Foundation Fire Symposium - LEADERSHIP. TACTICS. TRADITION.

Leadership • Tactics • Tradition
Presented by The Aurora Fire Foundation

Join us for a powerhouse day of professional development designed for firefighters, company officers, and leaders committed to elevating their craft. The Foundation Fire Symposium brings together a true fire service legend and nationally recognized instructors who are reshaping today’s training landscape.

Our keynote speaker, Chief/Commissioner Mike Lombardo, presents “The Five Points of Command,” focusing on building a cohesive, adaptable incident action plan capable of bringing order to the most dynamic fire-ground environments.

The symposium continues with impactful sessions from top instructors:

• Tyler Smith – “Stretching for Rescue"
• Capt. Jason Haley – “Search 3.0: Aggressive Search Backed by Data & Experience”
• Tom Johnson & Craig Stalwy – “Performance & Training: A Conversation on Preparation, Mind-Set & Culture”

Your registration includes continental breakfast, lunch, and a hosted happy hour—a chance to share stories and connect with the instructors who spent the day challenging and inspiring the room.

Expect solid tactics, hard-earned wisdom, and straight talk about leadership that lasts. This is training built on tradition, sharpened by experience, and focused on preparing today’s firefighters for tomorrow’s challenges.

Special discounted room rates are available for symposium attendees at the . This nearby hotel provides convenient access to the event, comfortable accommodations, and amenities designed to make your stay relaxing and stress-free.

Info: Check in, pour a cup, and settle in. This is your chance to connect, fuel up, and get ready for a full day of fireground wisdom passed down from those who’ve lived it.

Info: Widely regarded as one of the most respected voices in the modern fire service, Mike Lombardo brings decades of experience, leadership, and fireground command to the stage. His influence spans generations of firefighters, shaping how departments think about command, decision-making, and accountability under pressure.

In this keynote session, Lombardo breaks down the Five Points of Command, a clear, disciplined framework for bringing order to chaos on the fireground. Drawing from real incidents and hard-earned lessons, this talk delivers timeless leadership principles that apply from the first-due engine to the command post.

This is more than a lecture, it’s a master class from a true fire service legend.

Info: The initial handline stretch can define the entire fire, especially when lives are still inside. In this session, Tyler Smith breaks down engine company operations that directly support search and rescue, focusing on clean stretches, smart line placement, and coordination with search crews.

Built around real-world fireground experience, this class challenges common stretching habits and replaces them with practical, repeatable tactics that simplify operations and improve outcomes when seconds matter most. Expect actionable lessons you can take back to your next shift.

Info: Fireground search has evolved and the data is clear. In this session, Captain Jason Haley bridges modern research and real-world experience to deliver search tactics designed for the fires we’re fighting today.

Using UL studies and Firefighter Rescue Survey data, this class breaks down TIC-driven, tactically aggressive search techniques that prioritize survivability, firefighter safety, and operational effectiveness. Expect a clear look at what’s changed, what still holds true, and how to apply both on your next job.

This is search work rooted in evidence, refined by experience, and built for today’s fireground.

Info: Winning on the fireground and in life does not happen by accident. It is built through daily discipline, intentional preparation, and a mindset that refuses to make excuses.

In this session, Tom Johnson and Craig Stalowy share the Wake Work Win philosophy, a practical approach to performance that applies at the firehouse, at home, and everywhere in between. This is a candid conversation about accountability, training culture, and doing the work when no one is watching.

Expect honest perspective, relatable lessons, and takeaways that challenge you to show up better tomorrow than you did today.

Info: The day doesn’t end when the lectures do. Join us for a hosted happy hour to unwind, trade stories, and connect with the speakers who made the day unforgettable.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Aurora Fire Foundation