Fire Policies
Policies are the foundation for all operations in the fire service. From apparatus backing to anti-retaliation, policies set expectations, provide guidance, and protect firefighters and fire departments. This section highlights how fire department policies play out in the real world, while also connecting you with best practices for drafting, updating and ensuring accountability with policies.
A social media post intended to praise a Warren fire crew has drawn backlash for insensitivity toward the homeowner
Every time you let something slide — a late arrival, a sloppy report, a shortcut on the drill ground — you widen the plate and your department’s liability
Time and again, history has shown what happens when fire codes are ignored
It’s critical we maintain strong convictions that define who we are and what we do to better serve our community
A brief introduction to drug-focused workplace policies – and how to find the statutes that apply to your state
Van Buren union leaders said they oppose the policy and estimate 20% of the township’s police and fire officials might quit as a result
Fire service leaders share what works at their departments
Four ways fire departments can continue the landslide of positive and productive behaviors to protect our members
Evansville Fire Department Division Chief Mike Larson said the community loses out when firefighters are forced to be more cautious due to threat of violence
How to ensure safe operations around aircraft, plus what to do if caught unaware in a drop zone
You cannot make the right decision if you are addressing the wrong issue
Real-world examples highlight the simple ways supervisors can enforce fire department policies
Glean key decision-making insights from data based on budget, CAD, incident types, geolocation, weather and policies
Never take photos of patients, snap selfies during operations, or focus more on your helmet cam than the action on scene
This episode of the Smart Firefighting podcast tackles fire service risks, culture and policy impacts
How to leverage online learning technology to manage fire department policy and standards compliance
Assessing whether a fire department can legally write and enforce a “zero-tolerance” policy for audio recording conversations when state law allows “one-party recording
City leaders are reflecting on the department’s policies following two incidents of drunk driving while on duty in just over one week
Harassment is a systemic issue, meaning it’s not simply an isolated issue between two people
Some in the Orange County, California public safety community have pushed to change the policy that restricts when a sheriff’s helicopter can be dispatched
Following news of a firefighter disciplined over patient transport in an engine, Bashoor asks a series of questions if and when this is ever the right decision
Fort Worth Capt. Randy Robinson, who died on Thursday, is one of 180 department employees who contracted the virus
Tony Imbrenda filed a retaliation lawsuit, alleging he was demoted for refusing to fully cooperate with an investigation into graphic photos taken of the crash site
Spotlighting firefighters’ social media habits and adherence to department policies
Tackling key questions about whether a department can uphold a zero-tolerance drug and alcohol workplace policy that prohibits firefighter medical marijuana use, both on- and off-duty
A key concern for chiefs is who’s riding in that front right seat and whether fireground “discipline” is the norm
The study of the Augusta Fire Department made multiple recommendations but stopped short of agreeing with calls for the fire chief to resign
The judge said the Orchard Park Fire District “disparately applied the rules” related to its 10% threshold for responding to fire calls
A civil service commission determined the firefighter-EMT, who accused the department of race discrimination, violated sick leave policy but ordered he be reinstated, suspended and demoted
Nearly one-third of public safety personnel do not get a department-issued face mask, plus other key findings from nearly 4,000 survey responses
3 highlights from our recent survey on public safety mask policies and usage
Tips for fireground communications – and why silence can be golden
MOST POPULAR
- Can a firefighter ask a bystander to stop filming an emergency scene?
- ‘It’s the same circus with different clowns’: Gordon Graham talks universal FD problems
- Policy and procedure in the fire service: The crucial difference
- When the call has no address: Responding to homeless encampments
- Marijuana could be removed from Ill. firefighter drug testing requirements