Financial planning for firefighters was among the sessions offered to emergency response professionals at the 2013 Fire- Rescue Conference in Chicago. A selection of state-of-the art heavy fire, rescue and EMS trucks filled one of McCormick Place’s convention centers. (Photo by Christi Sausaman)

Fire suppression, victim survivability, the safety culture and mental health were only a few of the topics that made the 2013 International Association of Fire Chiefs Fire-Rescue International Conference highly relevant for today’s fire and rescue professionals.

The conference took place Aug. 13–17 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Ill. Billy Claunch of Brindlee Mountain Fire, Dean Bartolone and Carl Harr of LiquidSpring and other company representatives welcomed The Municipal representatives Christi Sausaman and Ashley Adamaitis to the event’s exposition. Wheeled Coach, National Joint Powers Alliance, New World Systems, MDI and others demonstrated products and services for the hundreds of attendees to view.

One hundred and forty years of networking and education for the nation’s fire chiefs culminated Saturday in an elegant and moving presidential celebration, during which IAFC President Chief Hank Clemmensen received special honor.

To attend the 2014 FRI conference, keep an eye on www.iafc.org/fri.