2026 Fire Prevention

Leadership Symposium

May 12-13, 2026 – Angel of the Winds Casino Resort – Arlington, Washington

Registration for the 2026 Fire Prevention Leadership Symposium is Now Open

The Washington State Association of Fire Marshals is pleased to announce the dates for the 2026 Fire Prevention Symposium (FPS). The FPS is being held at Angel of the Winds Casino Resort at Arlington, and will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, and will conclude at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13, 2026. The Fire Prevention Symposium focuses on training that requires more time than is normally available at the Fire Prevention Institute each October so that the training can be more in-depth.  The sessions will focus on leadership, management, technical training, as well as other important prevention and strategy for fire officials and will include essential training hours needed for code recertification. 

Full Registration includes: All Sessions, Breakfast and Lunch (Tuesday and Wednesday)

Important note that every registration needs to have the attendees email NO DUPLICATE EMAILS. 

Topics this year include: Clifton Strengths in Detail, Addie to the Rescue, Organizational Culture, Commercial Cooking Hoods, and Understanding ESS and NFPA 855. The FPS is smaller using only two classrooms, so registration may be limited depending upon demand.

Clifton Strengths will require a short survey and by checking the box in the registration will allow us to send the link prior to the event. 

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Leadership Track:

Clifton Strengths® for Fire Service Leaders: Leading with Confidence, Clarity, and Connection

Description:
When leaders understand how to harness their natural strengths—and the strengths of their team—they can reduce friction, increase engagement, and lead with greater clarity and confidence. In this interactive, full-day Clifton Strengths® workshop, participants will explore how their unique strengths impact their leadership style, decision-making, and communication. Through real-world applications and fire service-relevant insights, they’ll leave with a fresh understanding of themselves and a toolkit they can use to lead more effectively, build stronger teams, and reduce burnout.

This session is best suited for current or aspiring leaders in the fire service who are ready to deepen their self-awareness and strengthen their leadership impact.

Objectives:

1. Identify and understand your Top 5 Clifton Strengths® themes and how they influence your leadership approach.
2. Explore how strengths-based leadership can improve communication, collaboration, and morale within fire service teams.
3. Apply practical Clifton Strengths® tools to lead with clarity, support diverse team dynamics, and reduce the risk of burnout.

About Sheri Miter

Sheri Miter is a certified Clifton Strengths® coach, career strategist, and author of Discovering Your Calling. With over 25 years of leadership and team development experience, Sheri helps individuals and organizations unlock their natural talents to lead with greater clarity, purpose, and impact.

Sheri has worked with fire departments, municipalities, and leadership teams across the country.  She’s also personally connected to the fire service—married to a retired Battalion Chief of 36 years and mom to two sons who have served in city fire departments. She brings not only deep expertise but also heartfelt understanding of the challenges and culture unique to public safety.

ADDIE to the Rescue

Summary:

This half-day facilitated, and interactive workshop provides attendees with a framework to improve their organization’s course development for measurable results and better learning outcomes.  It is a partner workshop to Integra’s “Training Program Performance Improvement.”

Background:

Professional training is essential to organizational success.  Employees and supervisors expect it to enhance their performance improvement and career development.  Changes in the work environment, mandates such as certifications and licensing, new technology, and workplace needs merge to challenge personnel to keep their skills up to date.

Often, course development is assigned to one or more subject matter experts to develop and deliver content to fulfill a perceived need.  Without a clear course development framework, developers may not hit the target of what students need to meet their learning goals.

“Subject matter experts are the worst course developers because they always want to share everything they know.” – Laurie Savely, Instructional Designer, LS Learning Solutions  Professional skills course development should be based on the long-standing and credible five-step ADDIE model (Analysis, Design, Development, Instruction, Evaluation) that is educationally sound and provides measurable results.

Rob Neale is the owner and principal of Integra Code Consultants, a Maryland-based firm that provides construction code consulting, plan review and training.  Previously, he was the International Code Council’s Government Relations Vice-President for National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, MD.  He was responsible for development of curriculum aimed at improving the professionalism of America’s fire service.  Mr. Neale for six years managed the NFA’s Technical Fire Prevention curriculum; including fire inspection techniques, perspective and performance-based fire and building code interpretation and application, fire protection systems function, design, installation and standards, and plan review for fire inspection personnel.

IMPORTANT

You will receive or have received an email from "Conference Tracker (Engineerica Systems Inc)" asking you to update your profile.

In order to obtain CEU credits, you will be required to download the conference application from Conference Tracker (Green in color) by Engineerica Systems Inc.

You will need to use your email that you have registered with when you signed up for the symposium.

This APP is required to obtain your CEU's, Certificate, Schedule, and Handouts.

You can download the NEW CONFERENCE APPLICATION at your favorite App Store. Search "Conference Tracker by Engineerica Systems Inc. " to download. 

Apple App Store	Google App Store

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Lodging is Now Open

The rate is currently $139.00 – single occupancy/$139.00 double occupancy, plus tax – please be advised the rate may adjust up or down, on or before April 28, 2026. Group Code #928.

In order to receive this special rate, reservations must be made by April 28, 2026. Once this date has passed, or the room block has been filled, you will need to find alternate lodging. Reservations should be made directly with the hotel by calling 360-474-9740.

Please be sure to provide group block name "WSAFM" and group block code #928.

Angel of the Winds Casino Resort
3438 Stoluckquamish Ln
Arlington, WA 98223
(360) 474-9740

Angel of the Winds policy requires cancellations to be made 2 days prior to your arrival. Failure to notify the Resort within the specified time of cancellation will result in forfeiture of the deposit or a charge to the credit card.

Since there has been considerable expenses already expended all cancelations are subject to the cancelation policy that is stated in the registration.

Here is the policy:

All cancelations must be submitted in writing and emailed to WSAFM at wsafm@wsafm.com

REFUND INFORMATION
100% if canceled by 3/1/2026
50% if canceled by 4/1/2026
No refunds after 5/1/2026

If you have specific questions, please contact Tom Maloney at (360) 363-8506 or tmaloney@mfdrfa.org 

WSAFM will issue ICC Continuing Education Credits!!