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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
In the absence of a known life hazard, why would we risk firefighters’ lives in structures that nobody else cares about?
Responders must be familiar with gas pipeline locations and treat them with respect
Acting U.S. Fire Administrator Chief Glenn Gaines’ speech at FRI should serve as a reminder of the role we play in the community
How many times have you seen someone under-fuse or overload an electrical circuit in their home?
Fire is not always viewed by the public with the same concern as other crimes
Are we lazy, complacent, or maybe just stupid when it comes to wearing our personal protective equipment at all times?
It seems to me that we should be able to make training both realistic and safe
Unfortunately, prevention programs are often one of the first things to go when department budgets are cut
Stress on our bodies is cumulative and builds up over the course of the work period
While some factors cannot be controlled, many are under the direct influence of the driver, officer, and crew