06/13/2026
During our Annual Leadership Summit last November, an idea was shared to regroup mid-year and evaluate our progress. Earlier today, Line Officers that were available did just that during our Mid-Year Leadership Summit.
Officers spent a half-day working through hard truths and identifying solutions to strengthen our department and better serve our community.
The morning began with a hearty breakfast prepared by Chief Chris Centner before officers participated in the "Hold the Line" session. During his opening remarks, Chief Centner highlighted the reality of responding to more than 170 calls so far this year, acknowledged the strain on manpower, and challenged officers to embrace radical honesty and a solution-oriented mindset.
That message set the stage for a physical teamwork exercise called “The Leaning Minefield. “ Officers paired up and navigated a room filled with obstacles while leaning into one another for support. The lesson was simple: no single firefighter can carry the weight of this station alone. Success depends on leaning on one another and working as a team.
The summit then transitioned into “Mayday for Manpower”, where officers worked through a structured exercise to identify challenges affecting member participation. The group found that work and family obligations, burnout from call fatigue, and limited personal time continue to be the greatest hurdles facing today's volunteers. More importantly, they focused on solutions. Ideas included direct officer outreach to address burnout, continuing family-oriented events, exploring childcare options during department functions, and leading with empathy to better support members balancing busy personal lives.
Next, officers participated in “The Hot Mic Relay”, a communication exercise that demonstrated how details can become distorted as information is passed from person to person. The activity reinforced the importance of clear, accurate communication throughout the organization.
Building on that lesson, Lt. Matt Francis led an excellent session titled “Beyond the Tones: Telling the CVFD Story.” Officers explored new ways to share training, emergency responses, and behind-the-scenes work with the community. Trust was identified as the foundation of everything we do, and the group discussed ways to better showcase the countless hours volunteers spend training, planning, attending meetings, and completing administrative work outside of emergency calls.
The final session, “Pass the Nozzle”, centered around a historic piece of our department's past. Discovered by Chief Centner and 1st Assistant Chief Ryan Eiffe while cleaning out storage areas two years ago, the nozzle is stamped with the date 2-13-36 and served on the department's first engine, a 1937 American LaFrance purchased from the Jordan Fire Department. The nozzle has remained with our department for nearly our entire existence and serves as a powerful symbol of tradition, perseverance, and service. It reminds us of those who came before us and the responsibility we carry to continue their legacy.
The officers concluded the summit united in purpose, energized for the challenges ahead, and committed to continuing the proud tradition of service that has defined the Caughdenoy Volunteer Fire Department for nearly seven decades.
We thank our community for its continued support. If you are interested in volunteering with us, please contact us by emailing: [email protected]
