risk on the Fireground for Call, Volunteer and Combination Departments”
“Managing Risk on the Fireground for Call, Volunteer and Combination Departments”
Joe Nedder
Joe Nedder
Saturday Afternoon13:00 - 14:30
Saturday Afternoon15:00 - 16:30
Synopsis
Synopsis
The purpose of this class is quite simple: to educate our members that risk management is critical to our safety and survival. This class will explore risk management from its basic concepts to a 4-Step Risk Management Model. Each step will be looked at through the eyes of the Volunteer Service. Why? Because we are different and need to understand and accept it! Each step will be explored as to what it means, and how we can utilize it. For example, in Hazard Control, we will discuss if your personnel are protected. Most think this means PPE; however, in risk management, it would also include whether the correct size hoselines are being deployed, if the flow path has been identified, and if we understand what "flow path" really means.
A more difficult question that needs to be asked is: are the crew members capable of what you are assigning them, or do we need to manage the risk by transferring the assignment to a more capable crew? In addition to presenting these risk management models and tools, we will explore how we can better manage the risks that we take. This will begin by discussing the fact that we are at risk and need to do all we can to minimize it while still being outstanding firefighters. Cultural changes will be looked at and suggestions made. There are specific actions that can be taken by all that will, in fact, help to manage and minimize risk. These include department training at all levels, the Rapid Intervention Team, and the Incident Safety Officer. We will look at each of these subjects, why they are critical to our safety and survival, what the issues are as it pertains to each subject, and thoughts and ideas on how to overcome the issues and obstacles. Managing risk in the volunteer fire service is not only words and a thought process, but also learning ongoing specific actions that all must participate in so that we all do truly go home.
Bio
Bio
Joe Nedder is a passionate and inspirational instructor who joined the fire service on April 2,
1977 on a small rural volunteer department. In the early 90's he became an instructor for the Massachusetts Fire Academy where he developed and implemented a Firefighter I/II program for Volunteers and on call firefighters. He conducted 20 classes before stepping away. The program continues with over one hundred and twenty classes being graduated! Joe left the Academy in 2008 and put all his efforts into his training organization Cross St Associates. For over 20 years his focus has been primarily delivering training to volunteers and other smaller organizations. Joe believes that all firefighters regardless of the size of their department deserve the best training possible.
Joe retired from active on the line service in 2013. During his active career he was always a volunteer or on-call firefighter holding various ranks. He continues to develop innovative programs, actively teach and write. In 2019 Chief William Kessler of the Mendon (MA) fire Department pulled him out of retirement and brought him in as the Deputy Chief of Training for his Combination Department. Joe retired in 2025 from that position but continues with helping other fire departments as a Training and Management Consultant.
Nedder has taught at the FDIC every year since 2010 and has been invited to teach once again in 2026. He is also a returning Instructor at the Missouri University Fire and Rescue Training Institute (MUFRTI) Winter Fire School. He has authored numerous articles for Fire Engineering Magazine's Volunteer Corner. Joe has authored two books; Rapid Intervention Crews (Jones and Bartlett) and Managing Risk in the Volunteer Fire Department: Concepts, Methods, and Practices for Fire Engineering books.
Joe is the recipient of the 2022 George H. Post Fire Service Instructor of the Year Award by Fire Engineering and the International Society of Fire Service Instructors (ISFSI).
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