The Fallon/Churchill Volunteer Fire Department is hosting the 73rd annual Nevada State Firefighters Association Training Conference through Saturday.

Friday's training will include a live-burn trailer from West Wendover that the public can view all day at the old Wal-Mart parking lot, said Ryan Swirczek, conference chairman and president of the Fallon/Churchill Volunteer Fire Department.

Additionally, Stuart Cook, a retired fire chief of NAS Fallon and a firefighter during the 1989 San Francisco-area quake, will teach "Lessons Learned - San Francisco Earthquake," said Ralph Hamman, captain with the Fallon/Churchill Volunteer Fire Department and head of training for the conference.

He also said Paul Shapiro, a retired engineer and now an instructor in Las Vegas, is conducting a class titled "Attack Lines & Large-Diameter Hose."

The keynote speaker, Robyn Benincasa, talks on Thursday. Benincasa is an adventure racer and firefighter, according to the World Class Teams' Web page. She has finished six Ironman triathlon races and 13 "Expedition Length" Adventure Races and earned world-champion honors in the 1998 Raid Gauloises and the 2000 Eco-Challenge.

In t2000, Benincasa created World Class Teams to bring her views on teamwork to the corporate landscape, according to the Web site. Since then, her "8 Essential Elements on Human Synergy" keynotes, training seminars and outdoor Adventure Teambuilding challenges have been used by Starbucks, Tony Robbins, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Aramark, Honda/Acura, Timberland, Earthlink, and Fast Company Magazine.

On Saturday, the last day of the conference, a memorial walk to honor fallen firefighters begins at 7:30 a.m. starting at the Fallon Fire Department.

Then, at the old Wal-Mart parking lot from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., the public can see several competitions, such as the Monkey Drill, in which firefighters attempt to put together hose parts before getting sprayed.

"Usually you get really wet with that one," Hamman said.

The conference will end with a banquet at which NSFA scholarships and awards will be given out.

The NSFA gives out four to six $1,000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors who are the children of association members, according to the NSFA Web page.

The association also gives out the Fire Department of the Year Award and the Dave Drew Fire Instructor Excellence Award, which comes with a plaque and $500 donation to any fire organization the recipient requests.

Registration and most of the events will be at the Fallon Convention Center at 100 Campus Way. For more information, contact fallonfire@charter.net, call the Fallon/Churchill Fire Department at 775-423-6521, or visit fallontourism.com.