FireFighterNation

Jim Broman explains that, just like the seasons of the year, your career takes on different phases. As such, you should learn how to take advantage of each one.

A review of near-miss reports shows that lack of situational awareness is a common theme. In fact, 90 percent of the reports labeled as fire emergency event list situational awareness as a contributing factor. With this in mind, Steve Pegram addresses lessons learned from some of these reports.

Safety is paramount at the extrication scene. Deputy Chief Ed Nied offers a quick refresher of some of the safety concerns you must account for.

Santa Ana winds high temperatures and low humidity made for yet another arduous fall fire season in California. Although this year's fires paled in comparison to the devastating firestorms of 2003 and 2007 the incidents were enough to underscore why California residents and fire crews are on high alert every October. The photos in the accompanying slideshow depict fire personnel working day and night to ensure the wind-driven blazes did not become the state's next firestorm.

They say the devil is in the details. Well, in the fire service, this is certainly true. Ray Gayk explains how paying attention to the details in your job can prevent a "snowball effect" down the line--or during a major incident where the potential for things to go wrong is extremely high.

Tom Vines takes you inside a dramatic ice cave collapse in Washington, where rescuers managed to successfully retrieve two teens from a dangerous situations, and then offers lessons learned from the event.

Collaboration demands compromise, but both are essential to continuing fire prevention programs in tough times

Need a new workout? Try kettlebells. In this Survival of the Fittest column, Jeff and Martha Ellis explain the benefits of working out with kettlebells and offer sample exercises.

Each year, the fire station kitchen table is the location of hundreds and hundreds of fun and interesting--and potentially educational--conversations. In his Editor's Letter, Tim Sendelbach discusses the importance of such "table talk," noting that they play an invaluable educational role for firefighters of all levels.

Jane Jerrard take an in-depth look at some of the federal government and state legislatures' attempts to bolster volunteer recruitment and retention, focusing on the Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act (VRIPA), the FIRE and SAFER Act grants, the Supporting America's Volunteer Emergency Services (SAVES) Act of 2008, the Supporting Emergency Responders Volunteer Efforts (SERVE) Act and the Volunteer Firefighter and Emergency Medical Services Personnel Job Protection Act.