FireFighterNation

The death of a firefighter is a tragedy that evokes many emotions and sentiments. Among them is the tradition and tribute associated with remembering the firefighter as having died in the line of duty. But before we can fully embrace this tradition, we must first understand the proper terminology related to firefighter fatalities and how this terminology affects the official annual tallies put forth by two national fire service organizations--the USFA and the NFFF.

Higher education is fast becoming a major trend in the fire service, with many firefighters seeking advanced learning opportunities to enhance their technical and leadership skills. Here, a group of fire service professionals who have taken the leap back into education have agreed to discuss their experiences to help illustrate the realities of going back to school—the good, the bad and the rewarding.

When asked what one piece of equipment they’d like for their department, respondents indicated everything from apparatus to PPE to thermal imagers.

The Post-Incident Assessment and Review Team for the Sofa Super Store Fire was headed by J. Gordon Routley. FireRescue magazine reached out to Routley to get his thoughts on the Charleston Fire Department’s progress, what the fire service can learn from the incident, advice he would offer the department’s incoming chief, and more.

On duty at MCAS Miramar in San Diego, Marine firefighters are responsible for one thing: the safety of the air field and everything on it.