The iHeart Community Calendar

Includes Keynote presentations by Nick Martin of Combat Ready Fire Training; Curt Isakson of County Fire Tactics; and Mark Vonappen of Fully Involved.

The 2026 Port City Fire Conference is a 2 day fire service lecture event featuring some of the best speakers in the nation. The 2026 Port City Fire Conference features presentations by Nick Martin, Curt Isakson, and Mark VonAppen - all in one location over 2 days! The $150 ticket price includes admission to all 3 presentations, along with a great lunch on day 1. We will have a complimentary coffee and refreshment station to keep everyone fueled up on both days! Stay in Oswego on Saturday night for an evening of fellowship and storytelling at one of our favorite local pubs. If you are a Firefighter or Fire Officer, this is an event you don't want to miss! Registration and Hotel information will be available soon!

Saturday, March 14th - 8:30am
"Combat Ready Firefighting"
Nick Martin, Combat Ready Fire Training

This intense, interactive training seminar frankly discusses the attitudes and mindsets in today’s fire service and how they affect our ability to save lives and property, keep each other safe, and get the job DONE. We will discuss who we are here for, what we are expected to do for them, and the common preventable missteps that lead to fireground tragedies.

This program is highly personal and motivational and draws heavily on the instructor’s own experiences and tough lessons learned. It is the essential program to challenge mindsets, reenergize firefighters, lay the groundwork for an “excellence mindset,” and inspire passion in firefighters.

We will explore what the “combat ready” mindset is, why it is essential for firefighting excellence, and how we can apply it at the individual, company, and department levels.

Saturday, March 14th - 1:30pm
"Tactics Put Out Fires"
Curt Isakson, County Fire Tactics

Today’s fireground demands decisive water application tailored to staffing, arrival timing, and building layout. Grounded in UL research and field-proven tactics, this class reinforces the life-saving priority of stretching and operating the first and second lines—regardless of crew size or conditions. Attendees will explore adaptive strategies like fast water, coordinated ventilation, and survivability-focused decision-making to control fires rapidly and buy critical time for rescue. Whether urban or rural, learn how to maximize impact with the resources at hand while strengthening tactical fundamentals that consistently save lives and conserve property.

Sunday, March 15th - 8:30am
"Fully Involved Leadership"
Mark VonAppen, Fully Involved

Fully Involved Leadership is Mark VonAppen’s immersive leadership program designed to build high-performing teams through ownership, accountability, and consistent action. Rooted in the “Big 4” principles—Do Your Job, Treat People Right, Give All Out Effort, and Have an All In Attitude—the program challenges individuals to take responsibility for their performance and influence. Participants learn that excellence is not accidental but the result of deliberate practice, humility, and a commitment to continual improvement. The framework provides practical tools for leaders at every level to create trust, maintain standards, and foster an environment where people feel valued and inspired to give their best.

Through real-world stories, humor, and hard-earned lessons from the fire service, vonAppen drives home that leadership is about example, not position. Fully Involved Leadership pushes attendees to confront their weaknesses, communicate clearly, and lead with integrity—especially when it’s uncomfortable. The program emphasizes that being “Fully Involved” means investing completely in the success of the mission and the people beside you. The result is a culture of disciplined excellence where teams perform at their highest potential because their leaders embody the values they expect from others.