Great Lakes H.O.T

The Most Affordable and Aggressive Live-Fire Conference

June 11th – 14th, 2025

Knowledgeable
Instructors

Our cadre is full of specialized instructors with a passion to make the fire service the best it can be.

State
Accreditation

We have state accreditation for our most popular courses – meaning it’s easy to stay trained up.

Hands-on +

Aggressive Stations

The conference is filled with live-fire and hands-on stations and impactful lectures.

“Can’t wait to be back for the 3rd year in a row, hands down some of the best firemen I have met and grade A instructors from all over”

– Frank G.

About Great Lakes H.O.T

Great Lakes H.O.T. is Michigan’s premier fire conference held every June in South East Michigan. This is a 4 day event with the first two days being lectures followed by an additional two days of hands on skill training with live fire scenarios for select tracks. Students will be able to choose one hands on class for each day they are being offered. 16 hour classes will also be available to choose from. This is some of the most realistic fire training you will attend by some of the best instructors in the country who collectively have over 100 years of experience in the fire service. Great Lakes HOT highly encourages our attendees to bring their spouses or significant others to share in the experience with them, there is a Spouse hands on program for those who would like to attend!

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!

  • The cost of full registration includes all 4 days of the conference, a dinner on June 11th at 7pm as well as lunch for both hands on days.
  • The cost for lecture day only also includes dinner on June 11th if you wish to attend.
  • If your spouse or significant other is attending the offered “Spouse Program” they will need to register separately
  • This conference is an approved Q-Course by the state of Michigan. Any department wanting to utilize SMOKE funds to have their members attend MUST ensure that you allocate those funds by the required state deadline of December 31st.
  • No Michigan firefighter shall register using their own or departments funds to hold a spot and then request reimbursement at a later date because they were also registered using SMOKE funds . The SMOKE funded Spots are on a first come first serve basis so please plan your registrations accordingly.
  • Additional items may be purchased with registration, if you choose to purchase items at the conference we will have a limited supply available **

Schedule of Events

8:00 – 8:15  Opening Announcements

8:15 – 10:00 Dave McGlynn: The Training Officer: Do You Have What It Takes?

10:00 – 12:00 Mark VonAppen: Fully Involved

12:00 – 1:00pm Lunch

1:00- 2:45 pm – Aaron Zamzow: Improving Fireground Performance and Resilience with E.M.S.

3:00 – 4:45 pm Mike Torres: Ladders For Two

5:00 – 6:45 pm Chris Tobin: The Art of Truckmanship

7:30 pm – Dinner (Hotel Ballroom)

8:00 – 8:15 Opening Announcements

8:15 – 11:15 Aaron Fields: Drilling For Function

11:15- 12:00 pm Lunch

12:00 – 1:45 Jeff Rothmeier: Cultivating Aggression: The Lost Art of Fire Combat

2:00 – 3:34 pm Marc Aloan: The Hat Dance: Realities of the Short Staffed Company

4:00 – 5:45 pm Rob Backer: The Art of Reading Smoke

6:15 pm – Cocktail Hour

7:00 pm – Round Table Discussions

8:00pm – Raffle Drawings

Southfield Training Center (Firehouse #5)

Times: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Classes: The Tactical Engine, The Non Traditional Truck Company, Beyond Gap-Set-Force

Address: 24477 Lahser Rd, Southfield, MI

 

Macomb Township Fire Training Center (Firehouse #3)

Time: 8:00 am – 5:oo pm

Class: Live Fire Leadership

Address: 47711 North Ave, Macomb MI

 

OCC Auburn Hills Campus (CREST Training Center)

Time: 8:00 am  – 6:00 pm

Class: Nozzle Forward

Address: 2900 Featherstone Rd, Auburn Hills MI

 

Macomb Community College (East Campus)

Time: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Class: Mayday Mindset

Address: 21901 Dunham Road, Clinton Township MI

 

School Craft Fire Academy

Time: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Class: Modern Fireground Operations

Address: 18600 Haggerty Road  Livonia, MI

 

GM Milford Proving Grounds

Time: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Class: Vehicle Extrication

Address: 3300 General Motors Rd, Milford MI

 

West Bloomfield Training Grounds

Time: 8:00 am  – 6:00 pm

Class: Search Academy

Address: 

Southfield Training Center (Firehouse #5)

Times: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Classes: The Tactical Engine, The Non Traditional Truck Company, Beyond Gap-Set-Force

Address: 24477 Lahser Rd, Southfield, MI

 

Macomb Township Fire Training Center (Firehouse #3)

Time: 8:00 am – 5:oo pm

Class: Live Fire Leadership

Address: 47711 North Ave, Macomb MI

 

OCC Auburn Hills Campus (CREST Training Center)

Time: 8:00 am  – 6:00 pm

Class: Nozzle Forward

Address: 2900 Featherstone Rd, Auburn Hills MI

 

Macomb Community College (East Campus)

Time: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Class: Mayday Mindset

Address: 21901 Dunham Road, Clinton Township MI

 

School Craft Fire Academy

Time: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Class: Modern Fireground Operations

Address: 18600 Haggerty Road  Livonia, MI 

 

GM Milford Proving Grounds

Time: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Class: Vehicle Extrication

Address: 3300 General Motors Rd, Milford MI

 

West Bloomfield Training Grounds

Time: 8:00 am  – 6:00 pm

Class: Search Academy

Address: 

* ONLY FOR THOSE REGISTERED *

June 12th:

1:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Spouse meet and greet with snacks, refreshments and activities.

Location: 11th floor of the Marriott in the Summit Lounge.

 

June 13th:

8:00 am – 5:00pm: Taking Control: Homefront to the Fireground

During this class, you will be surrounded by enthusiastic and loving individuals who will share their stories and experiences. You will learn more about the mental aspects of “the job”. This will include sleep deprivation and PTSD.

* You will be provided with resources to help you navigate and support your firefighter through those difficult days. You will get the opportunity to put on turnout gear and put your hands on tools used every day by your firefighter.*

  • Morning lecture
  • Lunch
  • Hands-on evolutions

(You will get the opportunity to put on turnout gear and put your hands on tools used every day by your firefighter. You will participate in many skills such as: forcing doors, flowing water, dragging victims, masking up, and many others. You will get to see your spouse in action, in their element, doing what they love, as we view THEIR HOT class. Which is not something we get to witness often, if ever.)

Location of lecture: TBD

 

June 14th:

8:00 am – 5:00 pm: Taking Control: Homefront to the Fireground

  • Spouses will have the opportunity to have a roundtable discussion before viewing multiple other hands-on classes/evolutions.
  • Spouses will also have opportunities to partake in evolutions if applicable/allowed.

 

The Best Hands-on Classes in Michigan

Our hands-on courses are designed to teach you all the things you need to know to be an integral part of your department.

Lectures From Industry Experts and Firefighters

Our lectures are designed to make you think critically on a variety of topics. The best part is – all are given by someone who works the job.

Camaraderie and Firemanship Above All Else

We are no bullshit – and expect our attendees to feel the same. We want to promote a positive experience and relationships without politics.

Hotels

Location Name
Auburn Hills Marriott Pontiac

Address
3600 Centerpoint Parkway, Pontiac, MI, 48341 US

Directions
Google, Bing, MapQuest

Courtyard Detroit Pontiac/Auburn Hills
 
3555 Centerpoint Parkway, Pontiac, MI, 48341
 
Google, Bing, MapQuest

Training Sites

Southfield Training Center

Fire Station #5

24477 Lahser Rd,
Southfield MI

GM Milford Proving Grounds

3300 General Motors Rd,
Milford, MI