Thousands Of Firefighters Return To Indy For 'Summer School'

The world’s largest firefighter conference returns to downtown Indianapolis this week. 

Approximately 25,000 firefighters from across the country will attend the Fire Department Instructors Conference.

Attendees are expected to pump millions into the downtown economy. The conference was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic.

Education Director at FDIC International Bobby Halton said the conference is typically held in the spring, but was moved this year due to restrictions in place at the time.

“This is actually the summer school version. We will be back in April. So, six months from now we'll be knocking on your door again,” Halton said. “We’ll be doing our regular dates so we are doing this one to get everyone back in the groove. It’s just exciting the doors are opening again.”

At least 90 workshops, classroom lectures and more than 650 exhibitors will be at the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium.

Contact WFYI Morning Edition newscaster and reporter Taylor Bennett at tbennett@wfyi.org. Follow on Twitter: @TaylorB2213.