2017 Year in Review

The fire service dealt with many challenges in 2017. From wildfires and natural disasters to the worst mass shooting in modern American history, firefighters rose to the occasion and proved once again that they serve with honor, bravery and integrity. Despite a difficult year, there was also much to celebrate in 2017, including the countless acts of heroism – big and small – from firefighters all over the country.

As we turn the page on 2017, take a look back at some of the year's most heroic and impactful moments with features from our expert columnists and multimedia lists of the year's top moments.

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5 fire service trends to watch in 2018
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New technology, equipment and systems – from fire suppression, to the cloud, to drones – are impacting fire service delivery capabilities
Fair reach: Increase your potential as a firefighter
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Apply the concept of fair reach to absorbing knowledge and firefighter training to advance your career and stay safe in the year ahead
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‘Pop quiz, hotshot’: Is your portable radio up to the task?
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L3Harris

Here’s how L3Harris’s new model meets the new NFPA 1802 standard
8 game-changing apparatus trends from 2017
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New technology allows fire departments to get more operational capability out of less fire apparatus, keeping up with a changing scope and decreased staffing
'My leg, my arm, I can't breathe': Shot Dallas firefighter-paramedic recalls last memory
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Dallas Fire-Rescue Firefighter-Paramedic William An was shot in his arm and leg while helping a victim who was lying in the middle of an East Dallas street
The top 10 strangest firefighter stories of 2017
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Trust us, the biggest head-scratcher stories of the year will have you saying “what did I just read?” all day long
Antarctic firefighter discusses unique challenges on continent of extremes
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Lt. John Piper, who is on his third austral summer season working at McMurdo Station, explains a typical day working as a firefighter in Antarctica