Piedmont N.C. Firefighter's Association

10/16/2026

ATTENTION: ALL NC QUALIFIED FIRE & RESCUE INSTRUCTORS

The 2026 Qualified Instructor Upgrade is underway, and ALL currently qualified NC Fire and Rescue Commission instructors are required to attend, regardless of the certification program they are qualified to teach.

Deadline: December 31, 2026

More than 140 in-person sessions are being offered statewide through December 31. Instructors only need to attend ONE session to satisfy the Fall 2026 upgrade requirements.

IMPORTANT: Instructors who will need additional program-specific upgrades in Spring 2027 must still complete the Fall 2026 upgrade.

Failure to complete the required upgrade may affect your ability to requalify in the future.

If you have already completed the 2026 Qualified Instructor Upgrade, no additional action is required for the fall upgrade.

View the schedule, registration instructions, and additional information at https://ncosfm.gov/InstructorUpgrades

Register for an available session today!

10/12/2026

Our beloved firefighter, son, and brother, Andrew Brokes, will be put to rest this upcoming weekend at his hometown in Burlington, NC.

The family will be holding a visitation on Friday, October 16 beginning at 4PM at the Lamb’s Chapel. The funeral service will be held the following day at 4PM.

The public is welcome to join as we remember the life of one of Durham’s Bravest.

10/08/2026

We are heartbroken to share that Firefighter Andrew Brokes died in the line of duty this morning while searching for victims inside the building at 410 Marly Drive.

Firefighter Brokes, who joined the Durham Fire Department on May 5, 2025, served the Durham community with dedication, courage, and a deep commitment to the residents of the Bull City.

“This is a heartbreaking loss for our department, the family, and the entire community,” said Durham Fire Chief Robert J. Zoldos II. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones and his colleagues, and we ask that you respect the family’s privacy during this unimaginably difficult time. The department is standing with and supporting his family in every possible way.”

Two other firefighters were injured during the incident and were taken to Duke Medical Center. Both have received care and are expected to make full recoveries.

This loss is felt across our entire department. Firefighters step into unpredictable situations every day in service to others, and Firefighter Brokes embodied that calling with honor.

We know our community is grieving alongside us. If you wish to share your condolences or messages of support, they will be received with gratitude by our department and by those who knew and loved Firefighter Brokes.

In the coming days, we will share more information about how we will honor his service and support the firefighters involved in this incident.

Thank you, Durham, for surrounding our DFD family with care during this profoundly difficult time.

10/07/2026

Meeting announcement.

Our 4th quarter meeting will be hosted by the Wendell Fire Department on Wednesday, October 22nd beginning at 6:30 PM. Please make plans to join us to hear the most current information from all our partner agencies.

10/01/2026

FEMA SID REQUIRED FOR OSFM 24 BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2026

Beginning October 1, 2026, all Fire & Rescue personnel using OSFM 24 will be required to have a valid 10-digit FEMA Student Identification (SID) number associated with their account.

What should you do now?
Locate your FEMA SID and have it ready for October 1. Please do not update your FEMA SID in OSFM 24 before October 1. Because OSFM 24 is not currently configured to accept leading zeros in the FEMA SID field, most users should expect to enter their FEMA SID beginning October 1, even if they have previously provided a FEMA SID to OSFM.

If you already have a FEMA SID but don't remember it, do not create a new one. Retrieve your existing SID from FEMA. If you have never been issued a FEMA SID, you can register for one through FEMA.

Remember, your FEMA SID must be 10 digits. If you have an older SID with fewer than 10 digits, add zeros to the beginning.

Example: 1234567 becomes 0001234567

FEMA SIDs are issued and managed by FEMA. OSFM staff cannot create or look up FEMA SIDs.

For complete information, instructions, and frequently asked questions, please visit https://ncosfm.gov/FEMASID

Please share this information with Fire & Rescue personnel across North Carolina.

08/18/2026

Congratulations to PNCFA Past President Brian Causey. He was sworn in as the next President of the NCAFC at the annual meeting held during the SAFRE conference.

It is truly an honor and a privilege to serve you as the President of the North Carolina Association of Fire Chiefs. I look forward to serving this outstanding organization.This year, our theme is "Bringing People Together."Our fire service is strongest when we learn from one another, support one an...

08/06/2026

07/31/2026

We appreciate everyone who has taken the time to read, comment, and ask questions about the upcoming training & certification updates. Your feedback is important, and we understand these changes have generated discussion throughout North Carolina's fire service.

To help answer some of the most common questions, we've attached additional information that explains:
• Why these instructor upgrades are required
• The role of IFSAC and Pro Board accreditation
• Why this is not a new process
• How OSFM is working to support instructors throughout the transition

Our shared goal is to ensure North Carolina's Fire & Rescue certification system remains nationally accredited, respected, and aligned with current NFPA standards while providing instructors with the resources and opportunities they need to successfully complete the transition.

As implementation details are finalized, we'll continue sharing updates through our website, Training & Certification Bulletins, and official social media channels.

Thank you for your professionalism, your questions, and your continued commitment to training the next generation of North Carolina firefighters. We value your partnership, your comments and appreciate all that you do to serve your communities.

07/23/2026

📢 Relief Fund Reporting Reminder

The annual Relief Fund Financial Report and corresponding bank statements must be submitted by October 31st!

Submission by the deadline is required for your department to be eligible for Relief Fund disbursement.

Don’t wait until the last minute!

We encourage departments to submit their report early to allow time to address any issues and ensure all required supporting documentation is received by the Oct. 31 deadline.

Questions? Contact the NCSFA office for assistance.

07/08/2026

The PNCFA will hold our 3rd quarter meeting July 22nd beginning at 6:30 PM. Puppy Creek Fire Department in Hoke County is hosting our meeting and AEST Fire and Safety is sponsoring.

We look forward to seeing everyone.