Trending Topics
Hensler_420x370.jpg

Bruce Hensler

A Shared History

Bruce Hensler served as a firefighter from 1976 to 2011 in career, combination and volunteer departments. He previously served as a fire program specialist in the Emergency Response Support Branch of the U.S. Fire Administration, retiring in 2017. He also previously served as deputy director of the operations division for the firefighter training program in Maine. Hensler has a master’s degree in public administration. His interest in history led him to write “Crucible of Fire: Nineteenth-Century Urban Fires and the Making of the Modern Fire Service.” More information about his book is available at nebraskapress.edu. Connect with Hensler on LinkedIn.

LATEST ARTICLES
92 children and 3 nuns were killed in the 1958 school fire where so many previously learned lessons had gone unheeded
Two incidents, decades apart, highlight the risks of operating near this dangerous compound
Decades of deadly fires spurred federal action, culminating in the iconic 1973 publication that remains relevant to the fire service today
9/11, tech growth, expanded assignments, and warp-speed changes define the decade
Reviewing historic fires enhances fireline safety by building context and familiarity with high-risk scenarios
America’s firefighters were better trained and equipped for the future but ever mindful and proud of their past
Technology, NFPA standards and a visionary leader drove key changes to help extinguish antiquated operations
“America Burning” spotlights firefighters, legends propose new tactics, and smoke detectors change the game
The tragic fire that proved the value of automatic sprinklers in high-rise buildings
Firefighters worked frantically to save fellow members as the building collapsed around them; 9 did not survive