Adam K. Thiel

Fire News in Focus

Adam K. Thiel is the fire commissioner and director of the Office of Emergency Management in the city of Philadelphia. Thiel previously served as a fire chief in the National Capital Region and as a state fire director for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Thiel’s operational experience includes serving with distinction in four states as a chief officer, incident commander, company officer, hazardous materials team leader, paramedic, technical rescuer, structural/wildland firefighter and rescue diver. He also directly participated in response and recovery efforts for several major disasters, including the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Tropical Storm Gaston and Hurricane Isabel.

LATEST ARTICLES

The ‘unseen’ dangers you should look out for

When was the last time you attended a refresher class with your local water, power, or gas utility company?

November 21, 2011 09:40 AM

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POV responses: What firefighters should know

It’s critical to understand your state laws, department SOPs and your personal liability

November 14, 2011 09:31 AM

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The national push to reduce line-of-duty injuries

As it stands today, there is no comprehensive national system to collect data on firefighter injuries

November 09, 2011 12:09 PM

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Staying safe: Keep your head on a swivel

Recent incidents demonstrate that we always need to consider our personal situational awareness

November 07, 2011 10:04 AM

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Downed power lines: Don’t become part of the problem

While fire departments vary in their readiness to handle electrical emergencies, it’s always important to be vigilant (and patient) on these incidents

November 02, 2011 11:29 AM

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Firefighter training can be as hazardous as the real thing

A recent NIOSH firefighter fatality report reemphasizes the hazards of firefighter training and the need for establishing appropriate resources beforehand

October 31, 2011 10:45 AM

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Lawsuits vs. firefighting: Know how to make the right call

A recent lawsuit claims a fire department did not ‘act with a sense of urgency’ when it responded to a plant fire and told other departments not to assist suppression

October 26, 2011 11:45 AM

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When our ‘drive to make it happen’ ends in tragedy

We never say “can’t;" and almost never say “no”

October 19, 2011 12:48 PM

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What’s your firefighting strategy in the ‘Green Economy?’

Frankly, I think we, as a service, are behind the power curve on this topic

October 17, 2011 11:46 AM

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Inmates as firefighters? Why it can never work

There’s a reason why we must hold our service accountable to a high standard of excellence and integrity

October 13, 2011 04:24 AM

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