Advancing Fire-Based Emergency Medical Services
Fire-based emergency medical services (EMS) play a vital role in protecting communities, delivering emergency medical care, and supporting coordinated emergency response.
The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) supports fire chiefs and EMS leaders with operational guidance, professional development, policy advocacy, and resources to strengthen fire-based EMS delivery, improve responder safety, and enhance patient care.
Explore EMS resources, training opportunities, industry developments, and IAFC initiatives designed to help fire service leaders navigate evolving challenges and advance emergency medical services.
IAFC EMS Section
The IAFC EMS Section, one of the IAFC’s largest with more than 1,600 members, advises the IAFC board and represents fire-based EMS issues to the federal government. The Section provides guidance on issues affecting fire-based EMS and represents the interests of fire service leaders at the national level.
Featured EMS resources
Start with these guides, handbooks, and toolkits for fire and EMS leaders.
-
Digital Capabilities Resilience Guide & Toolkit
Explore the IAFC Digital Capabilities Resilience Guide & Toolkit to help fire and EMS departments maintain essential operations during technology disruptions.
-
Heart Safe Community Guide
Learn how fire and EMS agencies can strengthen cardiac arrest response, improve survival and build a more prepared Heart Safe Community.
-
CHEMTREC
Public service hotline where first responders can get information and help for emergency incidents involving chemicals and hazardous materials.
Events and conferences
Learn alongside fire and EMS leaders at IAFC conferences and training events.
-
Fire-Rescue International 2027
Fire-Rescue International (FRI) is the IAFC’s annual conference bringing together fire and emergency service leaders for professional development, industry innovation, and peer networking.
Common questions about fire-based EMS
Quick answers for fire chiefs and EMS officers, with links to the full resources.
Fire-based EMS, short for emergency medical services, is medical care delivered by the fire service. Crews on fire engines or ladder trucks that do not transport patients can deliver it. So can ambulances that take patients to a receiving facility. A department can use either approach or both. The IAFC adopted its current position on fire-based EMS in 2009 and has supported the model since 1975.
The EMS Section is the IAFC group that addresses fire service EMS issues. It advises the IAFC board and membership, represents fire-based EMS issues to the federal government and other interest groups, and sponsors the Fire-Rescue Med conference each year. IAFC membership is required to join a section.
Start with the IAFC event calendar for conferences and training events. The CRR Leadership & FRM Conference runs May 14 to 16, 2027, in Louisville, KY. IAFC Academy offers self-paced online courses on fire and emergency service topics. Members can also ask peers which EMS training they recommend in KnowledgeNet.
Start with the IAFC’s MIH Handbook: A Handbook for EMS Directors. It gives fire chiefs information on MIH programs and explains how to decide when adding one is appropriate for a department.
The IAFC’s Guide for Developing an EMS Agency Safety Program is a roadmap for developing and putting in place a workplace safety program. You can customize it to your agency’s type, size, and needs.
The Heart Safe Community Award recognizes fire departments with creative approaches to improving care for patients with acute coronary syndromes and sudden cardiac arrest. The IAFC’s EMS Section presents it each year, with sponsorship from the PulsePoint Foundation. Winners are recognized at Fire-Rescue Med.