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.
Forward-thinking leaders must champion engineered approaches that reduce risks and build healthier fire service careers
Chiefs John Tippett and John Oates debunk the idea that safety and aggression are mutually exclusive
Aggressive tactics and operational safety aren’t mutually exclusive when policies are clear, current and consistently applied
If you’re exercising just for the sake of exercising, you might be selling yourself short
Curt Varone outlines conditions that prevent fire departments from firing at-will or probationary firefighters without cause
Good policies support a fire department culture of trust, and a culture of trust supports successful execution of a fireground strategy
Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel’s efforts to align how fire and EMS responses are measured includes “pot of meat” fires, dispatch time
Virginia’s police chief wants to raise the retirement age, but survey results of about 1,000 public safety employees show first responders are against the idea
Fire Services Training Institute honors Lexipol co-founder for his commitment and dedication to the fire service and public safety community
Haverford Township officials shut down the Bon Air Fire Company after it refused to part ways with a firefighter with ties to Proud Boys group
Combat hurdles to social media training by focusing on the right topics
Risk management and policy are vital to protecting your crew, department and community
This white paper details four mistakes commonly made by public safety agencies when it comes to evaluating personnel
Shawn Poole was reprimanded by the city last fall for using images of city property in campaign materials, posting information he learned through his work as a firefighter online and campaigning while on duty
Fire department policies go beyond liability to increase firefighter safety and reduce the risk for preventable injuries and line of duty deaths
Prepare infrastructure and resources, engage with policymakers and understand the risks of wildfire, flooding and extreme weather events
A court recently reversed a state Supreme Court judge’s ruling that the city can block arbitration in the contract dispute over a “minimum manning” clause
The Delaware Township Fire Department implemented a policy that allowed responders to use guns on duty, but rescinded it after receiving criticism
Officials said two fire trucks arrived at a house fire and the firefighters began fighting about who was supposed to respond
The Youngsville Fire Department announced that it will stop responding to most calls outside city limits, voicing concern that they will not be reimbursed
The Detroit Fire Fighter Association claims a controversial policy that dictates when lights and sirens can be used is a “public safety failure”
The city has suspended an improper practice at the Warwick Fire Department involving calculations of unused sick time and payment for that time to firefighters
Firefighters knew one of the shooting victims was eight months pregnant and went inside before police arrived “because they knew they could make a difference”
People, policy, training, supervision and discipline help to minimize risks and keep firefighters safe
The Newport News Firefighters’ Association attended a city council meeting and said the mandatory overtime policy is exhausting its members
The department was cited after two firefighters entered a structure to save a man’s life, breaking the state code that says three firefighters need to be on scene
Retired Senior Fire Chief Tracy Thomas said the department’s new policy that says firefighters should not stay with downed power lines could prove disastrous
Dispatchers will now wait three minutes instead of five after alerting a crew before paging the department again
Firefighters and police are being pitted against each other in a vote to decide whether or not to switch from the city-operated retirement plan to the statewide plan
In order to decrease transport times, Horry County Fire Rescue may change their policy that currently allows patients to pick which hospital they prefer
“We have a female who is eight months pregnant and expected to go into a burning building and perform firefighting duties. Let that sink in for a minute,” a union president said
City council members proposed doing away with a plan to purchase new fire department equipment to pay for overtime, but Fire Chief Jim Parrish opposed the idea
Mayor Butler wanted to expand the policy to prohibit firefighters from being called in to work if their coworkers are on vacation, have time off or are on leave
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