Fire Department Management
The fire department management topic focuses on fire service leadership, from the high-level management issues facing fire chiefs to the administrative functions and budget issues that impact day-to-day operations.
With new fire trucks approaching $1 million and volunteer ranks thinning, departments are leaning on online raffles and summer events for as much as 90 % of their budgets
A 2024 study urged Shakopee to hire 25 full-time firefighters, captains and chiefs and open a second station, but city leaders have yet to act
Exploring what the survey data reveals about how fireground tactics are executed and how safety culture is perceived
Virginia Beach’s new budget includes pay increases, boosts for public safety salaries, and funding for new firefighters and fire apparatus to ease staffing shortages and burnout
Kansas City fire department officials and union members say outdated facilities and rising call volumes demand urgent upgrades, but they remain divided on how to fix it
Is your department ready to launch a natural disaster response amid reduced staffing and backup systems?
With medical calls on the rise, deploying smaller, agile units may be the key to saving money — and lives
Whether you’ve been out of the fire service for five months or 15 years, your lived experiences remain valuable to the firefighters of today
The Michigan Court of Appeals upheld a lawsuit alleging two Flint firefighters were grossly negligent for failing to search a room where two boys later died
Outlining the roles of firefighter, driver and officer and the tasks to prioritize
The chain of command and issuance of orders can become complicated if all parties involved do not respect the system and its boundaries
Empowered firefighters, visionary leaders and a shared mission define high-performing departments
Getting a junior firefighter program off the ground requires policies, advisors and serious commitment – but it’s all worth it
Telling new employees their generation is lazy and entitled will only drive them to meet that expectation, rather than grow into the leaders of our future
LAFD officials warn that cutting Emergency Incident Technician positions would endanger lives, stressing that the specialized firefighters do far more than drive chiefs
The driver was fired, but the department’s culture may still be on a collision course
Prepare the next generation of fire service leaders for the challenges of fire department budgets and growth planning
The 1–10 rating system sounds objective, but it’s vulnerable to personal bias and apathetic evaluators, while lacking any actionable path for growth
Beyond the widely publicized cuts to FEMA, the budget would eliminate two programs that help communities fund apparatus and stations
Rebecca Harned and Tom Jenkins explain how the system is making it easier and faster to track and share fire data
A PFD commander is under investigation for harassment while two employees who made complaints against him face scrutiny over OT records
A logistics team is essential for streamlining larger, more complex operations
Three top officers of the Los Angeles firefighters union were suspended after an audit revealed $800,000 in improperly documented credit card charges
The new Federal Wildland Fire Service would consolidate USDA and DOI fire programs into one command under the Interior Department
The closing of a Summit Township firehouse came during a time when township officials and the firefighters’ union were working on contract mediation
After years of protests, lawsuits, and unrest, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens marked the opening of the controversial training center, a project long mired in public outcry and legal battles
Understanding the origin, meaning and controversy related to the thin red line flags
Learn the basics of artificial intelligence, plus how to use a chatbot at your department to streamline work
It’s time to reevaluate our SOPs, eliminate insular groups, and see traditions as an honor, not an anchor
The Los Angeles Fire Department’s Bureau of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion faces major cutbacks as Mayor Karen Bass proposes folding it into another division amid political pressure and budget cuts
Mesa Fire and Medical is preparing to spend $162 million next year as it handles nearly 200 daily calls, with 84% tied to medical emergencies
Winston-Salem officials say cutting sick and vacation days could help fund more competitive salaries
With fewer recruits and rising retirements, departments like East Hartford are turning to costly overtime and mutual aid to cover growing staffing gaps
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