Firehouse Expo kicks off tomorrow in Baltimore with hands-on training, followed by five days of educational sessions and three day of exhibit floor displays. 

Following are 10 things you need to know about Firehouse Expo to get the most out of your trip.

1. Firehouse has partnered with Columbia Southern University (CSU) to provide continuing education units (CEUs) for the dozens of sessions that will be presented this week. Be sure to track the classes you attend and complete an online form to get these valuable credits. Click here for more.
2. The inaugural Fire-Rescue Competition pits five-person teams to compete in 10 timed events that simulate realistic fireground scenarios. This year's theme is rescuing the downed firefighter. It takes place on Friday, and the top three teams move on to the finals on Saturday. Visit the Fire-Rescue Competition to see what team leaves with the trophy. Click here for more.
3. The fire service is built on tradition and pride and this year we will honor four fire service veterans who dedicated their careers to educating and informing hundreds of thousands of firefighters. Join us at the Legends and Icons celebration Friday night at the Horseshoe Casino. Honorees include Harvey Eisner, Alan Brunacini, Hal Bruno and Vincent Dunn. Click here for more.
4. Several top firefighter fitness instructors will be hosting a circuit workout Friday morning at the famous Baltimore Fire Department Steadman Station, just a few blocks from the convention center. The 20 to 30 minute workouts include the OWL station, Firehouse Burpie, Core Gauntlet and Firehouse Ropes workout stations. Stop in at anytime between 8-11 a.m. Click here for more. 
5. Editor-in-Chief Tim Sendelbach will host two moderated roundtables on the exhibit floor that are free to all Firehouse Expo attendees. Join Tim, John Salka and Derek Alkonis on Thursday for "East Meets West Part 2 - Fireground Strategy & Tactics - Research and Application." on Friday, Tim talks with Michael O'Brian, Bryan Frieders, Eric Nurnberg and John Tippett for "Firefighter Health & Safety - Challenges and Opportunities for Life Longevity." Click here for more.
6. Retired U.S. Marine Col. Royal Mortenson will present the keynote address "Leadership Maxims for the Individual: 12 Maxims that Define Who You Are as a Leader and as a Follower" Thursday morning. The late Firehouse Editor Harvey Eisner will be honored. Click here for more.
7. One of the themes for this year's conference is Pass it Forward. And, we have teamed up veteran fire service instructors with the next generation of leaders. See Harry Carter and David Griffin discuss organization change; Billy Goldfeder and Brian Kazmierzak share close calls; Alan Brunacini and Marc Bashoor explain sectors, divisions and groups; and Gary Ludwig and Brian Schaeffer highlight the future of fire-based EMS. Click here for more.
8. Firefighting runs in many families, but also creates a second family when you join the ranks. Firehouse has teamed up with FirefighterWife.com for the Fire Family Life program. Bring your spouses and children for live demonstrations and take the steps to earn the Fire Family Certification. Click here for more.
9. Lion TotalCare is working with Firehouse to limit the exposure to the contaminants that are being found in PPE after fires. Firehouse hands-on students were able to use loaner PPE from Lion so that they did not have to travel with their gear. At the end of each day, Lion will pick up the gear and have it cleaned for the next day, thus limiting the exposure to the debris picked up during live fire evolutions. 
10. Firehouse has teamed up with American Military University to provide Firehouse Ambassadors. These college students will combine work with education as they assist Firehouse staff with logistics all week, attend an exclusive Future Firefighter Seminar and other sessions during the conference.

You can still register for the conference or exhibit hall at FirehouseExpo.com.