The Vendor Expo will begin at 7:30 AM and the program will begin at 9:00 AM.

Without the support of the Vendors, this Expo would not be possible every year.  Please remember to visit the vendors and support them.  This year will be difficult for some vendors, as they lost a day of sales with the Expo being canceled for Saturday.  Please, if you are considering a purchase and you see the item for sale by a vendor at the Jackson Fire Expo, consider buying the item from the local vendor.  Without the vendors, there is no Jackson Fire Expo.

We are sorry for the late notice, and any inconvenience caused.  Our original agreement with the venue allowed for the Saturday session to continue in spite of the weather, but we were notified after midnight that we would not be allowed on the premises for our Expo.

Saturday, February 6th & Sunday, February 7th, 2010

Located in the auditorium at:

Stark State College of Technology
6200 Frank Road N.W.
North Canton, OH 44720

Speakers

Saturday February 6, 2010

Captain Jake Pelk, Central County California FD – Engineer Jeff Seaton, San Jose FD

• Thermal Imaging for Today’s Fire Service, Capt. Jake Pelk
• Big Box/Large Area Search Operations, Eng. Jeff Seaton

Sunday February 7, 2010

Dave McGrail, District Chief, Denver Fire Dept.

• High Rise/Standpipe Ops
• Case studies of Denver LODD’s

Daily Schedule

Vendor Expo 0730-0900 hrs.

Program 0900-1200 hrs.

Catered Lunch (included) 1200-1300 hrs.

Program 1300-1630 hrs.

Register Online

Online registration is the easiest and fastest way to register for the Jackson Fire Expo.

You asked for it, and we listened. You wanted to be able to pay for multiple people to attend and checkout only once. To register online, select the days that a person is attending and add their name. If you need to add multiple people, add them one at a time before proceeding to the checkout. Please be sure to add your department affiliation.

Days Attending

Saturday Only $75.00 Sunday Only $75.00 Both Days $140.00

Name of attendee

Department Affiliation

Area Lodging

The Jackson Fire Expo draws many people from out of town every year. For your convenience, we are posting a map showing local accommodations.

View Larger Map

Promotional fees paid for by the Fire Gear Cleaning, Inspection, and Repair Specialists at Shamrock Gear and Repair LLC.

Chief Dave McGrail

Dave McGrail is a 28-year veteran of the fire service and a District Chief with the Denver Fire Department (DFD). As a Captain, Dave served as the company commander of DFD Engine Co. 3, and then Rescue Co. 1, two of the DFD’s busiest fire companies. He instructs internationally on a wide range of fire service topics, specializing in high-rise firefighting and standpipe operations. He was the lead instructor for the engine company (standpipe) hands-on training (HOT) at the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) in Indianapolis, FDIC West, Sacramento and Los Angeles, and FDIC East Atlantic City. He was a keynote speaker on United States high-rise firefighting operations, at the Fire and Emergency Services Asia (FESA) Singapore, 2005. He was also the keynote speaker at the Fire Training Officer’s Association of British Columbia, Vancouver, 2008, and the FDIC, Indianapolis, 2009. He is a member of the FDIC and FDIC West Educational Advisory Boards and is editorial advisor and contributing editor for Fire Engineering Magazine. He is the author of the book Firefighting Operations in High-rise and Standpipe Equipped Buildings published by PennWell (Fire Engineering Books and Videos) in 2007. Dave holds two Associate of Applied Science Degrees in Fire Science Technology and two Bachelor of Science Degrees, one in Human Resource Management, and the other in Fire Service Administration.

For More information, including schedule and online registration, please visit our Jackson Fire Expo 2010 firefighter continuing education page.

Jeff Seaton

Jeff Seaton – has been a career firefighter and student of the fire service for over 15 years in the United States and Canada. Jeff works for the City of San Jose, which is the 10th largest city in the US and works on Truck 18. In 2005 he received the San Jose Fire Department “Firefighter of The Year” Award. Jeff, is a California State Certified Company Fire Officer, department and recruit academy adjunct instructor. Jeff has written, developed and implemented various training programs, SOP’S/SOG’S at the task, tactical and strategic level, for his department and many others throughout North America. Jeff is a published writer for various Fire Service publications. He is a hands-on-training instructor and featured speaker at various State, Local, National and International training symposiums including FDIC, FDIC East, FDIC On-Line Symposium, Firehouse Central, Firehouse World, Firehouse Expo, Houston Firefighter Safety and Survival Symposium and Fire Nuggets, Denver Colorado. Jeff has trained many departments throughout North America including the following: Little Rock, Ar., Maricopa AZ., City of Long Beach, CA. and the City of Edmonton, Alberta Canada. In 2008 he traveled to Vietnam with other US Fire Service professionals to review Ho Chi Minh City’s fireground operations, training, tools and equipment and to make recommendations towards improving their Fire Service. He co-founded the “Nobody Gets Left Behind” Training Group, he possesses a B.A. in Physical Education and is a former Western Regional Director for the International Society of Fire Service. Jeff the Fire Academy Coordinator for the South Bay Regional Fire Academy.

For more information, including online registration, please see our Jackson Fire Expo 2010 firefighter continuing education page.

Jake Pelk

Jake Pelk – has been in the fire service for over 15 years.  Jake started his career as a volunteer in Boulder Creek, CA in 1992 and was recently promoted to Training Captain at Central County Fire Department in San Mateo County.  The Central County Fire Department protects the City of Burlingame and the Town of Hillsborough.  Jake has been very active in the development and implementation of the San Mateo County RIC policy.  He is currently a co-chair for the RIC sub-committee for the California State Fire Training re-write.  Jake began teaching thermal imaging classes in 1998.  He co-founded the “Nobody Gets Left Behind” Training Group and is currently the Director.  Jake is also serving as a Search Team Manager (California Task Force 3),  Volunteer Fire Engineer, Husband, and most importantly father of two girls (EvaMarie and Mary Klaire).

For information on the Jackson Fire Expo 2010 including registration, please see our Jackson Fire Expo 2010 firefighter continuing education page

The Jackson Fire Expo is the largest fire expo in the area.  The Jackson Fire Expo educational seminar features speakers from around the United States, bringing you the latest tactics trends in the fire service.

Saturday February 6, 2010
Thermal Imaging for Today’s Fire Service, Capt. Jake Pelk, Central County California FD
Big Box/Large Area Search Operations, Eng. Jeff Seaton, San Jose FD

Sunday February 7, 2010
Dave McGrail, District Chief, Denver Fire Dept.
High Rise/Standpipe Ops
Case studies of Denver LODD’s

More information, including online registration, pricing, local accommodations, and instructor biographies will be posted soon.  Please reserve the date for the Jackson Fire Expo educational seminar.

CANTON, OH – Stark State University was again home to the 14th Annual Jackson Fire Expo, which was held on February 21st, and 22nd, 2009. The 192 participants that attended the two-day event were treated to a trade show and two guest lecturers who spoke about current issues affecting the modern fire service. Of the 33 departments that were represented at this year’s expo, Jackson Twp FD led the pack with the most members registered. They had sixty attendees, followed by the Perry Twp FD with twenty-five attendees followed by the Plain Twp FD which had twenty attendees. Rounding out the departments that had double digit numbers included the Solon Fire Department with fourteen and the Western Reserve Joint Fire District with ten.

Saturday’s session started with a continental breakfast and vendor’s expo which ran from 7:30am to 9:00am. At 9:00am the seminar got underway with the presentation of the flags by the Jackson Township Fire Department Honor Guard as Captain Dave Aberth of the Perry Twp. FD who performed a stirring rendition of the “National Anthem” in front of a packed auditorium.

Saturday’s session featured returning presenter, Assistant Chief Skip Coleman (Ret.) of the Toledo, Ohio Fire Department who presented the program, “Searching Smarter.” Chief Coleman has served as a Battalion Chief, Deputy Chief of Operations and has been an instructor at Owens Community College, one of Ohio’s largest community colleges. He is also a National Fire Academy instructor and is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Officer Program and is the author of various texts including Managing Major Fires and Incident Management for the Street-smart Fire Officer.

Sunday’s feature presenter Captain Mike Gagliano of the Seattle, Washington Fire Department made his first and surely not to be his last appearance at this years Expo. Capt. Gagliano, a training officer, delivered an entertaining program entitled, “Strategic and Tactical Air Management for the Fireground.” Captain Gagliano is an expert air management/SCBA instructor who has written many articles as well as co-authored the book, Air Management for the Fire Service along with fellow Seattle Fire Department instructors. Both programs were extremely informative and thought provoking.

This year’s Expo attracted twenty-seven vendors who set up their booths in the recently renovated Student Center on the grounds of Stark State University. Attendees could view and purchase PPE, thermal imagers, hand tools, environmental sensors, EMS gear, and rescue equipment. The expo hall was open throughout the expo and drew crowds before and after the expo and during breaks and lunch both days.

Another highlight included a catered lunch that was furnished by Santangelo Catering of Canton, Ohio. During lunch, firefighters from the Jackson Township Professional Firefighters Local 2280 were busy selling 50/50 tickets for charity. This year they raised $945. The funds were distributed evenly between the Multiple Sclerosis Society, National Breast Cancer Research Fund, Spina Bifida Association, and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The four charities chosen this year represent diseases that affect fire department members’ families.

The Jackson Fire Expo is held annually and is considered to be one of Ohio’s Premiere Fire Schools. They also have a web page that is updated regularly and which includes on-line registration forms as well as maps. Go to www.jacksonfirefighters.com to learn more about the Jackson Township Fire Department and the upcoming 2010 Jackson Fire Expo.

Check our website soon for photos from the 14th Annual Jackson Fire Expo!

For complete information about the Jackson Fire Expo 2009, including event flyer, please see the Jackson Fire Expo 2009 page.