Firefighters undertake hands-on training at FDIC International. Photo by Tim Olk (olkee.smugmug.com). At some point during your tenure on the job, you’re going to look at some part of your body and ...

Emergency service leaders generally lack an education in the science of management. Although the topic of leadership is commonly taught in the emergency service training regiment, true management ...

Wake up! Your phone is playing that too-familiar tune, telling you another day is about to begin. And this is your shift. Time to go to the firehouse! But for you there is little enthusiasm, only a ...

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 ...

Do you cringe at the thought of developing yourself and other fire officers within your organization? Well, don’t. Of course, that’s easier said than done sometimes, but with steadfast motivation and ...

The battalion chief sat at the head of the firehouse kitchen table, surrounded by ten pairs of eyes, all seemingly staring daggers at him. He had just finished reviewing the staff notes from the top ...

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 ...

No discussion of the human experience would be complete without a segment on the basic interaction that occurs between two or more firefighters–communication. When firefighters interact, communication ...

Five Minneapolis fire stations have installed saunas this year in the hopes that they can help reduce firefighter cancers. The saunas are used immediately after fire calls when firefighters are ...

The transition from firefighter to fire officer is both an honor and a trial by fire. One day, you’re riding backwards with your crew, and the next, you’re the one making decisions that can affect ...

The fire service is built on a foundation of camaraderie, courage, and a shared mission to protect and serve. Yet, like any profession, it is vulnerable to the pressures of everyday operations, human ...

The impact of stress on firefighter performance is one of the single-most overlooked and marginalized factors in the fire service (Photo 1). The term “tactical athlete” to describe firefighters has ...