My father was the first to tell me: “Keep it simple, stupid.” I never did much like being called “stupid,” so I spent the next ten years complicating my life. His life philosophy was tried and true, ...

With the current economic climate and municipal budgets constantly under attack, municipal officials are endlessly scrutinizing the necessity for and deployment of fire department personnel. As a ...

Probationary firefighters for the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) graduate in Queens. Photo: FDNY PIO At the core of any probationary firefighter training program are the Xs and Os: the technical ...

A total of 12 firefighters have left the Lebanon Junction Fire Department in the last several days, almost half the department. Firefighters say the issue is inadequate training and safety concerns.

There are many unique challenges to fighting a high-rise fire that require firefighters to develop and deploy unique strategies and tactics. Probably the most important issue for high-rise ...

Over the past few years, the fire service has undergone a renaissance in our understanding of our environment. This is mainly due to an increase in fire dynamics research from multiple agencies, ...

Culture is an influential part of every organization. The nature of the fire service, and the firehouse environment, presents some unique challenges when it comes to culture modification. Combine this ...

In many places, water is plentiful, relatively inexpensive and easy to obtain in large quantities. It’s also very effective when combating heat and flame, which makes it the agent of choice for ...

When it comes to the selection and hiring of our next generation of firefighters, physical fitness should never be left to chance. The fireground doesn’t care how you look in uniform or what you bench ...

Leadership for some individuals is a daunting task that often can fill a person with anxiety and feelings of inadequacy. Many individuals have failed to be good leaders because of this fact, which ...

Fire Departments across the country are continuously evaluating their staffing models for effective firefighting; Meridian, Idaho, is no exception. Justification for staffing levels will never go away ...

The acronym SLICE-RS represented a revolutionary advancement in firefighting tactics, not only in its effectiveness but also in the process of leveraging a data-driven, scientific approach. The ...