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 or the Crucible of Fire Facebook page. Read more from Hensler on his blog, The Practical Fireman. Connect with Hensler on LinkedIn or email him at editor@firerescue1.com.

Full list of Bruce Hensler results

Ammonium nitrate: At the center of disaster in Texas City and Kansas City
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Two incidents, decades apart, highlight the risks of operating near this dangerous compound
50 years of ‘America Burning’: The history behind the landmark report
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Decades of deadly fires spurred federal action, culminating in the iconic 1973 publication that remains relevant to the fire service today
Technology and terror: A brief history of the 2000–2009 fire service
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9/11, tech growth, expanded assignments, and warp-speed changes define the decade
11 wildfires all firefighters should study
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Reviewing historic fires enhances fireline safety by building context and familiarity with high-risk scenarios
Balancing safety and tradition: A brief history of the 1990s fire service
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America’s firefighters were better trained and equipped for the future but ever mindful and proud of their past
One Meridian Plaza: 3 firefighters killed during unimaginable blaze
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The tragic fire that proved the value of automatic sprinklers in high-rise buildings
Change is inevitable: A brief history of the 1980s fire service
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Technology, NFPA standards and a visionary leader drove key changes to help extinguish antiquated operations
The ‘War Years’: A brief history of the 1970s fire service
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“America Burning” spotlights firefighters, legends propose new tactics, and smoke detectors change the game
Ghost Ship: A tragedy rooted in deceit and missed opportunity
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The negligence in the enforcement of safety codes betrayed the public trust
A look back: Firefighting on TV
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The depictions of firefighters on TV have come a long way since the early days — for better or for worse
‘It’s going like hell’: Recalling Chicago’s tragic Hubbard Street fire
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Firefighters worked frantically to save fellow members as the building collapsed around them; 9 did not survive
40 years later: Reflections on the Las Vegas MGM Grand hotel fire
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Despite the staggering death toll, plus myriad fire protection and human failures, change was not immediate
Remembering the legacy of the National Board of Fire Underwriters
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The pioneering insurance organization helped blaze a path for the first building and fire prevention codes
80 years later: Remembering the deadly Rhythm Club fire
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In 1940, 207 people died after flames engulfed a popular dance hall in Mississippi
Reflecting on the Happy Land social club fire and similar incidents
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Three tragedies were rooted in New York’s inability to shut down social clubs or gain their compliance with current codes
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