LOCATION

Mesa Convention Center / 263 N Center Street, Mesa AZ 85201 Convention Center Property Map

Delta Hotels by Marriott Phoenix Mesa / 200 North Centennial Way, Mesa AZ 85201

Meet our 2025 Keynote Speaker

Scott Barkley,

Captain / Paramedic

Los Angeles, CA Fire Department

Scott Barkley is a Captain and Paramedic with the Los Angeles Fire Department. He started his fire service career 34 years ago in the USAF at the age of 18. After seven years of active duty, he left the Air Force and began working for the Department of Defense (DOD) as a firefighter.

In 2003, he joined the LAFD. After attending paramedic school in 2005, he was assigned to Downtown Los Angeles for 11 years, with 10 of those years spent at a USAR station.

In 2017, Scott and his wife relocated from North Los Angeles County to Prescott Valley, where he continued his career with the LAFD. In 2018, he was promoted to Captain and went back to Downtown for another year.

On May 16, 2020, Scott’s life changed radically. While working a traded shift at Fire Station 9, in the Skid Row area of Downtown LA, he was dispatched to a commercial fire at 327 E Boyd St. While leading the fire attack team inside the building, an explosion occurred trapping Captain Barkley and seven others inside the building and fully engulfing them in flames for approximately 42 seconds. During the recovery process, Scott was diagnosed with PTSD and has worked since then to recover not only from his own trauma, but also to help others find peace and hope from the trauma they have experienced in their careers as First Responders.

Special Presentations

Firefighter Memorial Service

Arizona's Fallen Firefighters will be honored at a Firefighter Memorial Service to be conducted during the Opening Ceremonies of the 52nd Annual Arizona Fire School on Thursday, September 4, 2025 at 8:30am. The service will include a memorial bell ceremony conducted by personnel of the Mesa Fire and Medical Department Honor Guard & Pipes and Drums, along with other personnel from various fire agencies around the State. The service will recognize all members who have served, including deaths outside of the line of duty and death after retirement that have passed away between August 2024 and August 2025.

If you wish to have a member of your organization recognized at this year's Memorial Service you must provide their name to AzCFSE staff as indicated below. Please also include the individual’s department and years of service.

Please provide information to the following:

Email: melina.joya@azcfse.org

Or Mail to:

Arizona Center for Fire Service Excellence
C/o Firefighter Memorial
PO Box 132
Avondale, AZ 85323-0050

2025 FIRE SCHOOL BROCHURE

Below is a link to the 2025 Fire School Brochure which you may print or download now. The brochure provides a variety of information including specific class locations and event information to assist you during fire school. A printed brochure will not be available at fire school this year so you are encouraged to download the brochure in advance and bring it with you to fire school. Click on the link below to download the brochure.

2025 Fire School Brochure

Arizona Fire Service Hall of Fame

List of Previous Inductees

Established in 1998, the Arizona Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have made a significant, positive contribution to their community and Arizona's fire service. Individuals nominated are evaluated based on their years of service, service on committees, state or national impact, educational impact, operational impact, contributions to community, organizational impact, legislative impact or other areas that clearly demonstrate the individual's significant contribution to Arizona's Fire Service.

Nominations require a detailed summary of the nominee's significant contributions. The focus of the nomination should be on the overall impact on the Arizona Fire Service. Nominations must clearly indicate an impact beyond the nominee's organization and must be beyond the normal job requirements of the nominee.

Those selected will be inducted into the Arizona Fire Service Hall of Fame during the Opening Ceremonies of the Arizona Fire School held each year. Inductees will receive a personal commemorative plaque and are noted on the permanent Hall of Fame display located at the Hall of Flame Fire Museum located at 6101 E. Van Buren Street in Phoenix.

The nomination period has closed for this year but if you wish to nominate an individual for next year please use the link below:

Hall of Fame Nomination Form

2025 United Fire

Firefighter of the Year Award

The search is on... for the 32nd ANNUAL United Fire Firefighter of the Year!

A Firefighter qualifies to be nominated for any courageous action or can also be nominated for making contributions to life safety procedures or education. Nominee must well-represent the character and commitment of the firefighters in Arizona.

Nominations must be for an individual and actions that have taken place between March 1, 2024 and July 15th, 2025. All nominations must be received by August 7, 2025. The award recipient will be announced on Thursday, September 4, 2025 at the Opening Ceremonies of the 52nd Annual Arizona Fire School.

Use this link: Nomination Form for complete information and nomination form or call 800-362-0150 for more information. Multiple nominations allowed.

OTHER PRESENTATIONS

Arizona Fire & Life Safety Educator of the Year

Each year the Arizona Fire and Burn Educators Association selects a Fire and Life Safety Educator of the Year. The individual awarded this honor has made significant contributions to Fire and Life Safety Education, demonstrated outstanding work as an educator, has been successful in increasing public awareness about safety issues, serves as a positive role model in their community and exhibits a commitment to excellence in their educational efforts. Further information and nomination forms may be obtained from the Arizona Fire and Burn Educators Association.

Information available at: https://www.afbea.org/grants-awards

Fire Investigator of the Year

The Arizona Chapter, International Association of Arson Investigators will name the individual who has been selected as a result of their exemplary skills in the field of fire investigation.

Information available at:
Arizona Chapter of the IAAI