Midwest Area Fire Academy

02/09/2023

"𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐧𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐧'𝐬 𝐠𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧." Are you serving yourself and your community well by being continually trained and educated for this craft? Learning never ends in this ever-changing field. Join us for a full day of training - April 15!

https://firenuggets.regfox.com/23-bffa-school

07/14/2022

Instructor Highlight // Jeff Rothmeier

Jeff is a proud decorated combat veteran and a 17-year fire service extraordinaire currently on the Milwaukee Fire Department. Jeff's passion for this industry is met equal parts with his expansive education including AAS in Fire Science Technology, Bachelor in Fire and Emergency Response Management, and a Graduate Degree in Organizational Change Leadership. Jeff is a contributing author for Fire Engineering and FireRescue1. He has a four-episode Podcast available by searching "Maneuver Fire Response Podcast."

https://firenuggets.regfox.com/22-mafa

06/24/2022

Instructor Highlight // Engine Ops // Jeff Bryant Jr.

Jeff is the brains and operations behind the annual MAFA conference, with its first run in 2019. He is a 15-year fire service veteran - starting on a rural department in Amboy, IL and finding his career position as a Firefighter/ Paramedic on Aurora Fire Department, IL. Training has always been his passion and he has hosted and assisted in multiple classes, courses, and conferences with Amboy Fire & Extrication School, Blackhawk Firefighters Association, and Southern Kane County Training Association. He is the head of the Illinois FireNuggets affiliation and Vice President of FireNuggets. He is co-host of the FireNuggets Podcast and contributor of the Firefighter Rescue Survey. Last and most important, he is a husband and father of three with a heavy family influence spanning decades in the fire service. He is looking forward to another amazing event!

Register: https://firenuggets.regfox.com/22-mafa

06/18/2022

Instructor Highlight // Truck Ops // Thomas Blatz McMenamin

Thomas “Billy Blatz “ McMenamin is coming to us from Wisconsin. Billy retired after 28 1/2 years with the City of Milwaukee Fire Department, serving as Lieutenant on Rescue 2. Billy is now a POC Lieutenant with the Beaver Dam Fire Department and is working on 17 years with the University of Illinois as a Fire Service Instructor. Billy also founded and established the Brew City FOOLS chapter in southeastern Wisconsin in 2009.

To take part in this stacked lineup of instructors, dedicated fire craftsmen, and wealth of knowledge, register here:
https://firenuggets.regfox.com/22-mafa

06/09/2022

Instructor Highlight // Engine Ops // Nick Peppard

Nick Peppard is joining our fourth MAFA conference on September 24 & 25! Nick is a 17-year student of the craft, most recently joining the crews at the Oshkosh (WI) Fire Department. Nick is the owner/operator of North Florida FIRE & EMS Training, LLC. Nick himself has valued and prioritized his own training with multiple fire service certifications, an AA Degree, and AS Degrees in Fire Science and EMS Technology. Other stellar accomplishments include:

- President of the North Florida Fire Expo
- Co-host of the Make Due: Suburban Firefighter Podcast with Sean Duffy of Build Your Culture
- Published author with Fire Engineering Magazine
- Proud member of IAFF Local #316 and the Brew City FOOLS

Nick is very passionate about training and helping others better themselves so we can master our oath to 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗠.

🔥 Register: https://firenuggets.regfox.com/22-mafa

06/03/2022

Instructor Highlight // Truck Ops // Ron Smith

Captain Ron Smith is a 31-year veteran of the fire service - serving the last 23 years with the Gary Fire Department (IN). Ron's fire service encompasses volunteer, combination, and career department experience. He is an instructor for the Indiana Firefighter Training System and travels all around the United States for schools and conferences - including Firehouse Expo and FDIC. Ron is also a Field Staff Instructor at Illinois Fire Service Institute and a member of the UL FSRI Technical Panel for Search & Size-Up. We can't forget to plug his awesome training page too: Training Seconds.

We're stoked to have Ron join us in a few months!

🔥 Register: https://firenuggets.regfox.com/22-mafa

05/27/2022

Instructor Highlight // Truck Ops // Nick Ledin

Nick Ledin is a firefighter paramedic with the Eau Claire (WI) Fire Department, currently assigned to Engine 2. Ledin has been a student of the job for 15 years with many purposes including:
- Contributor of Firefighter Rescue Survey
- Former President of Northland FOOLS
- Affiliate member of FireNuggets Minnesota & Wisconsin
- Technical committee member for NFPA 1700
- Former technical panel member for UL FSRI's PPA/PPV Study
- Current part of UL FSRI's Public Education Advisory Group
- Co-host of the FireNuggets Podcast and GRABS Podcast
- Great ability to grow a pretty legit 'stache

🔥 Register: https://firenuggets.regfox.com/22-mafa

04/21/2022

2022. Local conference. Local instructors. Widespread passion. New pricing. Don't miss it!

https://firenuggets.regfox.com/22-mafa

12/22/2021

Coming 2022!

11/15/2021

We would like to give a big thank you to all of our students that came out and out in some work over this weekend. It’s great seeing familiar faces and new ones!

Big thank you to both instructor cadres for crushing it!

Lastly, a big thank you to Oswego Fire Protection District and Southern Kane County Training Association for hosting us!

Here are some pictures as well!

Photo collection by Photography by Ashley Bryant

11/10/2021

Set up - Day #1