Fire Chief Jason Caughey emphasizes the importance of developing thinking firefighters from day one. He critiques the traditional approach where rookie firefighters are told to follow orders without thinking and advocates instead for fostering critical decision-making skills early in their careers. Caughey challenges firefighters to engage in training that builds not just physical skills but also tactical and cognitive abilities, promoting adaptability and strategic thought processes in diverse fireground situations.
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Stay engaged, show your appreciation and find time to break bread together
If the closest unit is available, why isn’t it responding?
Lessons from one station build help drive a second design
It’s essential to establish clear rules, expectations and training for all command functions
Crews should also practice “playing in context” to keep skills sharp and relevant for real-world incidents
